We need to be kind to ourselves and definitely give others more time to improve. Your character may not be perfect but you are better than you were a year ago.
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” (2 Peter 1 v 8-9)
The qualities? Goodness; knowledge; self-control; perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; love. We have looked at each one over the last several days. Peter instructs for growth in these. In fact it is not slow growth but to abound in them, to increase, to focus on them. Sometimes we focus so much on gifts and abilities that we lose sight of the fruit, the character issues and the person behind the gift. You are a work in progress. The goal is to become more like Jesus.
As we focus on this growth in our lives then what we know about Jesus is effective and impactful and productive!
Where is that productivity best seen? It’s not in the church services on a Sunday but it definitely is in the home, the work and our friendships outside of church. This is where we need more practitioners of the character of Christ. We may not be perfect but it is here that we are getting better in people seeing what we know even if they don’t quite understand. How many know but the world doesn’t see it?
There are some who are in it for the take. They come to church to be entertained, to be blessed and they live their lives with no impact whatsoever in their world outside of the church. Impotent Christianity. We are not looking for powerful evangelism and miracles. The world just needs character virtues demonstrated. If that is not understood then all we have is Christians who have been cleansed but have forgotten they have been and who have no vision. The world will never see perfection in you but they will see someone attempting to get better and to look like Christ. They will see someone who sees the virtues importantly lived out to better the world we all live in.
Missions Paul 