Instructions For Living Godly

In many of the world's businesses there are instructions placed on their products that either warns us as to the danger of the misuse of the product or instructions for using the product. Some are funny and I have including them here for your enjoyment.

1. On a helmet mounted mirror used by US cyclists -
REMEMBER, OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE ACTUALLY BEHIND YOU. 2. In a US guide to setting up a new computer -TO AVOID CONDENSATION FORMING, ALLOW THE BOXES TO WARM UP TO ROOM TEMPERATURE BEFORE OPENING. 3. On a Sears hairdryer -DO NOT USE WHILE SLEEPING. 4. On a bar of Dial soap -DIRECTIONS - USE LIKE REGULAR SOAP. 5. On an American Airlines packet of nuts INSTRUCTIONS - OPEN PACKET, EAT NUTS. 6. On a child's superman costume - WEARING OF THIS GARMENT DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO FLY. 7. On some frozen dinners: SERVING SUGGESTION: DEFROST. 8. On Nightly sleep aid:WARNING: MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS. 9. On a bag of Fritos -YOU COULD BE A WINNER! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. DETAILS INSIDE. 10. On a Korean kitchen knife -
WARNING: KEEP OUT OF CHILDREN.

These directions while funny are there to aid the consumer on how to properly use the product. What is so striking is that in the word of God we too are given instructions concerning our faith. In 2 Peter 1:4-9 it says: For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

The point to these instructions is clear in that we are called to be diligent about the growth of our faith. Many Christians today just think that coming to salvation is claiming Jesus Christ as there savior, but looking at these instructions given here by Peter it is much more than that. These qualities must increase as we grow in the image of Christ. Verse four says He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature. Thus, we can conclude that if our nature is not increasing in the nature of Christ then we are not partakers of the divine nature but continue to live in corruption that is in the world. Therefore, let us not say that we can sin in thought, word and deed everyday, but that we are called to be diligent about growing in the divine nature of Christ which would mean that we must turn from our sin and grow in His promises of assurance that He alone can rescue us from our sin (2 Peter 2:9). Further let us not say that we cannot stop sinning for if you say this you have forgotten the purification from your sins and only desire to live in the world.