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 1:8 (NIV)
I was up very early this morning working on a report that has to be delivered to the client first thing this morning. It’s the first report for 2026 and there are always a lot of small changes that have to be made when one year shifts to the next.
The report in this case is for three client teams. On an ongoing basis, our team analyzes calls between the client and their customers. There are a set of behavioral service skills we listen for in each call. These are skills we know from research positively impact overall customer satisfaction. We track the behaviors, report on them, and coach team members to incorporate them into every conversation. As consistency increases, satisfaction rises. Satisfied customers become loyal customers. Everyone wins.
One of the life lessons I note in my upcoming book is that what I do at work is really no different than the way God operates with me. God has His own Quality Assessment process — not one of condemnation, but of cultivation. In fact, it’s sitting there in plain sight in today’s chapter. Peter begins his letter by encouraging believers to live “godly lives” that reflect God’s “divine nature” and not the “evil desires” of the corrupt world we live in.
Peter then defines the behavior criteria that are the calling card of godly lives:
Faith
Goodness
Knowledge
Self-control
Perseverance
Godliness
Mutual affection
Love
One of the things I’ve learned in my career is that teams don’t become consistently world-class at customer service overnight. It takes months and years to develop the behavioral habits in which it flows in every interaction. In a similar fashion, Peter encourages me to “possess” God’s QA criteria “in increasing measure.”
God’s not looking for perfection. He’s looking for progress.
Progress doesn’t happen without purposed intention.
At work, my team listens to phone calls and looks for evidence of behavioral criteria. What if I write down the list above and have it on a card for quick reference? At night before I go to bed, or once a week when I have a moment of quiet I walk through the list.
Where has there been tangible evidence of each quality in my life this week?
What words, behaviors, or actions could I consciously attempt to increase in my interactions with others — my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues — that would help each quality “increase”?
One of the reasons that clients hire our company is for the disciplined accountability to track, coach, and encourage the improvement.
Who do I have in my life to help me be accountable to “increasing” the demonstration of God’s QA qualities in my life? Who will help me track it, coach me, encourage me, and celebrate with me?
In the quiet this morning, I’m simply reminded that spiritual growth is no different than physical, mental, or business improvement. The process is the same. God has defined what he wants to see in my life and relationships in increasing measure.
It’s my responsibility to participate in the process.
God has never forced me to do it. He wants it to come from my own heart’s desire. God simply reminds me that there’s a personal reward I’ll experience as I make progress which He calls shalom — a deep wholeness, an inner steadiness that no external chaos can steal. He also reminds me that there is an eternal incentive sitting out there.
And so I enter another day of this earthly journey.
I’m working on increasing my consistency of goodness today.
How about you?
If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.
