The order matters

Today, I was reminded again of the importance of order as I read God's Word.  First, we must look up.  Then, we can get busy doing.  If you get busy first, you are working out of your own will or own strength. This results in exhaustion and/or frustration.  Instead, if you turn your eyes on Jesus first, you have the power who raised Christ from the dead empowering your actions. 

I have always read the passage below focused on doing before being.  The order jumped off the page at me this morning. We need grace and peace in abundance, Christ's power, and God's promises to add the qualities listed in verses 5-8.

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

 

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.


5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 1:2-8 NIV)

What do you think?  Does order in Scripture matter?  

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