In Conclusion

Faith + goodness + knowledge + self-control + perseverance + godliness + kindness + love = Effective & Efficient Living!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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 1:3 - 9)

 

One of the more experienced lenders on the staff of HNB often referred to a rookie’s analysis as “elevator” analysis. By this he meant it covered all the necessary points with the proper words and ratios, but in the end it drew no useful conclusions. Hoping to avoid that rookie trap, allow me to offer some conclusions which I pray will be useful.

Christ desires that our lives produce useful results. Lives that do not waste the great and precious gifts he has given. Lives that that are actively involved in “divine” things, things that are good and right and lives that avoid corrupt or evil things.

• Goodness - the essence of something or someone. When asked to show his goodness God showed his mercy and compassion.
• Knowledge = informed action. It is knowledge of his word that helps us to know what to participate in what to avoid.
• Self Control - because of our inability to control ourselves Christ came to win control over sin and left his Spirit to produce this same result in us.
• Perseverance - never give up! When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the source of our faith, we can choose a rehab strategy over an exit strategy.
• Godliness - conforming to the wishes of God.
• Kindness -inspires us and others to participate in the divine. The absence of kindness generally yields quarrelling, outburst of anger, and selfish ambition; all on the list of the corrupt.
• Love - the great motivator for all of the above!

If you take anything from these weeks of analysis, I hope it will be that Christ has provided all that we need to live effective, useful lives. He has not only given us instructions on how to live he has provided the motivation to live this way.

My least productive days have been when a boss has given an ultimatum, particularly one that comes with no instruction. However, I have worked long, productive days a boss who elicited high performance not only with words, but with actions. One who led by example. I respond best to a boss who understands what is required to complete an assignment. One who is willing to leave the corner office and work along side me to achieve the desired result. One who provides all the resources necessary to accomplish the task, effectively and efficiently. That kind of boss demands my best effort.

While Christ has given us an ultimatum, he has provided all the instructions we need. He himself left his place in heaven not only to walk where I would walk, but to give his life to make mine possible. He understands much better than I all that is required to complete any assignment. He left his Spirit to work along side me to achieve the desired result. He provided the template for an E² life. One filled with faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. That kind of Savior demands my best effort!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

Thanks for listening,
See you next Sunday,

Ronda

The rules are important, but understanding the wishes of the ones who wrote the rules is critical to following the rules.