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Remaining Useful

Written by ronda on . Posted in Phoebe Connections.

2 Peter 1:5-7

For this very reason (escaping the corruption of the world), make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

Peter teaches us here to add to our faith the very things that Paul taught us in Galatians 5:22 as the fruit of the Spirit. We cannot walk our Christian life by faith alone; we must apply the fruit of the Spirit in order to escape the corruption of the world. Indeed, when we walk in goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love, we will avoid the snares the enemy sets for us and will be able to live free of condemnation and guilt.

Failure to apply the fruit of the Spirit to our walk of faith can prevent us from walking in the full blessings of God. If we lack endurance, for example, we will give up before the blessing comes and forfeit the reward that should have been ours. Allowing the fruit of the Spirit to grow and mature in us makes us productive as Christians. The most miserable people in the world are those who feel useless, without purpose, or incapable of contributing to society. A healthy Christian should see these virtues increasing in measure as he/she grows in Christ.

Make a conscious effort to apply the fruit of the Spirit to your daily walk of faith. The enemy will certainly try to challenge you, but applying these virtues will protect you from his snare. If you fail, he will condemn you and try to damage your witness. Resist him, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).  Don’t forget the fact that Christ has saved you from much, and you should never revert back to any old habits that enslaved you to sin. She whom the Spirit sets free is free indeed, and the walk of faith and application of the fruit of the Spirit in your life will keep you free. Christ died for us because the life we have in Him is worth living. Supplement your faith with the fruit of the Spirit and remain useful and fruitful.

Have a blessed day!

PHOEBE Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)3 dedicated to enhancing the lives of widows by building relationships and helping them find new identity in Jesus Christ through serving others. We promote an atmosphere of fellowship, where the widow can connect with other widows to develop friendships and supportive relationships.