I recently decided I wanted to learn how to crochet. Now, I’m not a crafty person. I used to cry in art class in school because I found it so frustrating. But I wanted to get off my devices and spend my downtime doing something productive. So, I bought an app that provides me with crochet patterns, and I started watching crochet videos on YouTube. Let me tell you something. Crochet is harder than you think! I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to just simply hold the yarn in one hand and the hook in the other. Counting is difficult. It requires concentration and focus. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t just mindlessly crochet. Each stitch builds off of the last, and missing or adding a stitch makes a huge difference in the finished product. Crochet takes practice to master; it takes practice and time. Each crochet project starts with a single stitch. Each stitch builds on to the last and when combined together, they build a row. Rows build together to make a completed project that is functional, has a purpose and is useful. Our pastor preached from 2 Peter 1:3-12 recently, and it brought all of this to my mind.

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, 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. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

2 Peter 1:3-12

What is our purpose as a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ? I decided to learn crochet so that I could use my time in a more productive way. How am I using that same 24 hours God provides me each day to live with a purpose for him? There are many times when a sermon will really resonate with me. This one did that. It made me think about my dad. My dad was a man with a brilliant mind, who attended bible college and entered the ministry. But he squandered that opportunity in exchange for lust for the things of this world. It cost him everything. As a Christian, I must stay focused on staying effective. I cannot just blindly walk through each day. Like with crochet, each stitch builds on the last, as each day in my Christian walk, builds on the last.

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 Peter1:5-8

Can you see how each characteristic flow into the other? When I live out my faith, it builds within me virtue. When I study the scriptures, it adds knowledge. With knowledge, the Spirit of God provides self-control. When I walk in self-control, the Spirit provides steadfastness. Steadfastness brings about godliness and godliness brings forth brotherly affection. And brotherly affection brings about love. Love for our Savior and love for our fellow man. A Christian who walks through each day in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness and love, will be effective. A Christian who builds on these principles and actions will be useful and have a purpose. And isn’t that what we all desire in the end, “Well done my good and faithful servant…”  – AMEN