effective.

Ok, so apparently all I blog about now is loving Jesus... I'm fine with that. Its something I've been struggling over though. Why? Well, frankly I don't always know what I'm talking about, and I screw up on a daily basis. Who would want thoughts on faith from me? I'm not putting myself down, I'm just trying to be real. So, thats something I've been thinking about for the last few days. How can I be effective and productive for Jesus when I am not "qualified" to speak with authority about anything? Got an answer this morning...

I was reading in 2 Peter (vs 1:5-8) this morning... Not really looking for anything in particular... just continuing from where I'd left off the day before. Here it is:

"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 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."

and here it is from The Message... just a little more colloquial.

"So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books."


God certainly has a way of pointing out things I need to know. I normally read from an ESV version of the Bible at home. However, for whatever reason, I pulled out an NIV version a few days ago and started using it. Well, this morning as I was reading I came across 2 Peter 1:8 which used the words 'ineffective' and 'unproductive' which are EXACTLY the things I've been struggling over. I worry that I'm ineffective because I'm not qualified to comment on faith. I'm just trying to make it like everyone else. I don't want to present myself as someone who 'has it all together' so to speak. I read a lot, I pray a lot, I think A LOT, but what can I do to make myself a more credible member of the body of Christ?

2 Peter this morning laid it all out quite clearly. I don't have to get a degree in ministry to be effective or productive... I need to demonstrate understanding, discipline, patience, friendliness, love... This is the stuff that will make me an effective member of the body of Christ.

Just a little something I am thinking about today... hope its something everyone else can apply too. =)