(no subject)
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.
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.
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:5-10
This is why we read and reread the Bible; sometimes a piece of Scripture that has never really meant anything before suddenly finds a place in one's brain and lights go on.
I always struggle with feeling insignificant--with fearing that nothing I do is worthwhile because I can't see the results, because I can't tell if anything I'm doing is making any difference.
I read this passage yesterday. When most people quote from it, they just use the listing of virtues, but there's a really lovely consequence listed, too: if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful....
I must remember this, when I am tempted to think that nothing I do has any effect. Neither useless nor unfruitful....
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.
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:5-10
This is why we read and reread the Bible; sometimes a piece of Scripture that has never really meant anything before suddenly finds a place in one's brain and lights go on.
I always struggle with feeling insignificant--with fearing that nothing I do is worthwhile because I can't see the results, because I can't tell if anything I'm doing is making any difference.
I read this passage yesterday. When most people quote from it, they just use the listing of virtues, but there's a really lovely consequence listed, too: if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful....
I must remember this, when I am tempted to think that nothing I do has any effect. Neither useless nor unfruitful....