Summary of the Bible in 66 Posts: Fruitful- 2 Peter

 2 Peter 1:8 ESV

 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. 


'These qualities' are faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. They don't come naturally to us. They are implanted in us by God.

If these qualities don't define us, it's questionable whether we truly know the Lord Jesus Christ. If we really know him, there will be evidence. Even our faith is a gift from him.

We're not simply to 'pull ourselves up by our bootstraps'. We're to draw on all that God has given us and to cultivate it. We need to weed out anything that is making us ineffective or unfruitful in our Christian lives.

God wants to make us fruitful. He doesn't want us to be like thorn bushes, but apple trees. We need to draw on his strength to become what he would have us to be. 

'Lord God Almighty, please help us to become what you would have us to be. May we keep in step with your Holy Spirit as he makes us Christlike, in whose name we pray, amen'.

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