Be diligent to add to your faith goodness and to goodness knowledge…

It is my observation that the connection between knowing the truth and living the truth it is not well understood. In this quote from 2 Peter 1:5, we are not told to add goodness to knowledge, but rather to add knowledge to goodness. In particular knowing truth follows doing truth, not vice versa. Paul speaks about this in Romans 1:18, where he says that truth is suppressed in unrighteousness.

For example if we want to commit adultery, then we are likely to rationalize or at the very least minimize the effects of our behaviour. But it’s not just head knowledge that is compromised, it is our experiential knowledge of being close to the Lord. In describing the process of yielding to temptation, James (chapter 1, in verse 13) informs us that it starts with being drawn away. And what we are drawn away from, is both the truth in our head and the experience of Him who is truth incarnate (John 14:6).

In the context of our quote from 2 Peter 1, Peter tells us that if among other things we lack goodness followed by knowledge, then we are not only blind (verse 9), but we will also fail to enter into the divine nature (verse 4). In other words there will be no difference between us and the world, and we will fail to bring honour and glory and praise to the one who at incredible cost to Himself secured our salvation.

Father, Peter also tells us that when a we lack these things, we have forgotten that we were cleansed our sins (verse 9). So in essence we have forgotten what is perhaps the main difference between us as believers, and the rest of the world. In other words we have forgotten that as believers we are forgiven and cleansed, but unbelievers are not. So I ask You this morning Lord to assist me in being diligent to add to my faith the things You called me to add. I so want to glorify You Lord, and this is the only way it will happen. Thank You again for Your truth this morning in Jesus Name Amen