Love that surpasses Knowledge – Part I

I want to look at our part first. The 2 Peter 1:5-11 verses. Here is the scripture in it’s entirety.

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

This scripture starts with, “Now for this very reason…” For what very reason, why should we do these things and have them in increasing measure. We must look at the beginning verses to see our motivation in being so diligent towards moving closer to Jesus. We will be motivated to be diligent because Jesus has given us the power already to do this (1 Pet 1:3). Not only that, He has also given us His promises as well. The promises of; life everlasting and an abundant life here and now (1Pet 1:4).

Since we are properly motivated to be diligent in our faith, let’s look at these things that we are supposed to do. I don’t want to look at them individually. They are easy to read and easy to understand. What I want you to see is that they build upon each other. There is a progression. As you begin to do the first you will then also move into the second. You will continue until you are able to do all of them. I also want you to notice that they start within you and move beyond you. They will help you to relate to and encourage others around you.

I also want you to see the positive and negative consequences of being diligent to work on these things. It says that if we are increasing in our ability to practice these qualities we will be fruitful and useful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if we do not put these into practice in our lives then not only will we not be fruitful and useful in knowing Christ but we will be as a blind person. It will be as if we had never met the Lord at all, as if our lives were never changed by Him, as if we never tasted the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. All the reality of the abundant life with Jesus will be out of our reach.

So what does this mean in practical everyday life. Well, ask yourself, what are you doing that causes you to long again for the gay life style. Is it your fantasy life? Are you actively keeping your fantasy life alive in your head. You need to replace it with something from Jesus. Confess this to Him. Ask Him for forgiveness. Receive that forgiveness and cleansing. Then ask Him for something to replace it. Ask Him for a scripture verse that holds a promise for you. Ask Him to help you to see what is underneath the fantasy life that gets it started up. Is it loneliness, or unworthiness, or a hurt place? Ask Him for a verse that speaks the Truth in your soul. He will do this for you. Then every time this fantasy life starts up, pray and ask the Lord for help and begin to dwell on the verse He gave you. This will be a struggle and often times a moment by moment battle. But it is also through this process that Jesus will grow you towards Himself. I don’t know what keeps you turned toward and desiring the old life style. I do know Jesus and how He has helped me. With each passing year I gained a greater understanding into who He is and the Power that He can and will impart to my life for His glory. His desire for you is that you will bear much fruit, and you will.