![\"\"](\"\/Banner-MOG-60.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
2 Peter 1:6<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n With hard work we can develop a more Christ-like character.<\/p>\n Behind the Words<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The word translated \u201cself-control<\/span>\u201d (\u2018temperance\u201d in some translations) is engkratia<\/span><\/em>. This is a compound word made up of en<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cin\u201d and a form of kratos<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cpower or strength.\u201d Some, today, equate this with refraining from the use of alcoholic beverages. That is not specifically what this word means. It refers to the ability to have \u201cinward control.\u201d In other words, controlling ourselves in whatever we allow ourselves to do in the sight of God.<\/p>\n \u201cPerseverance<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word hupomon\u0113<\/span><\/em>. This also is a compound word that is made up of hupo<\/span><\/em> (or hypo), meaning \u201cunder\u201d and meno,<\/span><\/em> which means \u201cto abide\u201d or \u201cto remain.\u201d This is a picture of a beast of burden that remains under a load in spite of the weight.<\/p>\n The word \u201cgodliness<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word eusebeia<\/span><\/em>. This is another compound word made up or eu<\/span><\/em> meaning \u201cgood\u201d and a form of sebomai<\/span><\/em>, which means \u201cto worship\u201d or \u201cto revere.\u201d Hence, eusebeia<\/span><\/em> refers to a person who is devout, pious, and fully committed to God.<\/p>\n Meaning Explained<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Continuing on from the last verse, you will remember that Peter is admonishing us to apply all diligence, that is to work hard and work consistently, to developing certain qualities or characteristics in our Christian faith. In the last verse we were told to increase in morality and knowledge (of God and what He has done for us). In today\u2019s verse Peter adds three more things that we are to work hard at developing in ourselves. Let\u2019s look at these three things.<\/p>\n The first of these is self-control. I like the way that Adam Clarke described this word:<\/p>\n It is a proper and limited use of all earthly enjoyments, keeping every sense under proper restraints, and never permitting the animal part to subjugate the rational.<\/p>\n The second thing we are told to develop in today\u2019s verse is perseverance. As we develop self-control, the temptation or pressure lasts longer and we need to continue to endure it, to persevere. Like a beast of burden, we are to remain under whatever load God has placed on us without complaining. It means patience or endurance with regard to situations or circumstances, not letting oneself lose control or lose faith.<\/p>\n The third thing we are to develop is godliness. As we learn to persevere, we experience more of the unfaltering love that God has for us. From this personal experience we become more devout and committed to Him. This godliness refers not just to the outward show of piety, but loving and magnifying God in our hearts. This godliness begins on the inside with a deepened, total commitment to God and then evidences itself in all of our deeds and actions.<\/em><\/p>\n Application<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Self-control, perseverance, and godliness are three essential parts of any Christian\u2019s character. And, they come not by simply letting them happen, but by diligent, hard work.<\/p>\n Are you up to the challenge?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n <\/span>If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2 Peter 1:6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; Truth to Learn With hard work we can develop a more Christ-like character. Behind the Words The word translated \u201cself-control\u201d (\u2018temperance\u201d in some translations) is engkratia. This is a compound word made up of en, meaning \u201cin\u201d and a form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[211,218,219],"class_list":["post-825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-godliness","tag-perseverance","tag-self-control"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pd5geA-dj","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"signature\"](\"\/signature.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"chrome:\/\/skype_ff_toolbar_win\/content\/cb_transparent_l.gif\"){kind=spacer}
<\/span>![\"\"](\"chrome:\/\/skype_ff_toolbar_win\/content\/famfamfam\/us.gif\")
![\"\"](\"chrome:\/\/skype_ff_toolbar_win\/content\/space.gif\")
![\"\"](\"chrome:\/\/skype_ff_toolbar_win\/content\/arrow.gif\"){kind=icon}
<\/span><\/span>(618) 614-3070<\/span>![\"\"](\"chrome:\/\/skype_ff_toolbar_win\/content\/cb_transparent_r.gif\"){kind=spacer}
<\/span><\/span><\/span> and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:![\"e-mail](\"\/Will_e-mail.gif\")
<\/p>\n