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The Reformation Herald Online Edition

Peter's Ladder

Step by Step
Barbara Montrose
Step by Step

The new school year was starting and the children were talking.

“I want to be in the 10th grade!” little Susie proclaimed.

“Oh, Susie. Don’t be silly. How can you go to the 10th grade class, when you are just learning to read?” chided her older sister, Molly.

“I don’t care. I want to be there anyway!”

“Do you realize that in 10th grade you will need to study geometry? Before that, you will need to know some algebra, too. Maybe you’ll have biology or even chemistry to study! How would you know the answers to all the questions in those big, thick textbooks with all that small print?”

It was true. Susie was still quite young. Yet sooner or later, little Susie would achieve her goal. It would even be okay for her to start working toward it right away: She could learn about geometry by examining her toy blocks and measuring them with a ruler. She could study biology by looking closely at plants and small creatures and noticing things about them that were interesting. She could do little chemical experiments with baking soda or vinegar. Her learning would all be a step-by-step process.

In the Bible, the apostle Peter teaches about a step-by-step process toward the kingdom of heaven. We often call it Peter’s ladder:

“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” (2 Peter 1:5–7).

You have faith in God, right? Well, since you believe in Him, you are inspired to be good. But it’s hard to become better and better, unless we know what is better in God’s sight—so that means we need to learn more knowledge about Him and His ways from the Bible.

Once we know more, that should give us more self-control.

When we control ourselves, we become more patient when we have problems.

As we have this patience, we become less whiny and babyish and more mature like God.

Then, as our character becomes more like the way God is, we will not be so selfish and self-centered. We will better appreciate others around us—our family and friends. We will be kinder to them.

Then, as we grow in brotherly kindness, soon we will also start to be kind to other people. Sometimes they are not people that we would naturally like. They may be unfriendly or even rude. But we will be kind to them anyway and will try to find ways to help them. This loving of the unlovable is called charity.

We cannot climb this ladder by ourselves. It’s hard to go uphill—especially when you’re little. But Jesus is willing to take us by the hand and give us strength. When we invite Him into our heart day by day and ask for Him to be with us, He is there at our side. Step-by-step.