2 Peter 1:5

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

My experience in Kingdom living has placed knowledge before virtue. It is what I have been trying to learn that has placed me in a position where I do not worry about virtue. Even though I should.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:9

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

Ephesians 1:17

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Ephesians 3:19

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4:13

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

It really isn’t so much effort these days as much as it is just who we have become.

Matthew 19:17

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

We left off yesterday with the issue concerning pride of life and how those people do not feel like they need God. That sounds like they are a god unto themselves. I am good equals I am god in their actions and motivations.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Heaven forbid that those who have the pride of life would ever consider that anyone could look inside their heart and discover their true agenda. It might well be that many people are not aware of their agendas because those things can change as we mature, grow older and are more or less capable.

For people of faith I would hope that their agenda is to love God and obey what He is asking of them. That is my hope but not a thing within my control. I can only answer for myself.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have been talking about the testing of our faith and if we compare our faithfulness to that of Jesus we will always see ourselves coming up short, maybe even getting a failing grade. The Lord loves us and does not want us to feel like failures. If we believe that God is faithful and that we are called, then believe this, His success is not dependent on our performance.

At one time in my life a friend said this to me; “We are at a Jesus concert and while I am in the nose bleeds, you have a front row seat.” My answer to him was “Buy a better ticket.”

Joshua 7:13

Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”

That may be old school but it is still true.