Just Because it's so Awesome #2

[PricelessPearl]

2 Peter 1: 2-11 (This passage always helps keep me on the path)

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

[Cino]

How do you cultivate these virtues yourself?

Going by your highlighting in red, are the virtues a kind of "mindfulness of forgiveness"?

 

[PricelessPearl]

Hi there, good question. First and foremost, the work is God’s.

For me, to remember that I am purged of sin means that I am sinless. All the qualities listed are already mine in Jesus Christ, the inner man. So yes it’s remembering to follow him and having faith that all those lovely things are available to me, to know and experience.

Sin is to miss the mark; to be without a share in; to err; be mistaken; to wander from the path of uprightness

 

[Cino]

Missing the mark is a human characteristic, however. We are none of us perfect, in my opinion.

How do you hold the virtues so they don't become an impossible-to-reach standard, a source of self-oppression rather than the liberating remembrance they are presented as in the passage you quoted?

(This question arises in all faiths which have lists of virtues. Issues of one-upmanship, both external and internal, food for negative internal dialogue... when held the wrong way)

 

[PricelessPearl]

How do you hold the virtues so they don't become an impossible-to-reach standard, a source of self-oppression rather than the liberating remembrance they are presented as in the passage you quoted?

Hi Cino, I wouldn’t say that we are perfect either as far as our characters go, and the need for growth and improvement.

It’s always a disciplining of my mind, a redirecting of my thinking, a correction of an erroneous thought (replacing a lie with truth), remembering that I am given wisdom, detachment, courage, trust, stability, compassion, abundance.......they are aspects of mind, consciousness- which I am. I find if I am in the negative side of these attributes it’s often because my ego is in play and I am in fear. And it feels terrible. If I treat someone in an unkind way, it feels bad.

I don’t think they are impossible to reach and people may have some different ideas as to what a virtuous life looks like.

Meek for me means tame. I don’t think it is self oppression really but I think that there are practices that people impose on themselves through religious beliefs and other things. I look at it more as refining. I definitely needed refining.

I think that I answered your question. I’m half awake and need coffee.

I will add though that the passage is about remembering one’s divine nature and to not be drowned in the flood of facts, information, beliefs, sensory input etc that bombards our consciousness (the outer man) and that tells us that we are separate from our Maker and generous Provider.

 

[stranger]

Hi Priceless, I lost this one somehow. (Work load taking toll on time)

Hi Cino, I wouldn’t say that we are perfect either as far as our characters go, and the need for growth and improvement.

It’s always a disciplining of my mind, a redirecting of my thinking, a correction of an erroneous thought (replacing a lie with truth), remembering that I am given wisdom, detachment, courage, trust, stability, compassion, abundance.......they are aspects of mind, consciousness- which I am. I find if I am in the negative side of these attributes it’s often because my ego is in play and I am in fear. And it feels terrible. If I treat someone in an unkind way, it feels bad.

I understand. I'm loaded up with guilt over things I've done, and it goes all the way back to when I was first able to remember things as a kid. I'm "riding dirty" here, need to be forgiven but knowing that God has to arrange things first. Yes, I have been forgiven in position, but experience is another thing. Just the way it feels: Although I know it is not exactly true, I "feel" like the most guilty creature on earth.

I don’t think they are impossible to reach and people may have some different ideas as to what a virtuous life looks like.

Meek for me means tame. I don’t think it is self oppression really but I think that there are practices that people impose on themselves through religious beliefs and other things. I look at it more as refining. I definitely needed refining.

Don't we all! I understand...

I think that I answered your question. I’m half awake and need coffee.

At any given time during the day, I'm about 50% coffee and 50% person... Yes, I'm a drinker. I must needs have coffee in the morning, sometimes on lunch break (especially in winter) and also in the evening and night. I'm hopelessly addicted. In the last few years, I like flavored coffees, but always black, no sugar or cream. Bitter is better.

I will add though that the passage is about remembering one’s divine nature and to not be drowned in the flood of facts, information, beliefs, sensory input etc that bombards our consciousness (the outer man) and that tells us that we are separate from our Maker and generous Provider.

Yes. Have to cut right through all the clutter. It's not true experience, it's just gobbledygook ABOUT experience. Experience is a different animal. It breathes and lives.

 

[PricelessPearl]

I understand. I'm loaded up with guilt over things I've done, and it goes all the way back to when I was first able to remember things as a kid. I'm "riding dirty" here, need to be forgiven but knowing that God has to arrange things first. Yes, I have been forgiven in position, but experience is another thing. Just the way it feels: Although I know it is not exactly true, I "feel" like the most guilty creature on earth.

And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight

 

[stranger]

And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight

Yes, that's it. Those are the words, I only lack the sufficient reality of them. For if I had the reality, I should not have the guilt.