The "why" and the "what if"

Peter, the fisherman turned apostle, has had a lot to say to us lately!
I'd like to turn our thoughts back to his second letter, and then ask a couple of questions....

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:3-11)

First of all, look up there at verse 5. See where Peter says "for this very reason"?  He's telling us "why" we should be diligent. Why we should strive to add those "vitamins" to our faith. You remember, right? Virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual (or brotherly) love, and agape love.
The "why" is that God has gifted us with His power -- that's so we can live a godly life. And He's given us His great and precious promises, too. Really good reasons why we should strive diligently to add to our faith, and become more like Him.

Now, what are the results? The what if? What happens if we do what he has so carefully told us to do?
Starting in verse 8, Peter lays out some things that we can count on, if we follow his instructions in the previous verses. Let's focus on verse 8 today:

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't know about you, but in about two months, some really pretty catalogs will hit my mailbox (yes, I'm old school and I LOVE to turn the pages of real catalogs!) and I will tuck them under my arm, pull up my collar against the cold wind, and trudge back to the warm house (about a quarter of a mile). I do love me the Burpee catalog, and others like it. I thumb through the pages and mark plants and trees that I want to try growing here.
Now, some of the plants or trees need specific things to "be fruitful." Some berries and fruit trees have "male" and "female" plants; you need to plant one of each in order to have the yummy harvest that you're anticipating.
Others need very specific soil conditions; one must be careful to amend the soil if the plant likes acidic soil, or if it prefers alkaline. Some plants can tolerate moisture, and others don't like to get their feet wet. Some need fertilizers at certain times in the seasons.
Some of the plants in the catalog will have a guarantee. They will live, or they will bear fruit in a certain length of time.

I believe that Peter is saying in verse 8 that those vitamins we talked about last week will make certain that we are fruitful. It's like that guarantee in the plant catalog. (Grin)
Peter says that if we have these traits in ever-increasing measure, we are guaranteed to be fruitful Christians.
We won't be barren.
We won't be unproductive.
We will be fruitful branches for God's glory!
We will be effective witnesses with our lives and with our words.
Remember this from our study of John's gospel?

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.....I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:1-2,5)

This is the goal of our heavenly Father - for us to remain in Him and be fruitful. Is it the desire of our hearts to bear fruit for Him? What fruits can people see in our lives? Do they see proofs of our relationship with Him? That's something to think about...

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. (Luke 6:43-44)

"Apart from me you can do nothing." God has equipped us with the tools we need, and He's given us the instructions. Then He has given us the power that we need, in order to do our tasks.  The moment that we believe we can go it alone, or try to go it alone, we've failed. Big time. Here's the good news, though: when we recognize that we need Him, and repent and ask, He is empowering us.

He only asks for us to participate.
Lord, empower us to be fruitful for you!