I am overwhelmed by my own sin. How thoughtless, careless, unapologetic I can be. Throughout my twenty years of life, I have tried to be like Christ out of my own flesh and failed...so so horribly. And then after a good amount of failing, the discouragement of believing that I can never possibly achieve the godliness the bible calls me to I have settled for my own form of godliness, complacency. Not being satisfied with where I am at with the Lord, but not thinking it possible to achieve what He's called me to. Until earlier this year before my wedding I read this verse and read with the knowledge that this applies to me too, not just the perfect girl down the street (metaphorically).
It is from 2 peter 1:3...it says "His divine power has granted to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness THROUGH the KNOWLEDGE OF HIM who has called us to His own glory and excellence." (emphasis mine)
His divine power has granted to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness...that means he has given me through His Spirit the fruits of His Spirit. He has given me everything I could possibly need to live a life of godliness. There are no excuses.
I was telling the youth group this earlier this week...to live a life for Christ begins in our thought patterns. 2 corinthians 10:5 says "take every thought captive to obey Christ" and another translation says "We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."
According to this verse we have COMPLETE control over our thoughts. The more we think in a way that is honoring to God, the more our actions will reflect our desire to honor God.
Realizing this was such a game changer for me. It has literally reshaped every aspect of my life. I used to think that if I thought about something but didn't act on it then it wasn't a sin. But I couldn't be more wrong! Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things"
For example, judging someone in my thoughts but not telling someone out loud, or having a disrespectful attitude towards my husband thinking in a way that was not glorifying to God.
Changing our thought patterns from that of sin to scripture will change the way we see life. We will get to see the world more through God's eyes as we meditate on His word when we have the temptation to sin.
We have the capability to live a life of godliness through the knowledge of our Lord. How amazing is that?! There are no excuses. We must live as the bible tells us to and take it literally, not as suggestions. God has given us this awesome privilege of knowing Him and being shaped after Him "being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator"(colossians 3:10)
This is something I learned a long time ago and it still gets me today. Put your name into 1 corinthians 13. God has called us to LOVE. And if we are not displaying these characteristics in our lives then we are way off base and need to get our priorities straight. For the greatest thing we can do is love! (1cor 13:13)
Lacey is patient
lacey is kind
____ does not envy
____does not boast
_____is not arrogant
____is not rude
____ does not insist on their own way
____ is not irritable
____ is not resentful
____ does not delight in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth
____ hopes all things
___ believes all things
___ bears all things
____ endures all things
put your name in there! If these traits do not characterize us, then we are not loving. I know I need to work on these things and pray for some changes in my heart. But I am so excited to grow!
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,[b] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[c] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[d] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 peter 1:3-8
Love,
Lacey Beth
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