"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Thursday, November 9, 2023 - Day 313 - (Today’s Bible readings: Daniel 4:1-18; Psalm 119:25-32; 2 Peter 1:1-15)
YOUR SPIRITUAL DAILY SUPPLEMENTS
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)
Daily supplements (vitamins and the like) are crucial to good physical health. In today’s reading Peter is encouraging us to take regular spiritual supplements to our faith...
virtue,
knowledge,
self-control,
steadfastness,
godliness,
brotherly affection,
and love.
This certainly is a challenging list, isn’t it? While we know that our salvation depends on our faith in Jesus and His death in payment for our sins, we also know that this list is part of God’s plan for the living out of our faith. In spite of our sin, God wants us to live full lives. Peter put it this way: “His (God’s) divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” (verse 3).
How different would your life be if you took this list to heart and attempted to follow each one? You can do this... but only with the Lord’s help. And that’s something you can pray for...
Lord, take my hand and lead me Upon life's way;
Direct, protect, and feed me From day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray,
So take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way. Amen.
(“Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me,” Lutheran Service Book #722)
Pastor David Paape
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