Always Growing and Climbing Higher

“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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, 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 1:5-8

It is said that the alternative to growing is dying. As soon as we stop growing we begin the process of dying. The same is true in our relationship with God. We are to always be growing. We are to always be "adding to" Peter says.

I sometimes visualize it as a mountain climbing experience where we are alway climbing higher. We don't want to go back or down, we always reach for the mountain top. It is sometimes easier to think of this way than growing and dying. Our relationship with God is one that take us higher and higher up a mountain, the peak or apex, is a constant and deep relationship with Christ. We are called to reach different "base camps" or "spiritual summits" as we climb toward the mountain top. Faith is the first step and all other things we add to our faith as we continue to live in and live out our faith.

Faith is not where we stop. It is where we start. We add to our faith as we continue to grow in our relationship with God. This is what I hear Peter saying in this passage. Don't stop at faith keep going! Don't stop at goodness keep going! There is more to be added. There is a higher calling. We have not got to the final destination. Keep going! Don't stop at knowledge, add to it! Don't stop at self control add too it!

All of these qualities, as we grow in our relationship with Christ, should be constantly increasing. Peter says, "process these qualities in increasing measure." Always be growing in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Keep climbing! Keep Growing!

What are you striving for? What are you adding to? Are you growing? Are you climbing?

Don't look back. Press on. Keep growing. Keep going. God will add to your faith these qualities in increasing measure. Just don't stop reaching up and out to him.

Love today.

In Christ's love and mine,

Doug