CHARACTER – WHO AM I?

2 Peter 1:3-8
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Growing in Faith

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Ask yourself, “How am I doing on these eight Godly character traits?” The list in verses 5-7 is admirable and possibly overwhelming if viewed from the perspective of human capability. Looking at the list, which ones are you doing well? Which ones are your struggles?

Where you are doing well, it is because of the divine power God has provided, not your human effort. Where you are struggling, it is the same divine power that will help you to grow.

Ask God to help make all eight increasingly real in your life. They all flow from the Spirit of Christ that lives in you.