SOAP Devotional 2014-05-06
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Growing in Faith
Scripture:
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. (2 Peter 1:8, 9 NLT)
Observation:
The more you use the power to live a godly life and add Christlike traits, the more you will be able to accomplish for God and the more useful you will be with what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ. However, those who do not develop in the way God planned either cannot see God's will for how Christians should live as they grow or they are just completely blind. They have forgotten that we are cleansed from our sins when we get saved.
Application:
One of two things happen after we realize God's saving grace. Either we grow and become productive and bear fruit or we lose it and blindly return to our old sins. Like the parable of the seed. One of the seeds sprouted but soon withered. The one that represents those who are saved, though, grew and produced fruit. Growing in Christ acknowledges that God changes us and as we grow, we become productive in the kingdom. Some are now arguing that having a mission is the new legalism that makes everyday church goers uncomfortable. They want to just have jobs, raise their families, and not have anything expected of them. That is not all that happens to a Christian. A Christian becomes productive and useful for growing the kingdom.
Prayer:
Father, I want a happy family life with my wife, kids, and grandkids, but I realize that is not all there is. Help me as a grow in you to be productive with what you have given me. Let my knowledge that I have gained be useful to others so that your household will grow and not just my own.
Growing in Faith text in context:
Quanum Nova review I did is an example that I do have lots of RC encounter, and am becoming excited about it again. 3em;”>By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 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, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT)
