In the first chapter of the second epistle of Peter, you will find the promise that grace and peace will be multiplied unto you, if you will “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 2 Peter 1:5-7. SpTB04 21.2
These virtues are wonderful treasures. They “make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” SpTB04 21.3
“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.” Verse 8. SpTB04 21.4
Shall we not strive to use to the very best of our ability the little time that is left us in this life, adding grace to grace, power to power, making it manifest that we have a source of power in the heavens above. Christs says, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. What is this power given to Him for?—For us. He desires us to realize that He has returned to heaven as our Elder Brother, and that the measureless power given Him has been placed at our disposal. SpTB04 21.5
Those who will carry out in their lives the instruction given to the church through the apostle Peter will receive power from above. We are to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, living upon the plan of addition. We are to represent Christ in all that we say and do. We are to live His life. The principles by which He was guided are to shape our course of action toward those with whom we are associated. SpTB04 22.1
When we are securely anchored in Christ, we have a power that no human being can take from us. Why in this?—Because we are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,—partakers of the nature of Him who came to this earth clothed with the habiliments of humanity, that He might stand at the head of the human race, and develop a character that was without spot or stain of sin. SpTB04 22.2
Why are many of us so weak and inefficient? It is because we look to self, studying our own temperament, and wondering how we can make a place for ourselves, our individuality, and our peculiarities, in the place of studying Christ and His character. SpTB04 22.3
Brethren who could work together in harmony if they would learn of Christ, forgetting that they are Americans or Europeans, Germans or Frenchmen, Swedes, Danes, or Norwegians, seem to feel that if they should blend with those of other nationalities, something of that which is peculiar to their own country and nation would be lost, and something else would take its place. SpTB04 22.4
My brethren, let us put all that aside. We have no right to keep our minds stayed on ourselves, our preferences, and our fancies. We are not to seek to maintain a peculiar identity of our own, a personality, an individuality, which will separate us from our fellow laborers. We have a character to maintain, but it is the character of Christ. Having the character of Christ, we can carry on the work of God together. The Christ in us will meet the Christ in our brethren, and the Holy Spirit will give that union of heart and action which testifies to the world that we are children of God. May the Lord help us to die to self, and be born again, that Christ may live in us, a living, active principle, a power that will keep us holy. SpTB04 22.5