The Good Life

My life is often out of order. Maybe that is why we have New Year Resolutions... because we all feel that the ship is a bit off course and it is our attempt to right the ship. I think the human condition is a disorderly life.

We are cracked and broken to the core by self-destructive things that we do and by the destructivethings that others do to us. We sin and we are sinned against. The result is chaotic... at times their is joy and peace and even fulfillment...but that all happens in the context of a disordered life.

The gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached is that God has a good life for us... an ordered life... a redeemed life. It is quite a foreign thing to us... so foreign that it takes murder. The old life has to be killed a new life has to be birthed, then nourished and pruned.

This new life is like a beautiful fruit tree that in times creates luscious fruit. My spiritual life is often unfruitful and stale and dry. That is why when I came across the following verses, I was reminded to resolve anew this year to pursue the good life which I have freely received from its author.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement….
your faith with virtue,
and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8