Spirituality, is a decision. It does not happen without any effort.
The book of Second Peter is Peter’s last voice to the churches of the ages before he goes home to live with Jesus. His final message was “grow up.” (2 Peter 3:18) It seems that the believers who received this letter were not connecting salvation with life. Peter emphasized the need to put away the old self.
2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter’s seven marks of a true disciple (from 2 Peter 1:5-8)…
My kids are in a hurry to grow up. Yet, they do not like getting rest, taking vitamins or eating healthy food as much as we would like for them to. Sometimes, we can be more concerned about growth and the opportunities growth brings than about getting the necessary ingredients into our lives which help us to grow.
1. Faith. Faith is the beginning of discipleship. It is the foundation of the Christian Life.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
To his faith, as a foundation, the believer needs to add six qualities.
2. Virtue. Virtue is moral power exercised through principled living. We cannot be virtuous in our own strength. We can live virtuous lives by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If we do not add ‘virtue’ to our faith, our faith will become what James called ‘dead faith.’
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
3. Knowledge. Knowledge is learning and living out God’s truth. However, knowledge is more than information, it is a personal relationship.
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
In 1937, Dietrich Bonhoeffer mentioned in his book “The Cost of Discipleship” that discipleship costs us the things usually desired in this life. However, he affirmed, the cost of not being a disciple is far greater: It costs us peace, love, and a faith that sees God working our circumstances together for good.
4. Self-Control. Self-Control is mastering your emotions instead of being mastered by them. How do you develop this important discipline?
Self-control is a spiritual discipline that must be developed comprehensively, not just in a problem area.
Develop self-control through solitude, fasting, frugality, and sacrifice.
All great men and women of faith have practiced pulling away from others at times to get before God in a quiet place.
5. Steadfastness. Steadfastness is the willingness to keep going strong when the good “feeling” is gone.
James 1:3 For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
The Greek word (hypomonen) literally means to remain under something, such as a heavy load.
Discipleship in the days of the Twelve was different. It had a clear meaning—give your life to serve Jesus in a literal sense. However, today it is seems different. We do not walk, serve, eat, sit and talk with Jesus physically as Peter, Andrew, James and John did. However, in the true disciple, there is a willingness and passion to live and die for the Master. That desire comes with a willingness to rearrange our lives to put Jesus in the center—with a focus to glorify Him.
6. Godliness. Godliness is living in constant awareness of God’s presence.
7. Brotherly affection. Brotherly affection (Gr. philadelphia) is living in close community with God’s people.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Everyone needs a leader to which he or she submits; this is important to our growth in service, humility and love.
As we practice brotherly affection, it is important that we submit to authority. It helps us to understand humility and servanthood. Worship and service in the body of Christ is a place to exercise this important characteristic.
Remember, Christianity isn’t a religion – it is a relationship.
