Heaven's Kitchen, 2 Peter 1:5-7

The Ingredients

Faith: the ring

Virtue: the award

Knowledge: the Bible and books

Self-control: the sheathed sword

Perseverance: the rook

Godliness: the praying man

Brotherly love: the quaich

Love: the love feast

Diligence

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. σπουδή

earnest commitment in discharge of an obligation or experience of a relationship, eagerness, earnestness, diligence, willingness, zeal oft. in Gr-Rom. lit. and ins. of extraordinary commitment to civic and religious responsibilities, which were freq. intertwined, and also of concern for personal moral excellence or optimum devotion to the interests of others

Faith

The Ring

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. πίστις

firm commitment

Virtue

The Award

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀρετή

uncommon character worthy of praise, excellence of character, exceptional civic virtue

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀρετή

distinguished for fidelity, admirable character, uprightness [concern for people], and devotion [to deities]

Knowledge

The Bible and Books

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. γνῶσις

comprehension or intellectual grasp of someth., knowledge as possessed by God Ro 11:33 and humans

The Epistles of Peter and of Jude 2. The Need for Personal Effort (1:5–11)

discernment of God’s will and purpose (cf. Eph. 5:17; Phil. 1:9; Heb. 5:14)

Self-control

The Sheathed Sword

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐγκράτεια

restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires, self-control

Perseverance

The Rook

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ὑπομονή

the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance

Godliness

The Praying Man

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. εὐσέβεια

awesome respect accorded to God, devoutness, piety, godliness

Brotherly kindness

The Quaich

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. φιλαδελφία

sense of affection for a fellow-Christian

Love

The Love Feast

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀγάπη

the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard, love

The Process

It begins with becoming a Christian, 2 Pet 1:4, “....having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Each ingredient is needed and blended together. The order is set out but the lack of one does not defer the progress of another. However, each is essential to make the end-product all that it is meant to be. Some will be easier than others to achieve, and some may require more effort than others, but remember, “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” 2 Pet 1:3.

The Proving

Once all the ingredients are combined, the proving begins in earnest. Of course, it begins the moment we began the process.

Each ingredient needs revisited often. Like bread, we need it fresh and daily.

The Place

The ingredients need the right place. When baking or cooking, there is one place to do that. The kitchen is fitted out with those items needed to produce something nutritious: a fridge to keep things fresh, a sink to clean ingredients, a worktop to prepare ingredients, and an oven to cook/bake the dish.

Likewise, we need the same. There is a reason that Christ adds us to His church, Acts 2:47. We don’t choose our church, He does. The fellowship of God’s people—a place where things are fresh and healthy, nutritious and sweet-smelling—is where we are encouraged to become more than when we first began.

The Product

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Gordon Ramsay said, “The joy and satisfaction of a meal is equal to the passion and effort given to its preparation.”

In truth, the joy and satisfaction of Christian growth is equal to the passion and effort given to it.

To us have been given exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature...” 2 Peter 1:4a.

O what joy we can have if we will, with all diligence, follow the Apostle’s advice and add these things to our lives that we may grow thereby.