The place of "Adding to"...Are You?

2 Peter 1:

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Again it's about us actively participating and us adding something...but, make a note, it's not in our own strength -lest we should boast - it is through the divine nature and the Holy Spirit's power at work in us that any of the "adding" is accomplished! But, we must sharing in the doing...the whole "faith without works is dead" concept James was talking about...
If we don't open ourselves up to the Spirit by putting habits and patterns of behavior that promote verse 5 qualities into place then we squelch His abilities to move in and through us -making us ineffective for the kingdom work we have been placed on the planet to accomplish in Jesus name!
I don't know about you but, my heart cries, "make a difference...be effective!"

Are you living in the abundant; life-giving land of verse 5?

It All Comes Down To Choice...

Colossians 3:12-17:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE YOURSELVES with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 12:

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We have to do the "clothing" and the "renewing" - IT OUR CHOICE - we can choose to put on the clothes of the Spirit and operate in the fullness of His power -OR NOT- we choose to allow Christ's peace to rule and his message to dwell -OR NOT- we can choose to conform or be transformed! It all in the simple choices we make...What is your focus on? Are you abiding in the place of renewal -allowing the Spirit free access to transform you? What clothes are you choosing? There's only two sets - those mentioned above and those mention in the few verses before those (and they are polar opposite)... Here's the crux of the message: It's in the place of complete surrender- the place where we choose to lay aside the things of natural man and the world - that we are able to genuinely see Father's will and plan. It's the place of perfect peace and full joy-the place of more than you could ask or imagine -even if the circumstances have you swimming with the sharks or running into SNAKES ;0).

What will you choose today - the mercy is fresh and Spirit is ready?