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This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace.” Yesterday we discussed the fact that we should not lose one minute in building upon what God has already given us by His grace. God made plans for us before the foundations of the world, He birthed us with unique gifts in order to complete those plans, and He expects us to mature, develop, and build upon what He has already given us.
Yesterday we started to walk through verses 5-9 of Peter’s second letter. I will share these verses with you daily and we will walk through the passage in portions.
Peter said, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG).
Today we will focus on the statement, “complementing your basic faith with good character.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Embrace your uniqueness. Modern dictionaries define character as: the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves; someone’s personality. But I like to use Noah webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (from 1828), because I like to go back and find out what words used to mean. The 1828 dictionary defines character as: The peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character, or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities. Your character is comprised of the qualities that distinguish you from everyone else. God did not make you a carbon-copy. God made you an original. Embrace your uniqueness.
2. Protect your uniqueness. Paul said, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor 15:33). You will not grow in grace by mistake. For you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God you will have to be intentional and part of that directed focus must include a careful consideration of your associations. Solomon taught us that both wisdom and foolishness can be transferred by association (Prov 13:20). Surround yourself with people who are not intimidated by your assignment, who are comfortable with their own assignment, and who can help you celebrate the diversities of giftings and callings without jealousy. God did not give you what He gave anyone else and He did not give them what He gave you. You are unique. Accept it, embrace it, and protect it.
3. Allow God to use your uniqueness for His glory. Once you are comfortable with whom God has made you to be and what He has called you to do, you are in position to allow God to use your uniqueness for His glory. You were born WHEN you were and WHERE you were for WHY you were. No one on the planet has your assignment, your voiceprint, your fingerprint, or your unique composition. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14). Ask God to use your uniqueness for His glory. Bind your feet to the path God designed for you before the world began and live determined to make the impact you were born to make. Why? Because no one else has the grace to do it. ONLY YOU can be the YOU God called YOU to be!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for helping me to grow in grace as I grow in the knowledge of You. I don’t waste one minute in building upon what You have already given me. You made me completely unique. No one has ever been born, nor will ever be born, with my voiceprint, fingerprint, or assignment. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am Your child and I am called according to Your purpose, which You gave me in Christ Jesus before the world began. I embrace my assignment and I embrace my uniqueness. I surround myself with people of like precious faith, who are comfortable with their own assignment. Together we are able to celebrate the giftings and callings of God without jealousy. I don’t have to covet what You gave anyone else. You did not give me what You gave them, and You did not give them what You gave me. I only have grace for my race, so I will run with patience the race You have set before me. My feet are bound to the path You made for me before the world began, and I will run down that path determined to leave a mark that will never be erased. I celebrate the grace that is on ME, because You made ME to change the world. I declare this by faith. I Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
