I will never forget those feelings of exposure and fear, of horror and anger. There was a real sense that no one was safe on 9/11. Our open society and sovereignty were under attack. We exposed our fear of dying as well.

“There are, aren’t there, only three things we can do about death: to desire it, to fear it, or to ignore it.”

“Die before you die. There is no chance after.”

CS Lewis

Read:
Luke 13:1-5
About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”

Think:
9/11 had the potential to unite our country. The split between two political parties could potentially heal. 9/11 had the potential to bring us to our knees before God in repentance and confession for cutting Him out of our government, our schools, our entertainment and our homes. This one event held a lot of potential.

But what? How long did it last? The most recent news from Congress and causal political interactions on Facebook reveal a very divided and proud nation. A view of our government, schools, entertainment and homes would reveal a godlessness growing at an alarming rate.

Jesus would have talked with New Yorkers on 9/12 and following about their need to be right with God and others. His reference to a Tower falling on 18 people reads like the front page of the Jerusalem Register. Don’t you find it interesting that Jesus knew what was happening during the week and even knew how many people died?

For some reason, Jesus felt the need to teach them the lesson that they apparently missed from the tower that killed 18 people. They got the sensational news story. They got the grim details. It was an event but not a large lifestyle changer. They missed the message.

Jesus used the falling tower (s) to teach the people:
1. It can happen to you … anytime … anywhere … be ready!
2. Those that died were not picked special by God for judgment … they were not any worse than you or me.
3. Unless you repent you will likewise die.

There is an expectation on the part of Jesus that major life events will cause us to reflect and repent. When a 9/11 happens in our lives it is to cause us to stop … reflect on life … reflect on our mortality … reflect on our condition before a holy God … and repent.

Repent is a Greek word that means to “change the mind”. It means to change direction. It pictures a person doing a 180 and going in the opposite direction. It is as if Jesus is saying the 9/11 events in our lives should force us to change and go in an opposite direction. It should move us toward God and keep us there.

Die is a Greek word that carries the idea not of extinction but ruin, loss … not of being, but of well-being. It is in the future tense and points to a condition in hell.

Lewis is wise in his warning: “Die before you die. There is no chance after.”

Do:
As you reflect on the events of 9/11, take time to remember many things. Remember those that died on that day … especially the rescue personal. Remember the pain and the feelings. But do not forget to remember that your day is coming and God is waiting for you to make good with Him.

Remember: die before you die. That is where repentance comes in. You must die to yourself and come alive to God before you die on earth. You must reflect and repent. 9/11 invites you to this place.

Allow God to have His way in our government, our schools, our entertainment and our homes. It starts with you and me.

I watched a Nat Geo special on 9/11 last night that could easily qualify as all hell breaking loose. Smoke, buildings on fire, people screaming, death and destruction. Yet, there lurks a more subtle hell that sometimes creates chaos in our places of business and in our homes.

Read this Lewis quote carefully and reflectively:

“Hell is an official society held together entirely by fear and greed. On the surface, manners are normally suave. Rudeness to one’s superiors would obviously be suicidal; rudeness to one’s equals might put them on their guard before you were ready to spring your mine. For of course, “Dog eat dog” is the principle of the whole organization. Everyone one wishes everyone else’s discrediting, demotion, and ruin; everyone is an expert in the confidential report, the pretended alliance, the stab in the back. Over all this their good manners, their expressions of grave respect, their “tributes” to one another’s invaluable services form a thin crust. Every now and then it gets punctured, and the scalding lava of their hatred spurts out.”

CS Lewis

Read:
Matthew 15:17-20
17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Psalm 19:14
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Think:
We take another step deeper in the realm of what is on the inside of people … on the inside of me. I read this Lewis quote yesterday and was greatly convicted in my role with a co-worker. In my efforts to defend myself and even make myself look better to others, I have sought to mildly discredit, demote and maybe even ruin this person. Shocking, I know but my heart still needs help! Devotional blogging does not sinless make, apparently.

