God's Blessings

Spring. What a fitting time to recall the blessings that God has bestowed upon us not only through the long harsh winter, but every day of our lives.

Jesus has the power of God to give us everything in the form of blessings which we need to live and to serve Him. Because we have been given numerous blessings, it is appropriate that we should strive to add seven Scriptural essentials to our lives. They are found in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

To faith add goodness

To goodness add knowledge

To knowledge add self-control

To self-control add patience

To patience add service for God

To service for God add kindness for brothers and sisters in Christ

And to this kindness add love

God's Word says to give diligence to these things. What is diligence? Diligence is persevering. It is making a steady effort in that which is being done. We can learn much about diligence from migrating geese. Geese work together as a team. They trust and support one another. They share leadership. Can God "speak" to us through these birds? I think there are, indeed, helpful life lessons which we can catch and apply to our lives.

These seven previously stated essentials are known as graces - no, not the Three Graces of Mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty, but seven graces from God, which we are to add to our faith. Grace is unmerited divine assistance given to humans by God for their regeneration or sanctification. Graces are virtues coming from God.

Just because the verses repeat seven times "to this add" does not mean that we are stacking and playing with blocks. 2 Peter 3:18 clarifies exactly what we are to do with these graces. We are to "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The closest analogy would be "big oaks from little acorns grow." The Messianic, or Gentile Christian life, is one of growth and development just like a tree. Peter lists these seven attributes that characterize Christian growth and development. Let's look at each one. . .

Add to your faith virtue. This faith is saving faith in Messiah Jesus which forgives sins. To this faith we are to add virtue. Virtue is a standard of what is right. It points to morality. It signifies courage. Believers should have the courage to stand up for what is right.

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