Ain't What She Use To Be


If you travel to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains you'll recognize this old wagon from the Cable Mill area. It has been in a sad state of disrepair for some time but I noticed on our last trip how time has really taken its toll. Nature is reclaiming the products from which it was constructed. What a sad ending to a once useful and productive piece of transportation.

Recently in our church Life Group we discussed 2 Peter 1:1-10, but I want to share with you verses 5-8 in particular because they will help you, as a believer, not to become ineffective, useless and unproductive regardless of your age.

"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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love (for all). 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."

FAITH is the beginning point to maturity and being able to fulfill the calling God has on your life, but if we wish to be able to love God and our neighbor as Christ commands, then we must also possess and increase in the following qualities: goodness or moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance/patience, godliness, and mutual affection or love for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Without a dedicated heart to sustain and grow in these characteristics then eventually you will become about as useful in God's kingdom as this old wagon in Cades Cove. Personally, I don't want to be known for what I was once good for but rather for what I am doing today in obedience to God's will for my life.

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