Bible Verse of The Day – 3-13-20

2 Peter 1:8-9 (NKJV) 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Over the last few days, we have discussed several attributes that Peter listed that followers of Christ should walk out in their lives.

Today, let’s get into why those attributes are so important.

“If these things are yours and abound”.

There is an emphasis here indicating that these attributes don’t just happen. We need to make them ours. We need to put forth the effort that is required to make them a part of our lives, in our actions, not just in words.

They should not just be present, but they need to abound! That is, they should be plentiful and flourishing in our lives. This can only happen as we let the Holy Spirit lead us on a daily basis, being mindful to heed His promptings.

And what does the Word say will happen if we do this?

It says that “you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Being barren is never a good thing. Being barren means that there is no life within. Various other places in the Bible use the word “barren” to literally mean inactive, lazy and useless.

Being unfruitful is also mentioned. Picture a tree that produces no fruit. That tree is unproductive, and literally not good for anything when compared to the energy it consumes in order to exist.

So, if these qualities aren’t present in our lives, what sets us apart from the unbeliever and makes us distinguishable as a child of God? This is a question we need to ponder seriously.

Verse 9 goes on to tell us that anyone who lacks these things “is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins”.

That’s a pretty bold statement that should grab our full attention pretty quickly!

Shortsighted even to blindness makes us pretty ineffective, don’t you think? In essence it is telling us that we can’t see anything unless it is immediately in front of us.

God wants us to be able to see and discern things long before they are directly in our faces because by the time we recognize them, they will literally be upon us, leaving us no chance to prepare for them and act accordingly.

Peter then wraps this all up by saying that anyone in this condition has forgotten that they were cleansed from their old sins.

That’s a pretty sad state to be in, wouldn’t you agree?

We should never live our lives looking backwards, but we absolutely should never forget what Jesus has cleansed us from, lest we fall right back into it.

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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