“For if you have these things you will never fail.” 2 Peter 1:10
The promise is incredible, but it comes with a condition.
“… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, …, you will never stumble.” 2 Peter 1:5-8, 10
This is our mandate: to increasingly make these virtues the ingredients of our life. Then we will not stumble or fail.
When goodness, moral excellence, is displayed in and through us, we will continually look for the hidden excellence in others and nurture it.
We can only do so by continually growing in deeper knowledge and manifestation of Christ in us and through us.
To do so requires submission to Jesus in all we do. This becomes the hallmark of our lives. Our submission leads to Godly discipline that brings the flesh under control.
Our discipline, self-control, in turn gives us the strength to persevere, maintaining a steadfast and patient endurance, with a trusting expectancy that God will work all things out for good.
This trusting perseverance develops in us an intense loyalty towards God’s ways above all else; it brings a hunger for Godliness into our lives.
Once loyalty is established, we cannot help but develop a genuine affection for those God loves. We grow in brotherly kindness in all circumstances where cherishing one another becomes our priority.
With these qualities we cannot help but grow in Christian love for all that God loves.
If we have these Godly characteristics in increasing measure, we will “..receive a right welcome into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11
These are our great weapons. With them we can fully trust the promise that “No weapon forged against us will prosper.”
In this place our position is so secure the enemy will have no strategy against us.
We become faithful servants who have the trust of the Father in all we do.
What a magnificent promise.