Who You Are > What You Do

 

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

The Apostle Peter is writing to followers of Jesus that are scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Among other things, he is instructing them in the ways of God for spiritual growth, and reminding them of an all-important truth, God is more interested in who you are, than in what you do. Notice the chain of growth Peter outlines, with each characteristic linking to another: 1) Faith in Christ - everything begins (and ends) with faith in Jesus. 2) Moral excellence - surrendering your best to God. 3) Knowledge (ginosko) - functional or experiential knowledge, i.e. wisdom. 4) Self-control - self-mastery or dominion over yourself. 5) Patient endurance -  steadfastness, patience in active waiting. 6) Godliness - devotion, piety, reverence. 7) Brotherly affection (philadelphia) - affection for those in the body of Christ. 8) Love for everyone (agape) - unconditional love, the highest form of love. 

Each of these character qualities overlap and generally develop simultaneously. And Peter says that we are to "make every effort" or be diligent to grow in these areas. 

Pastor Francis Chan introduces his message on 2 Peter 1:5-11 with this probing question (one that is applicable to every follower of Christ)... AT WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST?

"Peter writes in his letter that we should make every effort to cultivate Christ-like character qualities. Most of us have goals that revolve around what we want to accomplish rather than who we are, but God wants us to develop character. When we focus on being the person God wants us to be, then we will accomplish what He wants us to accomplish." *

Remember: Who you are is always more important than what you accomplish or accumulate.