On Sunday we carefully considered the exhortation that Peter gives in 2 Peter 1:5 which says: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and….” If you were not able to be with us it was such a foundational message for the rest of our series through 2 Peter 1:1-11 that I would encourage you to go back and listen to it at this link. The conclusion we came to about how our diligence in pursuing greater Christ-likeness expresses itself has to do with the word “supply” in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Supply is explicitly stated in verse 5, but then assumed the rest of the time whenever a new Christian virtue is mentioned in verses 5-7. We considered the background of the word “supply” (which has to do with a benefactor providing for the training and props for a play that others act out, in other words furnishing the play or setting the stage as it were) and the fact that the virtues listed are fruit that only the Spirit of God can produce in our lives. Both of these considerations led us to this conclusion: Our diligence in pursuing Christ-likeness is a diligence to supply the right context, to furnish, or to “set the stage up” for the divine drama of sanctification. In other words, because Christ is sufficient for our spiritual growth (2 Peter 1:3-4) we must diligently furnish the right context in our lives for the Spirit of God to make us more like Jesus (2 Peter 1:5-7). We cannot make ourselves more like Christ, but we are called to be diligent in the process of being more like Jesus. So what is our part? Carefully examining the influences in our lives, the priorities of our lives, and the pursuits of our lives all for the purpose of “setting the stage” in our life for the Spirit of God to make us more like Jesus. This involves negatively turning away from certain pursuits, influences, and priorities and positively turning to others. Central of course to “setting the stage” for the Spirit of God to make us more like Jesus is giving ourselves to God’s Word, to prayer, and to worshiping with other believers. So an important question for all of us this week is whether or not we have been diligent to furnish the right context in our lives and in our families for the Spirit of God to make us more like Jesus. How are you doing this week at applying all diligence in supplying the right context in your life for the Spirit of God to change you to be more like Jesus?
