ineffective.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him . . . so that you may . . . escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make EVERY EFFORT to add to your faith, goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge;
and to knowledge, self control;
and to self control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:3-8

There is a step-by-step process here. It's like the fruit of the spirit, one quality follows after the first.
Once you have faith, the next attribute you gain is goodness, after goodness, knowledge, self-control, and so forth. Increasing each in measure as you learn each lesson and live each moment.

Goodness. The King James Version uses the word virtue, arete, meaning "moral excellence." It's easy to be good, in the sense that you're not "bad." But being good is a broad spectrum that has been skewed by the ugly world we live in. "I'm a good girl, boy, student, person, man, woman, dog-owner, chess player." Uh-huh.

Knowledge. How do we begin to know something? When we want to learn about someone, do we simply expect to know everything instantly? No. We spend time with them, we read their life's story, we listen to them, we linger around them. God's word is our means of knowing God better. Prayer is our means of knowing God better. Listening to the Holy Spirit it our means of knowing God better. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10 How is your life holding up? Are you in God's word consistently enough to say that you gain a new aspect of Him or His purpose for you every day?

Self-control. Ouch. You mean you want me to control my temper, my worry, my attitude? Fail. An epic one. God had to put that one third. I mean, couldn't He put that one last, something to be awarded in Heaven along with my robes and jewelry? But, no, He must think this one is pretty important. I personally think this is the point that separates Christians who have been talking the talk (having faith, being good, and maybe even occasionally reading the bible and praying before roast) to Christians who are walking to walk (you know those people in your life, they stand out in the strangest ways.) This is where the real, back-breaking, depending on God for every second kind of life comes into play. Self-Control. Or temperance as the KJV puts it, "the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions." Now how are you holding up? Needing Jesus desperately yet? Good. Let's keep going.

Perseverance. That's a fun one, isn't it? "The characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings." How often are we turned to our fleshly attitudes when someone changes our channel? Eats our leftovers? (well, they were MINE!) Asks us for help? Or even just needs someone to cry with and listen? How selfish we are. Have the patience to see the needs around you and fight that strong urge to not do anything about it. Only Jesus can help you do that. "Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will, then you will receive all that He has promised." Hebrews 10:36 NLT

Godliness. This word means "reverence or respect towards God." It's interesting that this isn't first. It takes time and work to be so deep in a relationship with God that you actually have a true and reverent heart towards Him. It is a holy blessing that God enables us get so close to Him. And a calling that should never be taken lightly.

Brotherly kindness. Wait, what were all those other attributes towards? Wasn't letting my little sister watch her TV show showing her kindness? The original meaning of this phrase is "The love which Christians cherish . . . each other." Did you give your sister the remote because you realized how cherished she was to God and wanted to treat accordingly? I doubt that thought ever crossed your mind. If you do think that way, good work! God's already done a lot in you. If not, ask God to cultivate a spirit of kindness towards those brothers you can't seem to get along with. Then wait, He'll nourish it.

Last, but most definitely not least, you will grow a spirit of love towards our God and His creations. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

In love, kindness, brotherly love, godliness, perseverance, self-control, knowledge, goodness and faith you will no longer be ineffective. Unproductive.
You will have a deep contentment in God's love for you.
You will have unknown knowledge shown to you.
You will connect in meaningful ways with the people around you.
You will be filled so much that you can't help but overflow from all of the joy inside of you.
You will suffer.
You will feel pain, the pain of your own hurt and the pain of your brothers.

But you will live, oh, you will live.

Let God lead you through the painful process of sanctification on earth, so that you may one day stand before Him in Heaven, still unworthy, but spoken for and rewarded ever so graciously.

fine.

I heard a song by the Indigo Girls called "Closer To Fine" on my way home tonight and my mind began it's usual process of applying a biblical (and usually contrary) world view to the lyrics. Yes, I call that a gift. :)

The song's chorus says,
"I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There's more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine."

The first verse that came to my mind was "I am the way, the truth, the life" and the answer to these questions, pointing us in a straight line. "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6
I'd assume that someone who hasn't found the Way would have uber crooked lines, as opposed to someone who has found Jesus. But even as believers, we sometimes try many other things (like diets, educations, hobbies, relationships, remedies, workouts, self-help books, medications, vacations, insert yours here) to try and find our "source for definitive." But all we get from those things is a crooked line and that gratifying and satisfying feeling of being . . . fine. I can see why the songwriter is frustrated.

When Jesus came to earth I really don't think 'fine' was exactly His idea for us. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God . . ." 1 Peter 2:9 Does that sound like a mediocre life to you? It sounds to me like a mighty calling. Like a mission. Like a life with the potential to be lived to it's fullest. Peter goes on to say ". . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." We were chosen to be taken out of the darkness and into His light so we could tell others how wonderful He is!

A friend recently told me a story from a show she'd seen. This family was in a situation where they thought that a bomb was heading towards their house. They all ran down to the bomb shelter and, fearing the wreckage outside, remained there for 30 years! When all the time, it was only a plane that had crashed in their neighborhood. Apparently, no one missed them and they were able to survive for a ridiculous amount of time underground. But, imagine if someone knew where they were, what their situation was and came, opened the door, let in the light, and showed them that everything wasn't in disarray. Do you think that they would say "thank you" and immediately pick up where their old life had ended? Of course not. They would celebrate and rejoice and drink in the light and enjoy the brand new life so graciously given to them. That's how redeemed Christ followers should be inclined to act, because He daily brings us up out of the bomb shelter. It just takes enough faith to step out into His wonderful light.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1

We really do have a mission, whether we choose to accept it or not. When are we going to put away our selfish efforts and realize that we so desperately need Him? Because when we come to Him and He brings us out of the darkness He has so much more than fine planned for us. Be encouraged that Jesus has incredible planned for you!

"More than fine, more then bent on getting by . . . more than just okay." -Switchfoot

"I feel alive and it hurts for a change
I’m looking back, its hard to believe
That I was cool with the days that I wasted
Complacent and tasteless and bored
But that was yesterday," -The Afters

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11