Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 ERV
In this passage, we are encouraged to add virtues to our faith—goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion, kindness, and love. These virtues, given by God according to verse 3 that we looked at yesterday, empowers us to live a life pleasing to Him. Remember, faith is the bedrock of our Christian journey, without which it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Therefore, for our actions to be acceptable, they must spring from a faith-rooted in Christ.
Before pursuing virtues, prioritize faith in Jesus, believing He rewards earnest seekers (Heb. 11:6). A faithless life filled with religious activities lacks the aroma of a true “living sacrifice.” However, by building a solid foundation in Christ, we can then add goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion, kindness, and love to our lives.
Virtues acquired through faith yield a sweeter fragrance in our walk with God. As we seek to grow in virtue, we must remember that they stem from the roots of a genuine faith. Let your faith be the anchor for cultivating a life enriched with godly character. Embrace the truth that virtues are not a substitute for faith but a beautiful result of it.
Faith, like a seed, germinates into a harvest of virtues that glorify God. Through faith in Jesus, we unlock the potential for transformative virtues to blossom in our lives. Without faith, virtues lack the foundation needed to impact our spiritual journey profoundly. Therefore, faith empowers us to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion, kindness, and love to our lives.
As we walk in faith, we must continually grow, allowing the fruits of goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion, kindness, and love to abound in our lives. When faith precedes virtues, our lives emit a sweet fragrance that honors God.
Let your faith be the driving force behind your pursuit of godliness. A life rooted in faith shines brightly with the reflection of Christ’s character. In conclusion, build your life upon the unshakable foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Virtues are like branches, flourishing when nurtured by the deep roots of faith. As you walk in faith, may goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion, kindness, and love be evident in your life.