Lewis says this behavior comes from hell … albeit the quiet side of hell. This is the subtle side of all hell breaking loose. I would maintain that the little intrigues and turf wars that occur in the workplace make a spiritual 9/11 in our midst. Do not misunderstand me, I am not making light of that tragic event nor the great loss of life that occurred. I am, however, pointing out the more subtle hells that break out in buildings like these that never get noticed.

Smoke, buildings on fire, people screaming, death and destruction is happening in the wake of our lives every single day we allow fear and greed at work. Sales folks are the most petty and guilty of these great sins. Our fear of others, a desire for control and a nagging greed can cause all hell to break loose. It may not be loud, bodies may not be lying by the copy machine, but every now and then, when the “thin crust” is broken and the scalding lava of hatred spurts out, we are seeing hell at work. All hell is breaking loose. We are seeing what is really going on in the dark places of the heart.

Jesus says it is an inside job. The greed and control and fear … oh and sexual immorality and lying and slander come from our hearts.

So, everyday, I must drag my stubborn heart to the throne room of my God and surrender it to Him. Everyday, I must pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart will please my Lord.

Only God can change this heart of mine. Only God can give me a human, soft heart to replace this heart of stone hardened by years of fear and greed.

Do:
Can you see why I chose the picture I did for today? Beware of the people that speak niceties to you and ingratiate themselves to you … they might well have a secondary motive. Note when the thin crust breaks and the hot lava of hell spews out. You are seeing dark spots of the heart come into the light. It calls for prayer, not a strong reaction. It calls for pause and watchfulness.

Pay attention to your own hot lava times? Examine what is going on at the heart level. Examine your heart before the Lord.

So, everyday, I must drag my stubborn heart to the throne room of my God and surrender it to Him. Everyday, I must pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart will please my Lord. Will you pray it right now? Let the Great Heart Physician do some cutting today. You and your “friends” at work will be glad you did!

This excerpt from the book, The Screwtape Letters, captures a conversation between a demon in training (Wormwood) and his boss (Screwtape). Screwtape says,

“How much better for us if all humans died in costly nursing homes amid doctors who lie, nurses who lie, friends who lie, as we have trained them, promising life to the dying, encouraging the belief that sickness excuses every indulgence, and even, if our workers know their job, withholding all suggestion of a pastor lest it should betray to the sick man his true condition.”

CS Lewis

Read: Hebrews 2:14-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

1 Corinthians 15

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

Think:
I have spent many hours at the bedside of men and women crossing the “great divide” into eternity. Some are racked with fear, some are calm. I have not yet had any of them see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Not many of us get as much exposure to death as they did just 100 years ago. Back then, people died at home surrounded by family, horses with broken legs were shot, animals were slaughtered for food, people died younger, infant mortality was higher.

Today, people die in hospice care or in the hospital, we spend excessive amounts of money to keep animals alive, we buy our food at the store, people live longer and infants usually make it. We have almost all but removed death from our reality.

In the Lewis quote above, head-demon Screwtape seeks to remind Wormwood that keeping people deluded and unfocused on their true, dying condition is a good thing.

Hebrews says this is exactly Satan’s plan. He seeks to keep people locked up by their fear of dying.

Jesus died to free human beings of this fear. He faced the worst hell and Satan could throw at Him and came through the other side. He faced our fear and took our death and then returned from the dead to show us the path. So, believers sing with Paul, “Death has been swallowed up in victory … where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

How comforting would it be to be pursued by a bee that you knew had no stinger? Doesn’t that stinger drive your behavior? Doesn’t it make you run away from your root beer when the bee shows up? Why? Fear of pain. But what if the bee had no stinger? Doesn’t that change things?

Jesus took the stinger out of death. Death is swallowed up in victory. We do not need to live in fear.

We need to tell our friends and family about their true condition and show them how to live in freedom today.

