God in us – Day 13

We already know that our knowledge of God enables us to live abundantly and we need not live a life of mere existence. We participate in his divine nature and can, therefore, live a godly life and escape corruption. We have to understand, though, that it is his power that changes us, however, the responsibility to live or act out this change is our responsibility. We have to figure out how to realise the change in us, because only then can our lives honour Him, and give proof that he called and chose us; that we belong to Him.

Where do we look then? In the word that God himself gave. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Peter makes it very easy for us when he lays down eight successive building stones: 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. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

A changed life starts with your faith in Jesus Christ and it becomes visible in goodness, or as Augustinus put it, “a good lifestyle is the child of faith”. You have to have knowledge though, of the characteristics of goodness or a good lifestyle, and this you will find in the Bible. If you know God, self-discipline or self-control becomes possible and you can apply what you have learned. However, once is not enough; you have to persevere in putting into practise what you have learned. Perseverance demands godliness, a life close to God, because it is he who works in you and enables you to persevere (Philippians 2:13). This closeness to God finds expression in brotherly kindness and, eventually, in love for all people. But if you have not yet learned to be kind and loving to fellow believers, how will you be able to show love to people who do not know him?