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Back in August of 2022, I began reading through the Bible again. This time I was journaling the character traits of God along with the promises He revealed along the way.
Today, I would like to share an eye-opening moment from 2 Peter 1. It was fast and fun and I am going to type it straight out of my journal in hopes that you can feel what I was feeling as He opened my eyes to how organized and thoughtful He is, how He is “the one in the details”…not the devil…not in this case anyway!
I will add a small preface here just for context. In this passage, Peter is emphasizing that God’s grace alone is why and how we are able to have any sort of fellowship with Him. Through the miracle of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection we are put back into right relationship with Papa God. I don’t want to lose that very important context as I share my revelation. In light of that all-important miracle, we begin our journey, with BASIC FAITH…
Journal entry 8/30/22 from 2 Peter 1:1-11:
(FAIR WARNING: Lots of grammatical and punctuational liberties will be taken!)
It starts with BASIC FAITH.
Believing that Jesus is Who He says He is and did what He said He did for me.
From that foundation of faith in Jesus – I CANNOT FAIL – Because it’s not me doing the work of salvation…Jesus already did it.
My job is to believe. and keep believing.
As I do that (keep believing) my character changes – becoming good and gooder 😁
GOOD CHARACTER gets added to my Basic Faith.
To my Basic Faith and Good Character is added SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. The more I understand about the spiritual side of life and how it affects EVERY OTHER SIDE OF LIFE, it simultaneously deepens my Basic Faith and Good Character roots while preparing me for the next thing to be added.
ALERT DISCIPLINE is a natural result of understanding more about the spiritual side of life. I must be disciplined to implement safeguards and exercise DIFFERENT mindsets about life and godliness SO THAT I continue to build my temple – my life in Christ.
Yes – Jesus “did it all for us” but then we obey and submit to the BEAUTIFUL changes that REALITY brings about in us!
Basic Faith + Good Character + Spiritual Understanding + Alert Discipline = PASSIONATE PATIENCE!
At least it should anyway. When I think about the process of “working out my salvation” and being very aware of my own journey – Passionate Patience for others should be a natural result as we are aware of the amount of patience God has had toward us. It is not for me to judge someone else’s “building project” … ever!
Patience – not only for others but for myself as well.
REVERENT WONDER ❤️
SO GOOD!
Remembering ALL the things: God’s mercies, kindness and His own Passionate Patience with you should snatch your breath at times. Let it!!
When something in His creation or the way someone describes something pulls you – even momentarily – out of the cares of this world – Let it!!
Enter the Reverent Wonder – Let it consume you and make you feel small.
Let it remind you of where you were and where you are now!
Hide it in your heart.
Seek it out.
Look for His greatness and you will surely find it.
WARM FRIENDLINESS 😊
WOW! Reverent Wonder softens you. IF YOU LET IT. So the flow right into Warm Friendliness is just perfect.
Imagine how you are when you’ve had a bad day – when it feels like everyone is against you – or the agnst that comes when you try to control things…
Your entire demeanor reflects your thoughts; it shows on your face, in your posture and can be heard in the tone of your voice.
Conversely – when you leave a moment of Reverent Wonder, realizing Someone is caring for you, has your back and loves you SO completely – you soften and become “warm” again.
Reverent Wonder fills you with Warm Friendliness. And filling up naturally results in pouring out…
GENEROUS LOVE ❤️😊🌻
– OF COURSE – 😊
All things lead to Generous Love because HE is the most Generous Love!!
I’ve never really thought about the ORDER these are written in.
They actually build something – the order matters! Matters A LOT, in how we see ourselves and others!
Apparently, I wasn’t paying that close attention because it says it RIGHT here in the end: “each dimension fitting into and developing the others”.
BEAUTIFUL ❤️😊
And for what purpose are the building of these things?
“With these qualities, active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.”
What happens when we don’t develop these things?
“You can’t see what’s right before you – oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.”
(End of journal entry)
My hope is that in not editing the journal entry you can feel the excitement I experienced when I was seeing the significance of the order for the first time (even though it was spelled out all along).
Read your Bible, friend.
He is so thoughtful and attentive to what He knew we would need to live this life in a way that would please Him.
And I promise that even though we live this life to bring glory and honor to His name, SOMEHOW, in His incomprehensible goodness, He will make you feel like, in doing so, HE is honoring and loving YOU like no one has or ever will!!
Yes, HE IS THAT GOOD!!!
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