Make Every Effort: Peter's Fervent PleasShembull

### Day 5: Add to Your Faith, Goodness Now, if our new life in Christ is real, and we’ve been transformed by the omniscient Creator of the universe, something good will be produced! Faith without works is dead, according to James 2:17. So we add to our faith–goodness. We make every effort to do that–not because it will make God love us more (He already loves us infinitely), but because we love Him in gratitude so much that we want to become like Him. But, can we even be good or produce goodness? A young man fell on his knees before Jesus in Mark 10:17-18 and asked: “ Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ” We are not God, so how can we become good? Jesus provided a beautiful way in Matthew 11:28-30: “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ” When we are in Christ, safe in His yoke, we become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Certainly, it is His power pulling the load, but we share in His goodness. If our new faith is real, goodness will begin to flow from us naturally because anything good comes from God. James says this in James 1:17: “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ” Jesus said: “ where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21), and so if Jesus Christ is our treasure, our supreme value–the One around which our entire life centers–goodness will describe our abundant life! Reflection: Are you realizing that in following Jesus, we really can conquer anything? So, what can be next to build on such a joyful, glorious life? Let's dig into the next lesson and find out!