Do:
What is the true condition of our friends without Christ? Fearful. Moving toward an eternity separated from God. Dying without hope.

What is the true condition of our hospice care and hospitals? Comforting the dying. Making their end as peaceful as possible.

What is the desire of Screwtape and those of his tribe? To make sure the dying are comfortable and not thoughtful.

What do we do about this? Tell our living friends about their true condition. Speak to their fear of death. Show them Jesus the death killer. Just like the “king that has no clothes” we can tell of the bee that has no stinger.

“Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore had nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realised that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power – it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you are sick you will listen to the doctor.”

CS Lewis

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Think:
So often our attempts at sharing the gospel look like a sales pitch … an attempt to sell someone the good news about Jesus Christ. I’ve often felt that we have this backwards. I do not want to have a colonoscopy or surgically repair my ACL if I am not first convinced that I have a problem that this will fix.

As it is, we sell Jesus in our music and message. We focus on the positive benefits of knowing Jesus. “He will fix your problems and make sure you are happy …”. On and on it goes.

Lewis helps us see that people need to be convinced that they need a doctor BEFORE they will seek to be healed. Again, you may be the best colon doctor in the universe but I am not going to let you touch my body until I am convinced I need you!

In this passage in Ephesians we see both the negative and the positive … in proper order. Paul reminds the believers that they were:
1. Spiritually dead (v.1)
2. Wrong with God due to sin (v.2)
3. Following the devil (v.2)
4. Under God’s wrath (v.3)

Try those on your friends! How will that go over do you think?

If our friends and family do not understand their dire condition they will never come to know or care about our gracious God. This is a God that is:
1. Rich in mercy (v.4)
2. Full of love (v.4)
3. Life giving (v.5)
4. Wealthy in grace and kindness (v.7)
5. Salvation (v.8)

Next time you share Christ with someone consider balancing the bad news with the good news. If they see their need for forgiveness they might want to meet the Doctor.

Do:
Think through your presentation of the gospel. Does it begin with, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”? Does it begin with, “You have a serious problem that needs attention”?

How comfortable are you “going negative” in a gospel presentation? Can you go negative without being caustic? This is not a justification for being mean spirited or unkind. This is an invitation to help your friends and family really understand their true condition before a holy God.

If we want them to know the love and grace of God they will also need to know their sin and rebellion is in the way. You cant call them to repent if they do not know what they have done to offend the Lord.

Be gentle but make sure you let them know the truth. They need to meet the Doctor.

In 2 Peter we have God’s version of how to be effective. They are, if you will, the 7 Habits of Effective Living:
1. Use the Moral Compass
2. Cultivate Knowledge
3. Apply Self-Control
4. Stay Under the Load
5. Respect God Well
6. Practice Kindness
7. Live Love

Today we look at the importance of staying under the load. This is something we can learn from a camel.

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
This is an important concept in our Christian growth. So much is lost right here at “perseverance”. Galatians 6 says we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal. 6:7) which implies that giving up is a distinct temptation. Notice that harvest comes AFTER enduring.

1 Cor. 10:13 says that God works with us IN temptation so we can stand up under the load. The passage does not say that God removes the temptation nor that life would be a walk in a park. We are expected to go through the temptation and remain under the load of it. Notice that victory comes AFTER enduring.

The Jewish believers in the book of Hebrews were ready to quit. Having experienced persecution for their faith they were ready to drop Jesus and go back to the Jewish religious system. They were admonished to stay under the load, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (10:36). Notice that the promise comes AFTER enduring.

Jesus stayed under the load of the cross for us. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Notice that the honor comes AFTER enduring.

The word for persevere is from the Greek, Hupo mo nay (ὑπομένω). It means to endure. It means to stay under the load. The word is used in each example above. What is the point? Well, victory, growth, godliness, experiencing God comes when we stay under the load of our circumstances, struggles, temptations, callings and the rest.

