Yesterday I found myself googling “how do you know if you have patience”. Since the season I am in seems to be teaching me patience, I really wanted to know if I am learning. As I searched for answers a scripture came back to mind as I kept hearing patience in my head.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness… 2 Peter 1:5-6 KJV
..and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Peter 1:7-8 KJV
Here I believe God was reminding me that I am going through a process that includes me learning patience and not just patience but once I learn that there will be other qualities that I will have to acquire as a follower of Jesus Christ.As usual I decided to read the entire chapter for context. I found it funny how growing up I would hear in many sermons “make you calling and election sure” but the rest of that verse was never quoted. Well at least I didn’t hear it.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2 Peter 1:10 KJV
The two words that stood out to me is Never and Fall. I had a hard time processing it and tears began to well in my eyes because this process to perfection is something I know. I know the truth. But was I constantly in remembrance of it?
As I woke up this morning I heard “press towards the mark”. I knew this was from scripture so I searched for it. This became my morning devotion and solidified what I read in 2 Peter.
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:14-15 KJV
The word “calling” in the Greek klēsis – means an invitation. We have been invited into the life of Jesus Christ. Rather chosen and given an invitation, since the Greek word eklogḗ (ek-log-ay) means selected or chosen.
Now that we know that we have been chosen and invited into the life of Jesus Christ what should we do? Paul and Peter encourages us to be diligent in acquiring the qualities of Jesus Christ. There is a higher level that we must reach in Christ. Higher than what we learned growing up. There is more to this life in Jesus Christ than we were taught. We must strive daily to be like Christ. We know this doesn’t come from our own strength but through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is not an overnight process but the sooner we surrender to the process the sooner we will stop wandering in the wilderness.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12 KJV
I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. Philippians 3:12 TPT
Many of us are like Paul in that season of his life. We have not yet attained what Christ really desires for us but we can run with a passion towards it as the Holy Spirit moves within us. In order to run ahead with passion, Paul mentions a key strategy in going forward.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..Philippians 3:13 KJV
I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. Philippians 3:13 TPT
How many of us can’t go forward because we keep living in the past? How many of us are constantly battling with self condemnation? How many of us are stuck because we just don’t really believe in God’s word? Today I am reminded that I need to believe. I need to apply the knowledge of Jesus Christ to my life and keep running with passion towards the life that God has called me to. I also need to know that this life I am called to is not one that is confident in the flesh but confident in God.
