December 11, 2018
2 Peter 1:2-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
I have never minded hard work (effort). I am grateful, because everything in life worthwhile requires effort and sometimes sacrifice. Any form of work calls for grace (favor of God) and endurance because some work can involve a difficult process.
Our spiritual life requires work, grace, and endurance, too. The process can be difficult and even painful. However, many people fail to grasp just how essential this form of work or effort is for sharing in the divine nature; such effort is required to lay hold of the eternal promises given by God. So what is this spiritual work? Our spiritual work is to believe in the One whom God sent to take us on the faith journey. Our faith, strength, and peace are dependent on the work of Christ on the cross and our willingness to follow him on the path toward the shalom or peace of God’s eternal presence.
As we continue on our Advent journey toward peace, may we allow Christ to shed his Light on the importance of following him even when the work of trusting him in the process is hard. Shalom!
2 Peter 1:2-11
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
Growing in Faith
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for yet another glimpse of shalom in action and how I can align myself to your will in order to walk into your presence and promises. You always prepare me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.