Jesus wants us to go way beyond what we could have done on our own.  He wants us to know him, to participate in the divine nature (whatever that means), and to escape the old habits and temptation that surrounds us.  In the texts we have been focused on, both in Paul’s letter the Colossians and in Peter’s two letters, we are directed to gain a deeper knowledge and intimacy with Jesus.  Remember Peter saying “we have been given everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him” (II Peter 1:3).  Paul says that he never stops praying that they will gain a deeper knowledge of His will.  This knowledge is not book knowledge of his attributes or his plan; it is the intimacy that comes from shared experience.  This is the “knowing” word that scripture uses to describe the knowledge that a husband and wife share.  Not a newlywed game knowledge either; way beyond finishing your BFF’s sentences to unguarded openness, unswerving honesty, and absolute acceptance.  Thirty four years into marriage I know my wife and I are catching a glimpse of the closest thing to it. Thirty seven years in relationship with Jesus and I am still learning to trust him.

Knowing him is not a side benefit of salvation, guidance, and empowerment to live effective and productive lives.  Cultivation of relationship with him is the mechanism.  We have established that he provided the grace and faith that allow us to choose relationship with him.  I have always believed that he will grow the Jesus-like character in me as I exert obedient effort.  The big revelation for me is that the effort required should focus solely on staying in relationship.
 
My prior understanding would take a verse like, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), to mean that the power had changed hands.  “Thanks for empowering me Jesus!  Now watch me fight this dragon cuz I’m gonna make you right proud”.  My new understanding of this verse and the passage we will examine in II Peter is that Jesus fights the dragon with me.  He is not in the bleachers; he is with me doing the work.

The seven habits of effective and productive Christians are outlined in II Peter 1:3-11.  Its one of the many lists I enjoy.  I like clear objectives and I have always thought of these as spiritual to do lists.  In truth, however, it is a list of things Jesus will do if I cooperate.  This is the how-to as I see it.   I am confronted with a dragon.  This dragon may take any form. It could be my own self serving nature or the lure of status, or the devil himself.  Whatever the temptation; see it as a dragon.  Picture it with me; face the dragon, feel Jesus at your back, lean in to your God and submit to his power and his desired outcome to the battle.  Now look at the dragon, is it just me or is he looking weaker & smaller?

When Peter says that we should make every effort (vs. 5) to add to our faith it is easy for me to switch to ME power.  That’s why I need to focus on what was said previously (vs. 3) about his provision of everything we need to live life and escape temptation through the mechanism of our knowing him.  So, the way I see it the mandate from Peter is to make every effort to lean in and let Jesus build the list of virtues into me as I face the dragons.

It has been many years since I dabbled in the study of Greek so I am relying heavily on John Macarthur and others for my understanding of the language in this passage.  The word used for effort is also used for earnestness, haste and zeal; Peter wants us to invest body and soul into growing mature.  He tells us to add these virtues to the faith we have been gifted:

1.<strong>Goodness</strong>; operative virtue, the god given ability to perform heroic deeds, the proper doing of a task, the demonstration of moral energy

2.K<strong>nowledge</strong>; truth properly applied, discernment, study how to apply moral energy

3.<strong>Self-control</strong>; holding oneself in, self restrained

4.<strong>Perseverance</strong>; endurance, consistency under trial, never giving in to sin, bearing up under pressure with hope and eyes set on a goal

5.<strong>Godliness</strong>;reverence, God consciousness, devotion to God’s will, someone who adores God and actively avoids the idolatry of putting anything else first

6.<strong>Brotherly kindness</strong>; mutual sacrifice in brotherly affection, love God and love neighbor as self

7.L<strong>ove</strong>;self-sacrificing love, love by choice

When we stay connected and submissive, leaning in and cooperating with what Jesus wants to accomplish we will “possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  He makes the relationship possible, works in it to grow us, making us more effective and fruitful in our intimacy with him.  He gives us wings.

I see a lot of value in the habits Covey described, and more in those Peter listed.  Discipline and effort are commendable but they are empty if they are not empowered by God and used for his purposes.  A hero of mine told me long ago not to strive, but to do what God requires in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.