I have always appreciated Jerry Bridges and his writing. I love how he explains our joint venture with God using the analogy of a farmer.

Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do.

We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us.

The apostle Peter has much to say about our joint venture with God. Here’s what he writes in his second letter.

2 Peter 1:5-7
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Becoming a Christian is a free gift of grace. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We were dead in our sins, and God breathed spiritual life into us. Salvation is of the Lord. But growing as a believer involves the power of the Holy Spirit in us and our personal commitment, desire, and ongoing discipline to grow.

Peter’s challenge in these verses is to “supplement” your faith with Christian virtues. As an infant grows and develops into maturity, so must the believer grow and develop spiritually.

Father, thank you for making it possible to walk in holiness. Remind me every day of my responsibility to do the walking. In Jesus’ name. Amen.