2 Peter 1:5b-8
I posted about these verses before, but this time I want to focus on the first verse that tells us “Make every effort (or as another translation says, apply all diligence) to increase in the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.” I realize how easy it is for me to think of applying effort and diligence as drudgery; a plodding on when one really wants to be done. It sounds completely joyless. But I’ve come to realize there is another way to look at it. An athlete who wants to be at the top of his game spends a lot of time in conditioning and practice drills that will increase his skill. Knowing the value of the drills enables the athlete to be diligent in doing them without thinking of them as drudgery. His focus is on the skill building; he is looking for the benefits and growth that come from them. Peter says the benefit we get from being diligent in pursuing these attributes is a knowledge of Jesus that is both useful and fruitful. That is a worthy goal—one to keep in mind when I am making the effort to grow in them.