Things I am mulling over

His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.  

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your:

• Faith with virtue
• Virtue with knowledge
• Knowledge with self-control
• Self-control with endurance
• Endurance with devotion
• Devotion with mutual affection
• Mutual affection with love.  

If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.    2 Peter 1:3-8  NAB

Supplement Faith with Virtue:  Faith is abstract.  Virtue is practice, it is where the rubber hits the road

Supplement Virtue with Knowledge:  Many Christians (I am raising my own hand here) get stuck at a knowledge base of 5th grade.  Some of us get unstuck.  Others do not.  Try reading the Books of Wisdom, Proverbs and Sirach.

Supplement Knowledge with Self-control: The only thing we can control is ourselves.  Our minds and bodies are the vessel we have been given stewardship over.

Supplement Self-control with Endurance:  Nobody said it would be quick or easy.  The entire thrust of 2 Peter seems to be that we will have many trials but that the reward is eternal.

Supplement Endurance with Devotion:  To forsake all others.  To devote a resource to a specific purpose means that you will not divert it to other purposes.  Focus!!!

Supplement Devotion with Mutual affection:  Men are social animals. We are called to sort things out and to invest in the public good will.  Like tall trees in the forest, we support each other when buffeted by the storms of life.

Supplement Mutual affection with Love: To be willing to sacrifice our selves and our priorities when appropriate. Jesus gave us a new commandment; to love one another.  Love is a verb.  Love is a decision.  Love is a discipline like lifting weights or running long distances.  This kind of love is a muscular armor against the dark one.