Enabled Effort
Text: 2 Peter 1:3-11
Theme: God has enabled us to work hard and never fall away.
Key verses: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life…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. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous portion of moral excellence…” (v. 3-5). “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8). “So…work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away” (v. 10).
What God said to me: Dwayne, I never meant for you to do this Christian life alone. I am with you and I have set you up for complete success. However, I do expect you to do this Christian life. For all your good intentions, what will matter in the end is your good works–what you actually did for and through me for my glory on this earth. My promises not only enable you to do good works; they should also inspire you to make every effort to live a godly life each day. Notice how Peter said you can “share” and “escape” because of my promises. Neither of those transitive active verbs are power words. They won’t put you in a superior light or make you look unique and self-enabled. When you are part of sharing with others who share the same, you are no better or more special than the rest. Escaping implies you barely got out alive. There is nothing flattering or attractive about that. Same with your work for me. The only reason you can work and succeed is that you are my child and I have enabled you and allowed to share in my nature and helped you to escape the world’s traps. You must humble yourself before me and acknowledge each and every day that you can do nothing without me. You must decide to grow and make every effort to grow and be productive in my Kingdom. In doing this you will prove over and over that you are my chosen one whom I have called and love dearly.
What I said to God: Praise You, most wonderful and precious Jesus! You are my All in All, my Savior, my Guide, my Lord above all. I can do nothing with out You, but with You I can do all the things You have called me to do. I can live this Christian life. You are awesome and merciful and kind. Thank You for speaking to me today and encouraging my soul. Please help me to add to my faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self control, and to self control, patience, and to patience, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love!