Peter calls the believers to stay under the load. They added goodness, knowledge and self-control to their faith and now they needed to stay at it. If they were to grow they needed to stay under the load and not quit. Same with us!

Do:
This is definitely a place that we can short circuit our lives. We will not be effective if we cut and run every time something uncomfortable happens or when we feel pressure. I have very specific places I go when I feel like my world is out of control. I can escape into the TV or the computer. I can use anger to manage my surroundings. These are comfortable for me and built on years of training. BUT the Lord calls me to trust Him and stay under the load. He calls me to bear my burden with perseverance like the camel.

Can you identify with the pressure to get out from under the load? Name a few of these before the Lord.

Next time the pressure is on, slow it down. Pray for strength to endure. Readjust the stuff on your back and stay under the load. Good things are coming if you do!

Watch this 2 min clip from The Mission. Robert De Niro plays a murderer looking for forgiveness. Good picture of staying under the load.

Do you remember what it felt like working the brakes your first time driving? If you’ve forgotten, try braking with your left foot tomorrow!

As you relive your driving experiences remember that sometimes we need to apply the brakes in our lives as well.

Read:2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
If we are to live effectively it is going to take work! It is going to take applying the brakes on our appetites and desires. As we grow in knowledge of the Lord we are expected to apply that knowledge by adding self-control.

Self-control is a strange word for Christians. Really we seek Spirit-control (Gal. 5) but there remains this call to deny self if we are to grow.

If you are honest, this is not easy to do. There are parts of me that want to walk with the Lord and obey Him in all things all the time. BUT there is also a part of me that wars against that (Rom. 7). Which will I choose to satisfy?

Galatians 5 tells me that self-control is a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit in my life. In other words, when I am walking closely to my Savior the Holy Spirit will produce self-control in my life. He will make it possible for me to obey the Lord by not obeying my desires.

If I listen to His call to obey Him and apply the brakes on myself (in his power, of course) then I will experience life and power for living (Gal. 6).

One dictionary defines self-control as the “virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites”. Just like we thought. The trick is doing it!

If we will apply the brakes in our lives we will continue to grow and move toward knowing the Lord and living effectively. The choice is yours.

Do:
This is a place that we can easily short-circuit our spiritual growth and our ability to live effective lives that please the Lord. This an area of conflict. This is an area of confrontation. This is an area of ingrained habits. This is an area that might be stunting your growth and effectiveness in the Lord.

The choice is yours. It really is. If you are frustrated with where you are at with the Lord it might be due to this right here. He might be calling you to deny yourself in some area and you are unwilling. Confess that to the Lord and ask Him to change your heart.

Can you identify 1 area in your life in which you need to apply the brakes? It might be centered around food or lust or gossip or exercise or quiet times or too much time on the tv or anything else. Take that to the Lord in prayer right now. Confess your weakness and ask the Holy Spirit to help you apply the brakes.

Remember to try braking with your LEFT foot a few times today. Let it remind you of the need to apply self-control. Oh, and make sure no one is too close behind you!

When we are saved we are to cultivate knowledge. It takes tilling the soil of our lives. It takes watering. It takes God’s Spirit. It takes time.

“God’s Word gives clear instruction in both precepts and principles. Examples of a precept would be no sexual immorality, do not repay evil for evil, pray without ceasing, in all things give thanks. Principles are judgement calls. The Bible doesn’t mention cards, makeup, movies or tobacco. The more you know about God’s Word, the better judgment calls or decisions you can make.”

Chuck Swindoll

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
When we are saved we are to act like we are in the light … because that is our story. We are saved from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the kingdom and light of Jesus Christ. We are new creatures. We used to be darkness but know we are light in the Lord. And so we are called to act like it.

As we do this we are to add to our faith knowledge. We need to begin to understand the precepts and principles of the Bible. Peter says we need to get to know the will of God for our lives. As we said yesterday, anyone can be “good” for a time but to live effectively we must go beyond this and grow in knowledge.

