Be Partakers of the Divine Nature.
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: 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, And beside this, giving all diligence, 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. 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” (II Peter 1:3-8).
[As the believer yields to the Father, depends on the indwelling Christ, and walks in the Spirit, a life of grace will bear the fruit of these practical character traits:]
Be SILENT when anger stirs your heart;
Don’t speak the word that sends the dart
Or adds a burden to some soul.
Add to your faith that self-control.
Be PATIENT when everything goes wrong
And Satan tries to steal your song.
Let the peace of God keep mind and heart,
And every needful grace impart.
Be KIND when folk don’t understand
And friends misjudge on every hand.
“Let your yieldedness be known.”
Remembering that you’re not your own.
Be READY always to extend
A helping hand to foe or friend.
Jesus prayed for those whose hate
Caused Him to die without the gate.
Be FAITHFUL; plow and sow the seed
By steady plod and loving deed.
Though others may not know the cost,
God knows your labor; ’tis not lost.
Be JOYFUL in the Lord; don’t frown
Though all the world seems upside down.
Neither circumstance nor place
Makes any changes in His grace.
Be CIRCUMSPECT in all your walk
And chaste in all your thought and talk.
You live not for yourself alone,
But witness for the Lord you own.
Be WATCHING; unceasingly watch and pray;
Be on your guard each passing day,
He’s coming, coming very soon;
It may be midnight, morn, or noon.
[Our Father, as we abide in Christ may these virtues be more and more developed and displayed in our lives. Use us as salt and light in our generation that others would see a living and verbal witness of the gospel of Jesus. Amen]
Available in tract form from
Osterhus Pub. House, 4500 W. Broadway Minneapolis MN., 55422 (Biblical quotations from the KJV. Bracketed content added by GN editor).