Self Discipline

Click here for the audio message of 2 Peter 1:4-11

We start our look at Peter’s second inspired letter to the believers scattered around the country. If you remember we said that Peter’s first letter was to encourage his readers during times of persecution. He told them to watch out for the trials that come from outside the church.

In his second letter, Peter warns his readers from trials that occur inside the church. Whether it is from laziness on the believer’s part or actually heresy from the leaders, Peter says to watch out. To be on guard.

Peter tells the people to be disciplined. That was a problem they were apparently experiencing way back then. You know what? It is still a problem we face today as well. For the most part we have become an undisciplined society and unfortunately it has rubbed off on us Christians as well.

God has given us so many good things, so many blessings each and every day. He gives us what we need. And He has given us the greatest gift of all, eternal life through Jesus Christ. How much better can it get? But yet, with all the blessing He gives us we often times become a little lazy if you will in our lives, especially our spiritual life.

God has instilled in us certain characteristics or attribute that all Christians have, it is just a matter of how much we let those attitudes show in our lives. God gives us what we need. He gives us faith.

Peter tells us to add to our faith certain things. He is telling us to practice our faith by demonstrating these attitudes in our life and each attitude builds up to the next one.

First, Peter says to add to your faith virtue. Virtue is a tough word to place into our society today. But Peter is talking about moral excellence. This is the God given will power to live a life of excellence, thinking about others and acting upon those thoughts.

This is the stranger who runs into a burning building to save a child. It takes courage and strength to be this type of person. Like all of these attributes it takes practice.

Next, Peter says to add knowledge. Here he is referring to not book smarts about any subject. Rather he is referring to knowledge about Jesus Christ. Not just Bible knowledge, because there are many people who know the Bible well. This knowledge is that intimate knowledge of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Peter says as Christians living an excellent life for Jesus Christ, we must have self control. We must be disciplined. A Christian must control their flesh, their worldly passions, and bodily desires. We must control our desires or else our desires will control us.

Adding to our self control is perseverance or patience. We must endure whatever it takes when we are doing what is right in God’s eyes. We cannot give in to our temptations or turn away from God during our trials.

With our perseverance comes godliness. To be godly is to live reverently, loyally, and obediently toward God. God has given us everything we need. Rather than asking Him for more, we need to ask Him to enable us to use what we have in order to serve Him.

Godly people want to be like God, even though we will never see perfection in this world. They want to live out their life like God lives. It is dependence on Him and a life that is devoted to Him.

When we are living a godly life with others then we will automatically add brotherly kindness to our life. This is the love of other believers. We are to love each other and should make sacrifices for one another.

Finally, Peter says not only do we love other believers, but we have a love for others in general. We are to love our enemies. We are to love the sinners as God loves them. God wants them to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and that should be our mission as well.

As you read through these attributes they are all descriptive in the English language. We would probably refer to them as adjectives in many cases. That is how a lot of these words translate from the original Greek.

But when you actually study the original Greek, many of these words were not descriptive adjectives at all. Rather they were action words, verbs as we call them. And that is what Peter is getting at.

Peter tells us that when these characteristics are active in our lives, then we are useful to God. It takes practice to include these things in our lives, but it is what we are supposed to be doing as faithful believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

It takes discipline to live the Christian life today. It takes an effort. Faith is not something we say we have, it is something that we show in our life style. We practice and live out our faith. Being disciplined shows your love for God.

As believers pursue these qualities in their life they will see a difference. They will find they will have a meaningful, useful, and fruitful life. When tough times come, and they will, they will not struggle with doubt, fear, or despair. Because they know that God is there with them and that His Word can be trusted.

Think about your life this week. Think about the spiritual areas that you need to be more disciplined in. Think about some of the areas where you have been disciplined and how it has helped you, especially during those tough times.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you for coming into our lives and enabling us to live fruitful lives for you. Help us to use the gifts that you have given us to serve you better so that we may bring sinners to you so that they may also come to know you and find forgiveness.

AMEN