2 Peter 1 -- Wow! A Spiritual Fitness Program

Wow, Your timing is perfect for this, Father!  Peter was talking to fellow believers and reminding them of the importance of spiritual discipline to work towards holiness, and remembrance and repetition are key to growing in holiness, he said.  My commentary really fleshed it all out today:

“We do better by dwelling in the secret place of the Most High than by making occasional visits there.”

Peter talked about “the corruption that is in the world through lust” and how God has promised ALL that we need to resist temptation … He has promised that the more we think about Him, the more we will become like Him,” and less like those of the world.  “God has given us all that is necessary for the divine life.  Because He has, we must be  diligent in cultivating it.  God does not make us holy against our will OR without our involvement.  There must be desire, determination, and discipline on our part.”

“Someone has defined discipline as the controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God.  There must be discipline in prayer, in Bible study, in the use of time, in curbing bodily appetites, in sacrificial living.”

Paul had said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

Peter lists several characteristics of a godly life:  faith, virtue, an experiential knowledge of God, discipline or self-control, patience, service to God, brotherly kindness, and love.  It sounds like we should regularly (since Peter mentioned reminding them) assess which of these needs more work in our lives, and pour concentrated effort into that area.

We also have to watch out for shortsightedness (living for the present rather than the future), blindness (not aware of what’s central in life), and forgetfulness (toying with sins that caused the death of God’s Son), my commentary added.

WOW!  It’s almost like a spiritual fitness program!  Instead of working on muscle groups, we’re told to strengthen the weakest areas of what helps us grow in holiness – becoming more like God.

Father, thank You for Peter’s faithfulness to write down a reminder that would last for millennia.  Help me to gauge what needs the most work right now in my spiritual life, and give me the discipline and the power from Your Holy Spirit to accomplish this.  You promised You would, and I know You as a Promisekeeper!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford