“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10, NIV)
Calling of God
God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.
He calls us to be his children, to walk in his ways, and to participate in his redemptive work in the world.
This calling is not based on our merit or achievements, but solely on his grace and love.
Assurance of Election
Along with this calling comes the assurance of our election – the knowledge that we have been chosen by God to be his own.
This election is not a matter of favoritism or partiality, but a reflection of God’s sovereign will and his desire to redeem a people for himself.
Responsibility of Confirmation
While our calling and election are gifts from God, we have a responsibility to confirm them through our actions and our lives.
The apostle Peter urges us to “make every effort” to affirm our faith and walk in a manner that reflects our identity as God’s chosen ones.
Promise of Stability
When we take this responsibility seriously and confirm our calling and election through our words and deeds, we are promised a life of stability and steadfastness.
The path of obedience and faithfulness will lead us away from stumbling and falling into sin, and will enable us to stand firm in our faith.
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” – Romans 5:19 (NIV)
Acknowledging Our Fallen Nature
In this verse, the apostle Paul draws a stark contrast between the disobedience of Adam and the obedience of Christ.
Adam’s sin brought about a fallen world where disobedience became the norm. As a result, all humanity inherited a sinful nature, prone to rebellion against God’s will.
We often find ourselves struggling with this inherited tendency toward disobedience. It manifests in our thoughts, desires, and actions, leading us astray from God’s perfect design for our lives.
We may feel trapped by our sinful patterns and unable to break free from their grip.
Embracing Christ’s Righteousness
But the good news is that Christ’s obedience has made a way for us to be made righteous.
Through His perfect life and sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the demands of God’s law and made it possible for us to be reconciled with God.
When we accept Christ’s righteousness by faith, we experience a profound transformation in our lives. We are no longer bound by sin’s power but are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in obedience to God’s will.
This transformation is not just external but goes deep into our hearts and minds, reshaping our desires, thoughts, and actions.
A Life of Obedience, Purpose, and Fulfillment
As we embrace Christ’s righteousness, we are called to pursue a life of obedience, purpose, and fulfillment.
This means aligning our lives with God’s will, seeking to honor Him in all that we do. It also means finding true fulfillment in our relationship with Christ, rather than seeking empty pleasures in the world.
Living a life of obedience to God’s will may not always be easy, but it is the path to true purpose and fulfillment. As we walk in obedience, we experience the joy of living in alignment with God’s design for our lives.
We find meaning and purpose in serving Him and others, and we experience the peace that comes from knowing that we are living according to His plan.
Conclusion
Christ’s righteousness has the power to transform our lives. By embracing it through faith, we can experience true freedom from sin’s bondage and find the fulfillment and purpose that we were created for.
Continue to walk in obedience to God’s will, knowing that through Christ’s righteousness, you can live a transformed life, filled with meaning and joy.
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” – John 17:4 (NIV)
In this powerful statement from Jesus, we see the culmination of His earthly ministry.
He declares that He has completed the task assigned to Him by the Father, bringing glory to God through His obedience and sacrifice.
Purpose Revealed
From the very beginning, Jesus had a clear sense of purpose and mission.
He came to earth not merely to teach or perform miracles, but to fulfill a specific work – the redemption of humanity through His death and resurrection.
Example Set
As followers of Christ, we too have been given a purpose and a mission.
Just as Jesus lived a life of absolute obedience to the Father’s will, we are called to align our lives with God’s plan and to seek to bring Him glory through our actions and choices.
Ongoing Work
While Christ’s work on the cross is complete, the mission to proclaim the good news and make disciples continues.
We are now the hands and feet of Christ in the world, carrying on the work that He began. As we surrender ourselves fully to God’s purposes, we can find true meaning and fulfillment in our lives.
May you, like Jesus, be able to say at the end of your days that you have finished the work God gave you to do. May your life be a testament to His glory, as you faithfully pursue His purposes.
“Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” – Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)
We are reminded of the deep and abiding love that God has for His children.
His discipline and punishment are not acts of cruelty or anger, but rather expressions of His love and care for us.
Purpose
God’s discipline is not meant to harm us or make us feel small. Instead, it serves a greater purpose – to shape us, refine us, and help us grow into the people He has called us to be.
Just as a loving parent corrects a child, so too does God correct us, not out of anger, but out of a desire to see us reach our full potential.
Process
Discipline is often uncomfortable and even painful. It can be easy to resent it or to feel like we’re being punished for our mistakes.
However, if we can shift our perspective and see discipline as a sign of God’s love and care for us, we can begin to find joy in the process.
Growth
When we embrace discipline with humility and trust in God’s goodness, we open ourselves up to growth and transformation.
Discipline helps us to shed our selfish tendencies and develop character, patience, and wisdom. It refines us, like gold being purified in the fire, so that we can better reflect the image of Christ within us.
