"Effective and Productive Qualities"

1 Peter 1:8 "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."

I must admit that I am often more knowledgeable about spiritual matters than I am effective or productive about them. I wish ignorance were my excuse rather than laziness, weakness, attitude or flat out rebellion. The Bible always answers its own questions that it often raises if we read and study in context. 

The qualities referred to in this verse are listed in the preceding verses. So if I want to be effective and productive with what I know to be true about my faith I must make myself a list of the qualities that make that more possible and probable. Here is a checklist of the qualities from verses 5-7. These work like building blocks, meaning we are supposed to keep building them on one another. Starting with faith we then add...

□ goodness
□ knowledge
□ self-control
□ perseverance
□ godliness
□ mutual affection
□ love

This list has kept me busy for a lifetime thus far. The more I focus on these qualities and how they work together, the more effective and productive I am. A little food for thought today. Now, as for me, back to the list.

Working on it with you,

Pastor Fred