Make Every Effort: 2 Peter 1:3-10

Today's Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-10 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. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

These few verses continue to challenge my everyday life. The more I read them, the more challenged I am.

This is a good thing! I find that in my every day life it’s so easy to become complacent or stagnant in my relationship with Christ. These verses compel me to live a life opposite of complacency.

The beauty in verse 3 is that He “…has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him…� That means we have everything we need to live the life He’s called us to! Everything. THAT is encouraging. And with His help verse 4 says that we’ve “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.�

He has already rescued us! And He paid a high price to do so! Jesus paid it all! For you & for me. Amazing.

Verses 5-7 then goes on to say that “for this very reasonâ€�, meaning- because He’s given us everything we need and because He’s rescued us from our own sin– “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. “

THAT is where the challenge comes in to play. This says we are to make “EVERY EFFORT� to add to our faith these Godly qualities.

Wow. That means…HARD WORK, DILIGENCE & PURSUIT. (Basically the opposite of complacency hahaha!)

So, how do we “add to our faith�?

The qualities listed are simply the fruit of following Jesus Christ with our whole hearts. Our goal in this life is to continue to grow and become more like Him day after day.

How is this possible? Well, firstly with Holy Spirit’s help! And secondly, by choosing to be diligent in our pursuit of His Word, the study of His Word and putting ACTION to what we are being taught through His Word.

I find my greatest moments of growth are often the toughest moments in my life. They’re usually the “resistance training� moments I don’t want to face or in the moments I want to lose my temper. THESE moments cause me to grow, if I allow them to. It’s in these moments I must depend on Holy Spirit more than myself! And that is how I grow- allowing Him to lead me through such moments instead of my own emotions or desires taking the lead.

It’s a choice every day to ask Him to help me add these Godly qualities to my life…and “in increasing measure�, according to verse 8.

Why do I want to continue to grow in these qualities? Verse 9 sums it up perfectly-

So that we keep from being “ineffective and unproductive� in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

And, I’m pretty sure NONE of us want to be ineffective or unproductive in our lives.

Thankfully, the solution is given to us above- grow in these Godly qualities as we pursue Jesus Christ day after day.

To end it off, verse 10 is such an encouragement- if we choose to be diligent in our relationship with Christ and continue to grow, this will keep us from stumbling and falling.

Wow. He is so good. He knows that our focus determines our steps. He knows that when we focus on Him our lives will reflect the love and Truth of who He is and who He’s called us to be. And He knows us best because He created us!

Let’s challenge each other to live such lives, every day!

Let’s focus on Him and His Word. Let’s grow together in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,  godliness , mutual affection, and love.

And, let’s impact the world around us with the Hope & Truth of Jesus Christ by being diligent in our pursuit of Him & His Word.

Below are a few questions to help us journey through this together:

How has He given us “everything we need� for a Godly life?

How have we “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires�?

What does making “every effort to add to your faith� look like?

List the qualities we are to possess in “increasing measure� & define each one:

How do these qualities keep us from being “ineffective and unproductive�?

Why is it important to never forget what Jesus has done for us?

How can growth in these areas impact the world around us?

Final Challenge: Memorize 2 Peter 1:5-8