Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Moral Courage

"make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge" II Peter 1:5



Do you find it hard to grasp the fact that God has actually given you EVERYTHING you need to live a godly life?

Well, it is true! Peter says so in this great portion of Scripture!

Now it is up to you to accept that truth by faith and begin to act upon it.

So, Peter says, "add to your faith goodness". The word for "add" means to "lavishly support". Support what? You support what God wants to build into your faith.

"Goodness" means "moral courage". If you are going to strengthen your faith you obviously must have the courage to apply your faith to your every day living.
How do you know what to do?

By adding "knowledge" to you faith.

According to, William Barclay, the original Greek word used for knowledge is a practical knowledge, that knowledge which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.

Your faith grows when you know what God wants you to do in a certain situation and you find the courage to do it.

All the great heroes of faith in the Bible had to make courageous decisions to do what they knew was right.

  • Abraham knew he had to leave his homeland even when he did not know where God would take him. He courageously left and followed God.


  • Moses knew he had to raise his rod over the Red Sea even though many of his people were doubting him. He courageously raised his rod.


  • David went charging toward Goliath with just a sling and five stones because he knew the giant had to pay for blaspheming of God. David showed courage!


What do you know you should do but haven't had the moral courage?

Will you add to your faith goodness and to your goodness knowledge?

September 18, 2018

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;"  II Peter 1:1-5

This great portion of Scripture written by the Great Apostle, Peter, elaborates on the amazing possibilities from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through faith.

Think about it!

You can have a faith as precious as ours!

You can have grace and peace...... in abundance!

You can have everything we (you) need for a godly life!
You can have him who called us by his own glory and goodness!

You can have His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires!

You can add to your faith, goodness!

You can add to your faith and goodness, knowledge!

As amazing as all these blessings are - there are even more! And Peter not only promises you can enjoy ALL these wonderful graces but he even shows you how to get there!

Thinking about how good life in Christ can be I have to look at the dangerous condition of the world around us and wonder, "How did we get here?"

If you were to ask Peter, "How did we get here?" I'm sure Peter would point to this Scripture and say without hesitation, "You got HERE, because you didn't get THERE!"

Will you make every effort to get THERE?