From my devotions today...goodness

2 Peter 1:5 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.”

"The very reason that Peter referred to was the fact that Jesus’ divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. And he has given us great and precious promises so that we can participate in the divine nature. Because of this, Peter writes, add goodness to your faith.

We may need to dig deep into our hearts to root out those things that are not good. We are to add to our faith goodness; that takes effort and focus. It might mean we have to change our television viewing habits, throw away some magazines or novels, stop our bad habits of gossiping or complaining, make sure we’re always telling the truth. It means we don’t exaggerate to make ourselves look better, we don’t cheat our company out of one penny." - M.W.

A royal priesthood...

1 Peter 2
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.