A Perpetual Feast

Ruthie and I were blessed to spend Thanksgiving with all our children and grandchildren in Williamsburg, Virginia. To say we had a "turkey dinner" would be an understatement. Our turkey was supplemented with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn, green bean casserole, hot rolls and butter, fruit salad, pumpkin dessert, and more.

Our Thanksgiving feast serves as an analogy of the Christian faith. Just as we complemented our turkey with other Thanksgiving fare, so Scripture says, "Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone" (2 Peter 1:5b-7 NLT).

My wife and daughter worked hard to put our Thanksgiving feast together. But they displayed marvelous teamwork that benefited everyone. In the same way, as each believer gives diligent effort, partnering with the Holy Spirit to develop godly qualities, the more we will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 8).

Read over those qualities again. Which ones need more cultivation in your life? Work hard to develop them in humble reliance on the Lord. The results will be a perpetual spiritual feast for you and those around you.