Memory – 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. (2 Peter 1.8).
A Christian’s life has a kind of tension in it. God is the one who saves us and changes us – but we are also called to grow, to pursue godliness and to take our faith seriously. I suppose your maturing faith may be akin to riding a bicycle: if you stop pedaling and moving forward you don't stay in place – you fall. So, too, being Christian is not a static activity. Over the course of several months we have considered some spiritual virtues characteristic of the Christian life. These virtues are signposts of growing spiritual maturity. Peter opened his letter with the assurance that God’s divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness through our knowledge of him. Collectively, we have made it our goal to have a memory verse – or at least a meditation verse – each week. So far I’ve selected the memory text and written the meditation. Perhaps along the way you can select the text, and I will write the meditation on your selection. The purpose of this is to become more familiar with the Bible and its great themes. You are in your teens, and I am in my eighth decade; you are just getting started and sometimes I still feel like I too am just starting and only scratching the surface of the Bible. There is always something more to learn and that is the exciting part of knowing and getting to know our Triune God. We just keep pressing on (Philippians 3.12-16 – look it up).
So, now you have the gift of faith, which you received from God through faith in Jesus. By this you are reckoned righteous before God. Because of Jesus, you are counted righteous before God – and that is where you begin to see him at work in your life. The Holy Spirit prompts you through your knowledge of Scripture and you make life decisions based on your understanding of what is right and wrong. God begins this process and he promises to complete it (Philippians 1.6). As you follow these precepts you may have every confidence the Holy Spirit is at work within you (Philippians 2.12; Colossians 3.17). As you practice these virtues it is evidence of Christ being formed in you (Hebrews 13.20-21).
Knowing that God is at work in your life may be measured to some degree objectively. For example, you have a habit of regularly reading of Scripture and praying. You begin to enjoy the company and fellowship of other Christian. You become more consistent in keeping the Sabbath and attending worship (Hebrews 10.24-25). Of course, it is the inward compelling indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is more difficult to measure. It is slightly more difficult to measure this “progress of the Spirit in your heart.” Although your knowledge of the Bible may be somewhat quantifiable, how do you accurately assess your growth in qualities like self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love and the like? These are attitudinal graces and they form the foundation of your relationships with others.
Now we come full circle with the tension again: God is at work in you, but you are accountable for what you do with your life.
So, then, how can you know that you are growing? What are some telltale signs? Do you have a friend who can give you loving and honest feedback? You are already a delightful person, but I know you want to become consistently more Christlike by building upon the foundation of your faith (cf. James 2.14-19). As you mature in your faith your motivation for doing what pleases God will be increased by your reverence (awe) or love for God (2 Corinthians 7.1). I love David’s closing prayer in Psalm 139.23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!. I have listed a few questions and resolutions which may be of some help to get you started. Some of the questions have been modified from a list of seventy resolutions Jonathan Edwards made when he was 19 years old.
Am I generous and kind to those who may have been neglected or marginalized?
Do others see my love for God?
I want to live my life in a manner pleasing to God (Psalm 139.23-24).
Do I encourage people I meet and speak encouragingly of others?
I will not act out of revenge.
Do I have a desire to read and understand Scripture?
What evidence is there in my life that I am more patient with others?
How quickly do I repent? (1 John 1.8-2.2)
Am I learning from my failures?
Am I a kind person?
So, now you have the gift of faith, which you received from God through faith in Jesus. By this you are reckoned righteous before God. Because of Jesus, you are counted righteous before God – and that is where you begin to see him at work in your life. The Holy Spirit prompts you through your knowledge of Scripture and you make life decisions based on your understanding of what is right and wrong. God begins this process and he promises to complete it (Philippians 1.6). As you follow these precepts you may have every confidence the Holy Spirit is at work within you (Philippians 2.12; Colossians 3.17). As you practice these virtues it is evidence of Christ being formed in you (Hebrews 13.20-21).
Knowing that God is at work in your life may be measured to some degree objectively. For example, you have a habit of regularly reading of Scripture and praying. You begin to enjoy the company and fellowship of other Christian. You become more consistent in keeping the Sabbath and attending worship (Hebrews 10.24-25). Of course, it is the inward compelling indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is more difficult to measure. It is slightly more difficult to measure this “progress of the Spirit in your heart.” Although your knowledge of the Bible may be somewhat quantifiable, how do you accurately assess your growth in qualities like self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love and the like? These are attitudinal graces and they form the foundation of your relationships with others.
Now we come full circle with the tension again: God is at work in you, but you are accountable for what you do with your life.
So, then, how can you know that you are growing? What are some telltale signs? Do you have a friend who can give you loving and honest feedback? You are already a delightful person, but I know you want to become consistently more Christlike by building upon the foundation of your faith (cf. James 2.14-19). As you mature in your faith your motivation for doing what pleases God will be increased by your reverence (awe) or love for God (2 Corinthians 7.1). I love David’s closing prayer in Psalm 139.23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!. I have listed a few questions and resolutions which may be of some help to get you started. Some of the questions have been modified from a list of seventy resolutions Jonathan Edwards made when he was 19 years old.
Am I generous and kind to those who may have been neglected or marginalized?
Do others see my love for God?
I want to live my life in a manner pleasing to God (Psalm 139.23-24).
Do I encourage people I meet and speak encouragingly of others?
I will not act out of revenge.
Do I have a desire to read and understand Scripture?
What evidence is there in my life that I am more patient with others?
How quickly do I repent? (1 John 1.8-2.2)
Am I learning from my failures?
Am I a kind person?
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