The Ladder of Christian Progress

[Thompson, Darryl]

The Ladder of Christian Progress 

     Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8  

     These words are full of instruction, and strike the keynote of
victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of
Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the
knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no
standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness,
brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are
saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the
height of Christ's ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.  

     All these successive steps are not to be kept before the mind's
eye, and counted as you start; but fixing the eye upon Jesus, with an
eye single to the glory of God, you will make advancement. . . .  

     By taking one step after another, the highest ascent may be
climbed, and the summit of the mount may be reached at last. Do not
become overwhelmed with the great amount of work you must do in your
lifetime, for you are not required to do it all at once. Let every power
of your being go to each day's work, improve each precious opportunity,
appreciate the helps that God gives you, and make advancement up the
ladder of progress step by step. Remember that you are to live but one
day at a time, that God has given you one day, and heavenly records will
show how you have valued its privileges and opportunities. May you so
improve every day given you of God that at last you may hear the Master
say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 

>From My Life Today - Page 95