It all begins with faith. Really, it all continues with faith too. It's just that sometimes we misunderstand how faith works.

Faith is not a warm feeling or some religious idea about God. Real faith focuses life. Real faith keeps our hearts looking heavenward and our feet moving toward what is right!

"Now, for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence…" (2 Peter 1:5)

For this very reason? Peter has just introduced his letter by saying that the Holy Spirit is living in us. As He lives in us, the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts with magnificent promises. The new divine nature turns us from the corruption that is in this world; the reason we let our faith produce moral excellence is simple: God is working in us causing us to want to live a different kind of life!

Transformed by faith in the risen Lord, we must let our faith branch out into every area of our living. The first thing that faith does is to move us toward moral purity and virtue. Transforming faith turns our hearts so that we want to do what is right. A person who has never experienced an inner desire to be pure needs to question his faith.

SUPPLY moral excellence? When we hear the words "supply" or "add" we begin to think that we are the source. However, the Greek text uses the word: "choreôgeoô" that literally means: "to lead a chorus." From this Greek word we also get our word "choreography."

Think of it this way. As faith works its way through our hearts, it plays a song. The first few notes of the song sound like: character, moral excellence and virtue. Our job is not to make the music. Our job is to direct it and let it change the way we walk.

If we refuse to line up our faith with character, the music stops. But, let the music play! By faith, we will march to the new sounds of resurrection LIFE.

Father,
I hear the music. Your LIFE in me is playing the song of heaven's holiness. I want to cooperate with You and line up all the activities of my life with the moral purity that is consistent with Your life. Let my faith permeate every part of my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.