December 22

We have everything we need for our lives through the knowledge of Him, but the knowledge can be ineffective and unproductive if I don’t make every effort to add character qualities to my life. Fortunately I already have these character qualities although they may be hiding, and you do to if you have exchanged your life for the life of Jesus Christ. Still, I am taken by the command TO ME that is nearly befuddling! I am charged with adding love to brotherly kindness which was added to godliness, which is added to perseverance, which is added to self-control, which is added to knowledge, which is added to goodness, which is added to faith? That is all me? I am tired thinking about it! How do I concentrate on all of that?!

As Paul might say, thanks be to God that His Spirit is at work in me to empower and strengthen me to do all of that adding! If I look back over my life I see that these things have been added in great degrees. I haven’t come close to attaining any type of perfection or even a “good amount” of these characteristics, however, I am confident that He who began a good work in me will continue to conform me into the image of His Son. My part is cooperation, which is effort.