Moral Excellence
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your
faith virtue… (2 Peter 1:5).
“Virtue,” in our opening verse, means
principle, moral goodness or excellence.
God wants you to add that to your faith. You already
have faith: “…according as God hath dealt to every
man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). But as
important as faith is, there’re certain things the Lord
requires you to add to your faith if you’re to have a
life of persistent productivity and ever-increasing glory.
One of it is moral excellence.
God wants you to run your life by some godly
standards and principles, and you’re to employ
diligence in doing this: “…giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue.” This isn’t something you
should be casual about; you’re to painstakingly and
conscientiously see to it that your life is marked by
some high moral standards; standards and principles
from God’s Word.
For example, the Bible tells us that Jesus went to
the house of God, the synagogue, as His custom was
(Luke 4:16). Is that your standard? Do you have it as
a custom, a principle, to go to church when it’s time
for church? Or do you only go when it’s convenient?
Some people only go to church when they feel like it;
they have no standards. They lack moral excellence.
However, for Jesus, it was customary for Him to
go to the synagogue. You ought to have that kind of
discipline in your life: when it’s time to go to church,
you go, because that’s the right thing to do, irrespective
of other considerations that may arise.
In addition, have definite prayer and Word-study
programmes and schedules. Don’t pray or study the
Bible accidentally or casually, only when you feel
like it. Let these be activities that are hallowed parts
of your day and routine. Inculcate the discipline; it’s
an indispensable ingredient for a highly effective,
successful, and persistently productive life.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for showing me the importance
of lavishly supplying moral goodness or excellence to my
faith. The Spirit of excellence at work in me brings discipline
and stability into my life, causing me to be diligent, ever fruitful
and productive, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study
Ephesians 5:811; 2 Peter 1:5 AMPC
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Thessalonians 1-2:16
Isaiah 54-56
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
John 5:19-27
1 Kings 19