Upgrading Our Walk

Scripture:  II Peter 1:10 (NKJV) - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you  abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Most people you meet these days own some type of cell phone; oftentimes these devices have more “bells and whistles” attached to them than they even know how to operate—even after a lengthy ownership!   By the time these consumers maximize their skill in using all those sophisticated features, the phone has upgraded again!  Can I get a witness?  

Thankfully, we Christians need not worry that our Lord will upgrade His marching orders, or change the rules of engagement, making our ability to grow in the love and knowledge of Him more elusive.  (2 Pet. 3:18) He tells us in Malachi 3:6— “I am the LORD, I change not.”   God has said that He requires His people to “do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).  In stark contrast to the culture’s depiction of the Christian church, we must not be people who are content with lackluster loyalty to our Savior and have grown lukewarm in our devotion!  It appears that too many professing Christians lack the necessary diligence specified in 2 Peter 1:5-9, where Christ followers are given the spiritual growth recipe—i.e., add to one’s faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love! God’s people, if watched for a bit, should bear an increasing resemblance to our Lord, not to the increasingly Christ-rejecting culture that surrounds us!  Bless the Lord for 1 John 1:9!

In fact, if each of us who are indwelt by His Spirit, (ala Romans 8:9), pursued more steadfastly the tenets of the faith, with which we have long been familiar, and about which there should be no murkiness of understanding, the world would see more vibrant, “living epistles” in their midst, in you and I—even if they’ve never opened a Bible themselves or visited a truly Christ-honoring church—i.e., one that regularly presents the gospel and teaches the TIMELESS relevance of the Bible! Let’s all recommit to remaining on the spiritual growth track by upgrading our diligence and, in the process, our walk with Christ!

Prayer:  ABBA, You have plainly told us that we are to make our “calling and election” sure!  In our obedience to this loving command, Your Son-- who is the same yesterday, today, and forever-- promises great rewards to those who commit to living faithful and fruitful lives during this fleeting earthly sojourn.  Thank You, ABBA, in Jesus’ name; amen!

(by Denise Diggs)