VIRTUE (Goodness, Moral Excellence)
Brother James, OIC
“…and add to your faith, virtue.” 2nd Peter 2:5
What a lesson it has taken me to understand the importance of this one little word. A word that has character only God can place within ones life. Just as faith can only can only be given by God through the hearing of his word. Virtue can only be applied by doing the word. Then “knowledge” will become “understanding” , the understanding that will produce fruit in your life. Fruit that will endure forever and wither not.
Much like my namesake Jacob, I too have wrestled with God. I am ; always blessed but, because of my stubbornness I have had my “hip” thrown out of joint. Virtue dispels the thought of partnership with God, we need a oneness, a bond that Jesus prayed for us to have in John 17.
John 17:20;21
“neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one; as the father is in me I am in him, that they may also be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
The virtue of Gods’ goodness being infused in our reborn spirit is the beginning of “power” dunamis, (Greek) the explosive power of God working in and through us. To jump from the initial measure of faith to gaining more knowledge in intellect until application which is virtue, begins planting it in understanding within us, within that good (virtuous ) ground whereby fruit explodes into life.
Nothing in me before Christ was good. Now it is his presence within working in and through us to do his good pleasure makes virtue a reality we can move forward in. Jesus taught us this in the parable of the sower.
“The seed which fell on good ground.(Virtuous ground) which is Gods’ word received in understanding thus yields fruit which is life within us." (Matthew 13:23)
I have wrestled with God over everything from ministry to relationships desiring his blessings… that blessing never comes without a cost. I have received my blessings and have joyfully paid the cost.
Virtue begins by simply obeying the word and being patient. From prayer to acts of brotherly kindness, to letting Gods’ word work through us, to laying down our lives for others. All adds virtue to faith. Virtue is always about others, not self, not what we want but what God wants us to do for them. Ooh to minister like Christ did. To love as Christ loved, to effect miracles changes even as to the raising of the dead. He still wants us too as we back up and apply virtue to faith allowing his power to work in and through us as we yeild our members to obey his word.Remember this, God is the potter, we are the clay He is not looking for the cookie cutter Christians. He is looking for his elect, his called. Will you be one of the called, will you yeild to his Holy Spirit calling you today?
Annie’s Prayer: 2nd Peter 2:5
Lord Jesus, I love you. I yield to your calling today, thank You for the Blood you shed that makes me apart of your elect. Thank you for virtue, goodness, and mercy you have bestowed on me. You are the lover of my soul. I know your Spirit is infusing my reborn Spirit, to give me the measure of faith and power needed to do your good will. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