There are 2 different words used for knowledge in the passage. One deals with a true knowledge of a person ( in orange above) and the other deals with knowledge about things (in blue above). If you will take a minute to reread the verses above the context will reveal this difference.

What’s the point? Peter says that growing in knowledge about God will facilitate knowing God personally. Knowledge of God’s will introduces us to Jesus. Book knowledge can actually lead to intimate knowledge of our Lord Jesus. It is a critical part of the 7 Habits.

These believers would study the Old Testament, sit under teaching by those who knew Jesus personally, read the letters of the apostles, do life together enough that they would hear what God was doing in others lives, actively see God use them as they shared the good story of Jesus with others.

Sounds like a formula for personal time in the Word, being active in a local church, being in a small group and watching God work through you. All these can build a knowledge of God and how He works.

Do:
Add to your faith knowledge. This is another place we can short circuit our effectiveness. If we neglect this important step we will stagnate.

It is amazing how much of the Bible we actually know and still there are many adventures in the Book that are yet to be explored! I pray you will have a hunger to know the Lord and that this hunger will drive you to the Bible and to seeking out God in the highways of life. Add to your faith knowledge.

Do you have a Bible reading plan?

When was the last time you went outside and looked at the stars? There is knowledge in creation … it is the handiwork of our God. I think I am done writing now. I am going out on the deck with my dog to look at the stars. There is more knowledge out there than in front of the Xbox anyway.

One ship sails east
One ship sails west
Regardless of how the winds blow.
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.

Ellen Wheeler Cox

It is the set of the sail that determines the way we go. That is a great picture. So often we feel that we are bound by our circumstances and have no choice in how we respond. This simple poem helps set our ship aright regarding that type of thinking.

How important is the compass in setting the sail?

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
Peter calls the believers to respond to their salvation by setting the sail toward goodness. The cultural slide of these days was similar to America today. There was doctrinal confusion in that people did not know how to think right about God and there was moral confusion in that people did not know how to act right toward others.

Goodness (ἀρετή) in the Greek is a broad word meaning excellence. Peter called these believers to begin to behave like new creatures that have been taken out of darkness. In his first letter (1 Peter 2:9) he used the word to describe the “excellencies of Him” who took us out of the darkness and put us in wonderful light.

Here in 2 Peter, “goodness” is used in verse 3 and verse 5. In verse 3 Peter reminds his hearers that God saved them out of his own glory and goodness. There is an excellence to His action of saving lost people. Later in verse 5, Peter calls the believers to mirror this goodness and excellence. He calls them to behave like the One that saved them. He called them to care like that One that saves.

The believers were expected to use their moral compass. They were expected to begin to act in line with their new position. They were no longer in the darkness. They were no longer “victims” of circumstance. They were not helpless. They were saved and empowered to begin to walk in excellence. They needed to put aside their immorality and past sins and trust the Lord. Peter commanded them to add to their faith goodness.

Do:
We short circuit effective living when we think that being saved is enough. We miss the mark when we think that we are free to do as we please. The truth is, freedom is the not ability to do what we want but is the power to do what is right. Some Christians never really see God work in their lives and never see people around them change because they think having faith is enough. Really, it is just the starting place. We are commanded to add to our faith goodness.

Do you live like you are in the light? Is your life marked by moral excellence? You do not have to be a Christian to have moral excellence. There are many “good” folks that have never met the Lord. However, you do have to add moral excellence to your faith if you want to be effective because many other qualities will build at that starting point.

Do you have a heart for the lost? Is your life marked by the excellencies of Him who saved you? Usually when you find something awesome you want to tell others about it. Does that describe your faith? It is a shame that we can get so excited about finding a new outfit or buying a new car but find it so difficult to share the life-giving message of Jesus Christ with our friends. Choose a friend and make a plan to show off that new outfit while you share the love of Jesus with them!

It is the set of the sail that determines the way we go. Obeying the moral compass will help insure we make it where God wants us to be.

