Taking It To the Next Level

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue (2 Peter 1:5a)

Deciding to run a marathon is an act of taking your running to the next level.  To run a marathon successfully will mean that you will have to step up your training and run even more than you have been doing already.  You’ll have to be consistent, and you may have to sacrifice in order to find the time to get in that long run, or not eat certain foods to make sure your keep the proper nutritional balance.

So what does that have to do with virtue?  Here are some definitions of virtue from Merriam-Webster – conformity to a standard of right, a particular moral excellence, manly strength or courage, a capacity to act”.

When we decide its time to add to our faith so we can be effective – we are deciding to take our faith to the next level.  It is a decision.  It is a commitment.  It will take sacrifice in order to make it happen.  Virtue (and some translations call this moral excellence) is the first thing we are told to add to our faith.  Why?  Because we must decide that this goal is going to be our focus, that we will be willing to sacrifice other things in order to make it happen.  We must decide that we will “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Heb 12:1) and that we will focus on that which will get us to the prize. 

Everyone knows that when an athlete goes into training he must give up certain things in order to add what he needs to succeed.  It’s time to put aside the things that will slow us down and keep us from reaching our goal.  That may be different for you than it is for me.  If you’re ready to take it to the next level – ask God what it is you need to set aside and what it is you need to focus on to get there. 

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)

Add to your faith – virtue, moral excellence – the desire and willingness to take it to the next level. 

Run On!