Numerous times in my life, people have asked me which verse in the Bible is my favorite. While I could list many verses that are special to me, there is one verse that I generally use when asked this question. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Now, you may be thinking to yourself that this is a strange choice. There are many other verses in the Bible which are normally quoted as favorite verses—definitely ones that display the power of God and salvation better than these. So, why would I choose this specific passage?
I became a Christian in 1996 at the very young age of 9-years-old. I remember the day very clearly. I asked a lot of questions that day, which is pretty common for me. We talked about sin, separation from God, repentance and how choosing to put Christ on in baptism was for life and very important.
I remember the weeks and months that followed in which I was on fire for God. I was dedicated to being this new person. Everything was going great. Unfortunately, soon I fell prey to sin—as we all do. About a year after I was baptized, I found myself needing to respond to the invitation. I had sin in my life, and I needed help.
I tell you all of this because for me, 2 Peter 1:5-8 is a passage of Scripture that talks about growth and the need to continue growing all the days of our lives. I look at these verses and see so many things on which I need to work. As each one of these areas of my life improve, I find myself loving and knowing God so much more. Let us all take a look at our lives and make sure we are living for Christ as we should.
