From December 28 – January 6, there will be a countdown of the top ten most viewed posts in 2021. Today is #7, originally posted April 6, 2021.
Faith in Jesus Christ is not a one-time statement, not a one-time commitment. It is an active effort to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus; to draw closer to Him; to pursue a life in Christ and shed the sinful behavior that drags us down and draws us away from Jesus.
In 1 Peter 1:5-8, Peter implores those with faith in Jesus to actively pursue a deeper faith. He encourages diligence and provides the building blocks of a deepening faith in Jesus:
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love (verse 5-7, NASB).”
You can see in this passage how one action builds on the other. A diligent focus on your faith gives you moral excellence; that moral excellence fuels your knowledge which guides self control; that in turn delivers perseverance which delivers godliness and brotherly kindness; which in turn causes us to love. Each one builds on the other. It is an active faith that prompts us to love others as God loves them. It is a faith based on understanding God’s desires, not one built on our desires and our knowledge.
Day to day it can be a challenge to persevere in faith in Christ. But Peter encourages us in verse 8: “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is a struggle each day and we will experience setbacks. But what is important is that we maintain a commitment to grow each day in these character traits of faith in Jesus.
© 2021 CGThelen
140 Character Christian 
I enjoyed this post, then and now, CG. I like your count down idea. Blessings!
Thanks for visiting this blog. Blessings for the New Year.
Some days I fall back into the desires of this world. Each time God guides me back and shows me how to reaffirm my faith in Him. God never leaves, but we turn away. Thank you for the reminder to set our heart, mind, spirit, and strength, on the Lord, to have utmost faith in his never-failing love.
Peace to you, my friend.
Blessings to you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
As a Christian delves deeper into God’s Word, he will see even more details and connections between Scripture and everyday life.
So true. Praise God for His Word. Blessings.
“Each one builds on the other,” indeed! To him who has, more will be given, and he shall have more abundance.
That’s a good companion verse. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
Amen! Where would I be…WHO would I be without him? My faith just deepens daily. 💛
Amen! Praise God! Blessings.
Blessings to you too!
CG, your thoughts bring to mind a similar passage in Romans 5 that also follows a progression:
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:3-5
🙏❤️ prayers and love.
That is another good verse with a progression. It’s interesting that this passage talks about how hope is born out suffering, perseverance and character. It is a hope born out of a deepening faith and commitment in Jesus no matter what life gives us. Always appreciate your thoughts, David. Blessings.
Amen! This is a daily commitment that I can not possibly live up to without the Holy Spirit’s help. What a blessing that He is available always and everywhere to lend the aid I need to live out this faith.
Blessings,
Chuck
Praise God we have His Spirit to guide us. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.