Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:5-8 (day five)
One of the approaches I use in my Re:Verse reading and study, is to look at different translations. Sometimes a word or words used in other translations resonate better with me – causing me to think deeper and reflect more clearly. That happened this week. In verse 5, translators used the words – add to your faith, supplement your faith, building on (your faith), applying diligence. There is action and activity required on my part to grow my faith. There is work and dedication needed on my part for “increase” (verse 8). Reminds me of Paul’s writing that God is at work in us resulting/requiring that we work as well. Jerry Bridges describes it this way:
A farmer plows his field, sows his seed, and fertilizes and cultivates—all the while knowing that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For the successful harvest, he is dependent on these things from God. Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and cultivate, he cannot expect a harvest at the end of the season. In a sense he is in partnership with God, and he will reap its benefits only when he has fulfilled his responsibilities. Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do. We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us.
Discover more from The Everyday Prayer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
