Supplement your faith

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NLT)
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Peter’s own words are best for the opening of this chapter, “This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” In building our relationship with The Lord we are to take heed of God’s promises and allow our faith to grow. The Apostle gives us those areas for growth in verses 5-7 above.

 

 

It has been called the greatest rescue mission of World War II. Late in that war, American bombers were sent on dangerous missions over southern Europe to cripple the Nazis' oil supplies. Hundreds of crews in flying tin cans soared through storms of anti-aircraft shells. Many American pilots were forced to bail from their shot-up planes. The injured airmen drifted by parachute into occupied Yugoslavia, expecting to be captured or killed. Instead, on the ground remarkable rescue teams were already in place. Serbian peasants tracked the path of the floating flight crews. Their sole mission was to grab the flyboys and bring them to safety—before the Nazis arrived. Risking their own lives, the peasants fed and sheltered the downed solders. These rescued men were in friendly hands but on enemy soil. They still needed to escape. The story of what became known as Operation Haylard builds toward a daring mission, a secret landing strip, and a clandestine evacuation plan. Amazingly, those Serbian peasants rescued every single American airman—over 500 in all.” (Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition (Crossway, 2010), pp. 63-64)

When we walk alone we are more vulnerable to attacks. When we come together to serve a common cause that is when we are strong. There were those who were injured and weak, but they were carried by those who could support their burdens. Even though the enemy was present these soldiers stood among friends who cared for them.

Remember these words, because in our journey with Christ He is there to carry our burdens even when we are surrounded by the enemy. With Christ we are less vulnerable to the attacks the enemy brings towards us. In understanding Christ’s love for us we can give back to others in the same way He gives to us. Follow Peter’s words to supplement your faith with morality, knowledge, self-control, godliness, brotherly affection, and a love for everyone that we may assist them as they may one day assist us.