Starting with verses from the 2nd Epistle of Saint Peter Chapter 1. They mention TRUE DEVOTION, the topic of our recent posts. Have a look:
May you have more and more grace and peace as you come to know our Lord more and more. By his divine power, he has given us all the things that we need for life and for true devotion, bringing us to know God himself, who has called us by his own glory and goodness.
But to attain this you will have to do your utmost yourselves, adding goodness to the faith that you have, understanding to your goodness, self-control to your understanding, patience to your self-control, true devotion to your patience, kindness towards your fellow men to your devotion, and, to this kindness, love.
Saint Peter the Apostle writes that what God does for all who have been baptised in Christ’s name is to give them all the things they need for life and for true devotion. This is first of all the divine gift of FAITH. God’s part in the relationship of intimacy he wants with us!
Saint Peter says that we have to play our part too, both in ourselves and in coaching those we have helped bringing them to baptism. He outlines a formula of what we have to do to awaken and grow our relationship with God.
Referring back to the text above, and putting it as a formula, gives the following equation:
FAITH + GOODNESS + UNDERSTANDING + SELF-CONTROL + PATIENCE + TRUE DEVOTION + KINDNESS TOWARDS YOUR FELLOW MEN + LOVE = (equals) COMING TO KNOW OUR LORD MORE AND MORE.
The purpose of this fourth posting is to share with you how in apostolic times Saint Peter had already referenced our topic.
This concludes the series DEVOTIONAL FRIENDSHIP – with God.
Most scripture citations in this series are from Good News Bible.
