Notice Peter’s implication. The implication is that you will add these things to your life. We need to remember God is the one that saves us, and we can’t save ourselves. God is the one that enables us to lead holy lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. However, God does not give us good habits or force us to walk in His ways. We have to make the quality decision to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). It is our responsibility to “work out” our “own salvation,” which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12).

“But Tom, I remember that we are saved by grace, not by works.” That is correct. We aren’t talking about working for our salvation; we are talking about taking the initiative to grow in our faith.

I can teach someone how to play the piano. I can show them how to position their hands on the keys. I can show them how to play one note after the other. I can teach them what a chord is and how to play it on the piano. But I will never be able to sit down at the piano and practice for them. That is on them. They have to take the time and intentionally do the things that I show them.

It’s the same way with our new life in Christ. Habits take time to create, and our character takes time to change. Our commitment to Jesus, however genuine and whole-hearted it may be today, must be renewed tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that until Jesus returns.

So let’s not lose a minute in building on what we have been given. Let’s actively grow in the qualities of good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, patient endurance, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and genuine love. For without these qualities, we can become shortsighted and blind, forgetting that we have been forgiven and cleansed from our old sinful ways. But as we grow and mature, we will become productive and useful for the Master, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Tom