Whispers of Truth

Peter, after talking about hoping for that which we do not see and doing so with perseverance, changes gears somewhat in Romans 8:26. He speaks about not knowing how to pray:          In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for  we do not know how to pray as we             should, but  the Spirit Himself intercedes for  us  with groanings too deep for words;   and  He              who searches the hearts knows what  the mind of the Spirit is, because He  intercedes for the            saints according to  the will of  God (NASB).  I've found myself in this place often--unsure of what to pray, even how to pray, and aware of my struggles with the flesh--not just staying focused, but also battling my own desires that fight against the work of the Spirit. I want to be faithful and fail, yet God IS fai...

Is your faith naked? While it might sound like a good thing--faith alone--in this context, it is really not. I came across the phrase "a naked faith" today in John Calvin's commentary on 2 Peter 1:5-7, and it really made me think about the passage from another angle. The idea is that it is difficult to put off the lusts of the flesh, especially when faith is new; however, faith that simply divests itself of lust and earthly longings without putting on moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love in in increasing measures is "naked" or bare. Peter urges diligence in growing in knowledge and being fruitful and useful in sharing it. A naked Christian in this context is either a baby like Hebrews 5:12 speaks of: " For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food"...