One Thing Leads to Another

Jesus has the power of God. His power has given us everything we need

to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him.

Jesus called us by his glory and goodness.

2 Peter 2:3 (ICB)

One thing leads to another…

Seed Basket Devotional starts a great new series today!

One Thing Leads to Another is a helpful study of how to become more mature in our faith.

Do you remember seeing all of the Biblical passages that list attributes.

One thing leads to another…

Although we won’t begin with the fruits of the Spirit, they are a great example of such lists found in God’s Word. They are illustrations of His character.

They should reflect who we are as believers, too.

One of the functions of the Spirit of God is to help believers add those attributes to our walk of faith. They should be character qualities in us that draw people to the Savior.

When you take the time to read and study the various lists from the Bible, you see a pattern in them. It’s almost like putting one foot in front of the other to achieve a goal.

But not only do these attributes draw others to see God living in us, they help us to become more mature in our daily spiritual journey.

The downside is this: when we engage in sin and bad habits, those traits become off-putting to others. More importantly, living in intentional sin dishonors our Savior.

One thing leads to another…

Following the guidance in God’s Word helps us stay in tune with the Spirit.

So, as we begin this study, let’s start with a short list given by Peter in his second letter.

…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,

to virtue knowledge,

to knowledge self-control,

to self-control perseverance,

to perseverance godliness,

to godliness brotherly kindness,

and to brotherly kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NKJV)

Do you see how each attribute naturally leads to the next Godly step?

When we diligently develop our relationship with God, our faith grows, setting us apart from the world. This is what Jesus desires; it’s a virtuous radiance from the heart.

But true virtue can only look irresistible when not drug down by legalism and religion. So knowledge of God’s Word and His wisdom make virtue a beautiful character quality.

When we combine self-control with knowledge, we avoid misusing God’s Word by making it just poetry and sentiment. We gain the wisdom to control our speech, desires and actions. We learn to wait for the Holy Spirit to guide us.

When we combine perseverance and self-control, we maintain our focus on achieving our ultimate goal: finishing our earthly race with peace and joy while honoring God, allowing us to recover quickly from sin and failures.

When we add godliness to perseverance, we withhold judgments of others. We fill our language with words that give encouragement, love, and kindness, not cursing, gossip, or hatred. Our behavior is Christ-centered, not “me”-centered.

When we add godliness to brotherly kindness, we recognize the real needs of others, especially our faith community. We see God’s influence in their lives, and through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we discover practical ways to express kindness to others.

Adding brotherly kindness to love reflects God best. True love, like God’s, involves sacrifice, but it is meaningful and good.

Godly love prioritizes others’ welfare over your own. It seeks to give rather than gain. Such people often ask, “What can I do to love you best?” instead of “I need you to do something else” to feel more loved.

That is when we find that God’s love for us is enough. Although we were created to love and be loved, and to have loving relationships, ultimately, God’s love brings us true contentment.

So what do you think?

Share this with someone in your world.

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:2-4

One thing leads to another!

International Children’s Bible (ICB)

The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.