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It has been a while since we looked at the specific qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7. We left off with knowledge. Next on the list are self-control and perseverance.

Self-control is quite an amazing quality to have in this day and time of “instant gratification.” Pretty much anything we could possibly want, whether food, stuff, entertainment, etc. can be delivered on demand at anyone’s whim. In general, as a country, Americans spend more money than they make, go ballistic with anger at the drop of a hat, view pornography at an ever increasing rate, steal whatever we feel like we can get a way with. This shows a serious lack of self-control that in many ways can be linked to our disregard for the authority of the Bible. However, the self-control in 2 Peter 1 goes far beyond that required to keep from doing the things that the average American does. If one had “moral excellence” as listed earlier in 2 Peter 1, then irresponsibility, outbursts of anger, lust, and stealing would not be issues. This self-control is more than an outward denying of fleshly lusts, it is a work of the holy spirit that emanates from within. A couple of ways I see of building this kind of self-control are prayer, reading the scriptures, and humility in accepting the chastisement of Lord. The latter I see in my son, Elijah. He really wants to pull videos and DVDs off of the DVD rack that we have, which is very tottery and easy to knock over. Initially when he went past it he would always stop to take DVDs off, making a mess and potentially harming himself by knocking the rack over. I have been correcting him by telling him “no” whenever he reaches for the rack, effectively acting as his self-control. It has taken some time, but now, even though there is still a battle raging inside of him (I can see him stop and look whenever he goes past the rack) most of the time he does not try to touch the rack or the DVDs. That is one way the Lord effectively parents us, through His spirit and the scriptures, helping us not be tempted above that which we are able. It is through His strength that we can then overcome the urge to do what we want and instead do what God wants (and ultimately what is best for us).

Self-control then leads right into perseverance. We have to add perseverance to self-control or else our self-control is pretty weak. I can keep myself from eating lots of candy after lunch and exhibit some self-control but if at 3pm I go and eat it anyway I have no perseverance or staying power. Sticking with it, staying on course, being faithful, holding fast to our profession of faith, all take moment by moment faith, moral excellence, knowledge, and self-control. Eventually moments turn into hours, hours become days, days become months, and months become years. It is one thing to sprint fifty yards and quite another to run a marathon. We are running a marathon of faith, and in order to stay in the race and win we must have endurance. Building perseverance can be as simple as making a commitment with yourself not eat any candy during a day and then sticking with it (and not caving in at 3pm) by asking God for help. Another way to build it would be to get up an hour earlier to pray and read the Bible, again asking God for help. (The latter would also help build the other qualities listed in 2 Peter 1.)

So, in adding the next two qualities to the list, the cyclical pattern of growth is still evident. Hear the gospel, have faith in the gospel, repent in light of the gospel (moral excellence), learn more about the Messiah, exhibit the holy spirit’s fruit of self-control, continue to persevere in the race to the Kingdom, and then go back to the beginning and increase in everything all over again.