December 12 Daily Devotional

Morning and Evening

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5–7)

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Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:5–11

Devotional

Do you want to enjoy the important grace of the full assurance of faith? Then—under the blessed Spirit’s influence and assistance through God's Word—do what this Scripture tells you, “make every effort.” Take care that your faith is of the right kind—that it is not a mere assent to doctrine but a simple trust in Christ—depending on him, and on him alone.

Give diligent heed to your “goodness.” Plead with God that he will give you the heart of a lion so that you may go forward boldly with a consciousness of what is right. Study the Scriptures well, and get “knowledge,” for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try to understand God’s Word. Let it dwell in your heart richly.

When you have done this, add “to knowledge, self-control.” Take heed both to your body and to your soul. Be self-controlled both without and within. Get control of your lips, life, heart, and thoughts. By God’s Spirit working through the Word, add “perseverance” to this. Ask the Lord to give you that perseverance that endures affliction—that perseverance that, when it is tried, will come forth as gold. Arm yourself with perseverance, that you may neither murmur nor be depressed in your afflictions.

When that grace is won, look to “godliness.” Godliness is something more than religion. Make God’s glory your object in life. Live in his sight. Dwell close to him. Seek fellowship with him. In this way, you have “godliness.” And to that add “mutual affection.” Cultivate a love to all God’s redeemed children. And add to that a “love” that opens its arms to all people and loves their souls.

When you are adorned with these jewels—and to the degree that you practise these heavenly virtues—you will come to “confirm your calling and election.” If you want to get assurance, “give diligence,” for lukewarmness and doubting very naturally go hand in hand.

[July 26]

Extracted from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (public domain), language modernized by Larry E. Wilson.

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