Five Minutes a Day with Luther

August 25, 2010
by Pastor Robin Fish

2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge.

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Here St. Peter takes up the admonition, that they should demonstrate their faith by good works. Since such great blessing is bestowed upon you through faith (he would say), that you really have all that God is, do this in addition: be diligent, that is to say, not sluggish; in your faith supply moral excellence; that is, let your faith break out before the world, so as to be zealous, busy, powerful, and active, and to do many works; do not let it remain idle and unfruitful. You have a good inheritance and a good field, but see to it that you do not let thistles and weeds grow upon it. Discrimination or knowledge is, in the first place, something which one should manifest in outward conduct, and the morality of faith, in accordance with reason. For we should bridle and check the body, to the end that we may be sober, vigorous, and fitted for good works. We should not torture and mortify ourselves as some famous saints have done. For though God is likewise opposed to the sins that remain in the flesh, yet does He not require that for this reason you should destroy the body. Its viciousness and caprice you should guard against. Still, you are not to ruin or injure the body, but give it its food and refreshment that it may remain sound and in living vigor. In the second place, discrimination, here, means that one should lead life deliberately, and act with discretion in regard to outward things, such as food and things of that sort; that one should not act in these things without thinking, and that he should give his neighbor no provocation.

Holy Father! Thou hast taught me

I should live to Thee alone;

Year by year Thy hand hath brought me

On through dangers oft unknown,

When I wandered, Thou hast found me;

When I doubted, sent me light;

Still Thine arm has been around me,

All my paths were in Thy sight.