“Our character”, writes Covey, “is a composite of our habits …… and habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness … or ineffectiveness.”

In 2 Peter we have God’s version of how to be effective. They are, if you will, the 7 Habits of Effective Living:
1. Use the Moral Compass
2. Cultivate Knowledge
3. Apply Self-Control
4. Stay Under the Load
5. Respect God Well
6. Practice Kindness
7. Live Love

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
Ok, so you get saved …. then what? How do you grow up in that? How do you get to know God better? How can you be an effective Christ follower?

The Bible says we need to grow. We need to develop habits. If the 7 qualities listed here are ours and are increasing we will always be fruitful and effective in Christ (v.8).

Peter called on these believers to add to their faith goodness. In other words, they were to stop their worldly behavior (sexual immorality, stealing, lying, etc.). While growing in goodness they were to add knowledge … knowledge of God and his holiness, knowledge of grace, knowledge of the Son of God.

Knowledge required a response, as it always does! The proper response was to obey Him which required self-control and perseverance. Many can make a good show for a time but to have a real impact, to really see God on the journey, to live effectively, we must persevere. We must stay under the load. Peter knew that!

As they grew in perseverance they began to know godliness. A deep Godlikeness began to grow within them expressing itself in brotherly kindness toward other believers and in sacrificial love for the world.

So, the process began with morals 101 and ended with a changed world through love. If we could love the world like Jesus did we’d be effective indeed.

Peter invites us to this journey. We are invited to the 7 Habits of Effective Living.

Do:
What does your “love” look like? If God is love, if the ultimate goal of the believer is to love like Jesus, if the greatest of all virtues is love ….. how’s your love? If your love is not all it should be then you might have short-circuited somewhere in the list of 7 Habits.

As you review the 7 Habits of Effective Living can you identify a stage that you might be ”stuck” on today? Please identify where you might be. It will help your grow if you know.

Tomorrow we will start with goodness and consider the importance of Using the Moral Compass.

How important is it to be effective at what you do? Your boss expects it. Your kids needs it. Your marriage may depend in it. I am of the opinion that no one wants to fail at anything. You do not go the the altar with the goal of divorce. You do not bring children into the world to lose them to the same. You do not take a job to get fired. We desire to be effective. We NEED to be effective.

What about walking with God? Don’t you want to be effective at that as well? Sure you do! We desire to know God well. We desire to obey Him. We desire to share Christ with others. We WANT to be effective.

For this next series we will consider Peter’s invitation to effectiveness.

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-9
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Think:
You have everything necessary for life and godliness in you right now! (v.3) If you know Jesus personally then everything you need is already supplied for you. It is in seed form and needs to be developed.

Your salvation secures many great and precious promises from God (v.4). Among these promises is the power of God working in your life. BUT, how do we walk in that power? How do we come to know God in such a way that we are effective in life?

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Peter, lays out 7 areas of growth that need to be developed in the life of the believer (v.5-7). Note that we are called to add 7 things to our “faith” (v.5). There is the assumption that you are already a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not have a trust relationship with Him then the list becomes another religious exercise that will end in frustration.

If, however, you are a believer and you are growing in the 7 areas then you will be effective in your walk with the Lord.

If you are effective with the Lord you stand the best chance of being effective in relationships with others as well. Want to be an effective spouse? parent? co-worker? pastor? friend? Then be an effective and productive Christ follower. If you are growing in these key areas then you WILL be productive and effective in life.

In the next series we will unpack each of the things that Peter says we must have and be increasing in. For now we are to add to our faith:

1. Goodness
2. Knowledge
3. Self-Control
4. Perseverance
5. Godliness
6. Brotherly Kindness
7. Love

Are you ready to grow? Are you ready to be effective in life? The invitation is now in your possession. Let’s grow!

Do:
Write out these verses on a piece of paper and stick them where you can see them during the day.

Pray and ask God to give you wisdom as you trust Him. Ask Him to help you grow up into all things that He has for you.