Progress

2 Peter 1:10-11

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Examine / Explain

Because of the qualities mentioned in the previous verses, we are to make every effort to confirm our calling and election. We are to progress in our faith. We are to one day reach the fullness of Christ and enter the everlasting kingdom of God. Until that day, we will strive and fail, but grace, mercy, longsuffering, and justice will be richly available to us.

How do I apply this to my life?

How am I progressing in my faith? Do I utilize the abundance of Christ in my life? Or does He sit on a shelf and I try to get through this life all on my own? How am I recovering from my failures? Am I confirming my election and calling? How do I do that? Studying? Reading His words regularly? It’s a more practical application of living out a life that looks like Jesus. And when it doesn’t take the reading and studying to make the adjustments in our lives to better align ourselves to Him. We must be willing to be participants in the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must seek community to help us get through our failures, as God can take those failures to minister to the next person. Beauty for ashes, right? We must practice being Christlike. It is not a full copy until we can’t practice anymore. And as long as He grants another breath we must keep practicing. Getting back up when we fail. Starting over again when we lose. And making sure we don’t reach the finish line alone. Life is a race, but who are we racing? Other people? That gives us a mentality that we can outrun them to keep the prize for ourselves when the goal is to get as many to the finish line as possible. So how are we doing? Faith is nothing without practice.

What is my response?

Father, I impose my own attitudes and thoughts on what I think you believe. I need to stop. I think if I fail enough times You will abandon me. I think if I’m not perfect and don’t give You perfection then You don’t care. ALL LIES! You are the star-breathing almighty who knows my name and the number of hairs on my head. Even if they are getting fewer by the day… Your Spirit stirred me to the point that I realized I needed Your salvation. I was chosen to follow You. You have given me a calling and purpose in my life. And as long as I keep limiting myself with lies I don’t think I will ever fully reach that purpose. I must surrender everything to you. I can’t try to make it on my own is some areas of my life and give you the rest. You want the first. You want the first thought to be taken captive. You want the first dime to remind us where it all comes from. You want the first part of me, not the let overs. I want to give you the first in every part. Help me get there. Amen.