“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge…”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-5‬ ‭ESV‬

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Make every effort to add to your faith…virtue.

Virtue. Synonymous with goodness, righteousness; and defined by behavior showing high moral standards.

Do we do that? Do we make every effort to be righteous? Once we have faith, do we immediately strive to display behavior of high moral standards? Or do we try to first learn as much as we can?

I believe Saint Peter ordered these holy nouns intentionally. First virtue, then knowledge; not the other way around. Be kind – then, find out more information.

I worry we excuse our sin under the guise of a lack of knowledge. “I didn’t know better.” Or, “I don’t know how to change.” As believers, we must know one thing and one thing only: Christ crucified.

Through the knowledge of Him and His divine power, knowledge that comes by faith, he has granted us His great and precious promises. Promises of His faithfulness. His provision. His guidance. His holiness. His sovereignty. His life in us.

And through His life in us manifested in the glorious presence of the Holy Ghost, our guarantor of Heaven, we are able to escape the corruption of the world. We can escape the opposite of virtue: Sin. Selfishness. Pride. Prejudice. Hate.

We can do it, through Him!

Now, knowing that you can do it, make every effort to add to your faith virtue.