Staying out of Christ's Way

"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; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." II Peter 1:5-7

These are the things we are to add, "giving all diligence" to the doing. When I look at this list, I still see a list of important moral choices we are to make. But now, I also see a rather vivid description of the very character of Jesus Christ!

If this is true, then aren't these traits all a part of me already? If He has come to live within me, why do I have to add them, "giving all diligence"? Isn't this self-effort/ Isn't this trying to tie fruits onto my own tree? No. It is simplest letting yourself see what amazing characteristics are available to you when you begin to partake of this life of God within you. It is not imitation. It is realization. God comes in with all that He is. But we must let this life show forth. We must "work it out" in our daily lives. We must let Him be Himself under all circumstances. Even when it causes us great inconvenience.

"Add" means to "give diligence" in staying out of Christ's way as He lives these characteristics out through our humdrum daily lives. We must "give diligence" to doing this too. It is not natural. It is supernatural. In short, we must obey. When we really find out what He is like, then we will be watching for an impulse within us to abide by this amazing list of character traits. The impulse within you will be the pressure of the very life of God within you. Daily you will know more about Jesus. Daily, the supernatural life will become more familiar to you. Daily, you'll feel more at home with Christ.

"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."

By Eugenia Price, "Share My Pleasant Stones"