5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5, NASB)

“Applying all diligence” indicates something we have to do. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God won’t do what we can. We cannot save or sanctify ourselves; God will not give us good habits or character. We have to develop habits and character on our own, working out the salvation God has worked in.

This suggests we have to get into a habit. Habits are difficult to establish. To take the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go. Oswald Chambers.

Apply this same standard to your carnivore walk.

Supply your diet with excellence in the foods you choose.

Supply your mind with the knowledge to know what is excellent.

This leads to self control, perseverance and a gentleness of mind that inspires kindness and the desire to help others.

We all have these qualities in us and it shows around here in the people on this space.

Oswald said it with great wisdom when he said “we cannot do what God does, and that God won’t do what we can. We cannot save or sanctify ourselves; God will not give us good habits or character. We have to develop habits and character on our own,”.

This is our individual journey and no one can do it for us but we can support each other and grow together as we learn from each other.

7 hours ago, Geezy said:

“Applying all diligence” indicates something we have to do.

One translation renders this as "put forth all earnest effort". It takes earnest effort to live a life of godly devotion - not a token effort, not a mild effort. Same with other aspects of your lifestyle (like diet, health, and nutrition). The effort has to be earnest. Not a token acknowledgement of simply knowing or "believing" what you must do. You have to actually do it.

Jesus said something similar at Like 13:24 "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."

You could say 'exert yourself vigorously to get into those old jeans, because many will seek to squeeze them on and button them around their waste, but many I tell you will not be able'

And this morning Oswald reminds us not to allow our habits to be little gods. Thank you @Geezy for posting this. I needed to read this again with fresh eyes

22 hours ago, Bob said:

One translation renders this as "put forth all earnest effort". It takes earnest effort to live a life of godly devotion - not a token effort, not a mild effort. Same with other aspects of your lifestyle (like diet, health, and nutrition). The effort has to be earnest. Not a token acknowledgement of simply knowing or "believing" what you must do. You have to actually do it.

Jesus said something similar at Like 13:24 "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."

You could say 'exert yourself vigorously to get into those old jeans, because many will seek to squeeze them on and button them around their waste, but many I tell you will not be able'

That fits perfectly.

10 hours ago, Miranda said:

And this morning Oswald reminds us not to allow our habits to be little gods. Thank you @Geezy for posting this. I needed to read this again with fresh eyes

Yea ma’am, I read that this morning as well. It gave me pause to ponder on the reason for my morning devotional and prayers. Am I doing them out of habit or have come to the place where “the habit has been lost in the bliss of unconscious devotion”.

Edited May 12, 2025May 12 by Geezy