“For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8
Faith goes beyond believing in Jesus and accepting Him as our Savior. Just knowing Him isn’t the extent of our faith. Knowledge is of little benefit if it produces no fruit in our lives. When we expend energy and invest resources for a cause or purpose, we expect to see fruitfulness and reap the rewards of our efforts. It’s exciting to know that God promised, if we add to our faith, that we will not be barren or unfruitful in our knowledge of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:5-7 has shown us that we are to give diligence to add specific things to our faith. Just like roses added to a vase, our faith should be filled with godly attributes. Let’s review what they are:
- Virtue
- Knowledge
- Temperance
- Patience
- Godliness
- Brotherly Kindness
- Charity
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance;
and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
2 Peter 1:5-7
These characteristics aren’t just accessories to our faith. They should abound in us. The Greek definition for the word “abound,” found in 2 Peter 1:8, means:
- To do
- Make or be more
- Increase
If we want to see fruitfulness in our faith, we have to abound in the things we add to it. We can’t just plant the seeds and neglect to nurture them.
Dreaming of Fruitfulness
I’m not sure when I fell in love with pink English roses but I dream of having a beautiful garden full of them. Sadly, my gardening skills are still lacking and with the exception of three scrawny Knock-out roses, the few rose bushes I’ve tried have suffered untimely deaths. And yet, I keep dreaming.
However, dreaming isn’t doing. If I hope to reap bountiful bouquets, I need to plant the roses and give them consistent, tender-loving, care. I’ll have to get healthy bushes in good soil and start nurturing their growth to turn my dream into productive reality. The same goes with our faith.
Fruitfulness in Knowledge
God said fruitfulness is the automatic result of obedience. As we add to what we know and believe about Christ, we will grow stronger in our faith.
Knowledge gives us tools to do God’s will and produce fruit for Him. It gives us wisdom and spiritual understanding that helps us stand strong and protects us from faltering in our faith.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” Colossians 1:9
Fruitfulness in Good Works
Adding these godly attributes to our faith makes us fruitful in our good works and increases our knowledge. Seeing our efforts come to fruition is exhilarating and a wonderful and rewarding gift from God. What more can we ask from Him? Reaping fruit from what we sow makes us want to keep planting and growing.
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:10
Bring It Home
Are you seeing fruitfulness in your good works?
If not, what do you think needs added to your faith?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
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