Do not despise the discipline of the Lord, but rather embrace it with gratitude, knowing that it is a sign of His deep and abiding love for you. Through discipline, you can find joy and hope in the process of becoming more like Christ.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Trap of People-Pleasing
In our pursuit of acceptance and validation, it’s easy to fall into the trap of people-pleasing.
We can become consumed by the desire to win the approval of others, tailoring our words, actions, and even our beliefs to fit the expectations and preferences of those around us.
But this path is ultimately a dead end, leading us into a prison of conformity and inauthenticity.
Pursuit of God’s Approval
In contrast to the endless chase for human approval, there is a higher calling – the pursuit of God’s approval.
This is not about earning His favor through our own efforts or trying to impress Him with our accomplishments; it’s about aligning our hearts and lives with His will, seeking to honor Him in all that we do.
Freedom of Serving Christ
When we shift our focus from pleasing people to serving Christ, a remarkable thing happens: we experience true freedom.
No longer bound by the ever-changing demands and expectations of others, we find liberation in the knowledge that our identity and purpose are rooted in the unchanging love and acceptance of our Heavenly Father.
Living as Servants of Christ
Living as servants of Christ means embracing a life of radical obedience and surrender to His will.
It requires us to let go of our own agendas, ambitions, and desires for approval, and to instead seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else.
As you do this, you discover that His ways are not burdensome but life-giving, leading you into a deeper experience of joy, peace, and purpose.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)
Focus on What Truly Matters
Our hectic lives often leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from what truly matters.
In the busyness of our days, we can lose sight of the essential things God desires from us: reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.
Yet, these requirements are not oppressive burdens but invitations to breathe in God’s grace and find fulfillment in aligning our lives with His purposes.
Reverence
To fear the Lord does not mean to cower in terror but to stand in awe of His majesty and power.
When we recognize our own smallness in comparison to His greatness, our perspective shifts. Reverence helps us realize that our lives are not our own, but gifts from the One who created us.
This humble acknowledgment opens the door to true obedience.
Obedience: Following God’s Path
Obedience is not mere rule-following but a response of love and trust. When we walk in obedience, we allow God’s wisdom to guide our steps.
His commands and decrees are not arbitrary restrictions but signposts pointing us toward the abundant life He desires for us.
As we follow His path, we discover that His ways are indeed for our good.
Embracing the Giver
Love is the heartbeat of our relationship with God.
It is more than an emotion; it is a deep commitment to embrace the One who first loved us. When we love God with our whole being, our priorities align, and our actions flow from a place of genuine devotion.
Love transforms obedience from a duty to a delight.
Living with Undivided Devotion
To serve God with our entire heart and soul is to live with undivided devotion.
It means bringing every aspect of our lives – our thoughts, desires, decisions, and actions – under the Lordship of Christ. When we do this, we experience a profound sense of purpose and unity, no longer fragmented by competing allegiances or divided affections.
As we breathe in God’s grace and align our lives with His desires, we discover the true freedom and fullness that come from walking in reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.
Let go of lesser things and cling to the essentials, finding our deepest satisfaction in the One who asks us to give Him our all.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)
Context
This verse comes from a book that is attributed to King Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever lived. In this book, he shares his observations and reflections on life, as he searches for meaning and purpose in a world that seems full of vanity and futility.
He explores various aspects of human existence, such as work, pleasure, wisdom, wealth, justice, and death, and evaluates them from a human and a divine perspective.
In chapter 3, he talks about the seasons and cycles of life, and how there is a time for everything under the sun.
Message
What can we learn from this verse and its context? First, we can learn that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. He has made everything beautiful in its time, according to His design and plan.
He has given order and harmony to the universe, and He upholds it by His power and wisdom. He is the source and the goal of all things, and He works all things for His glory and our good.
Second, we can learn that God has given us a sense of eternity. He has also set eternity in the human heart, meaning that He has planted in us a longing and a desire for something more than this temporal and transient world.
He has made us for Himself, and He has given us a capacity and a curiosity to know Him and His ways. He has created us in His image, and He has endowed us with dignity and destiny.
Third, we can learn that God is beyond our comprehension. Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end, meaning that we cannot fully grasp or understand the mystery and the majesty of God and His works.
He is infinite and eternal, and we are finite and temporal. He is sovereign and wise, and we are limited and foolish. He is holy and righteous, and we are sinful and flawed.
How can we apply this verse and its message to our lives? Here are some suggestions:
Worship God
Acknowledge that God is the creator and sustainer of everything, and that He deserves our praise and gratitude. Thank Him for His beauty and goodness, and for His grace and mercy.
Adore Him for His greatness and glory, and for His love and faithfulness. Surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior, and trust Him as your Father and Friend.
Seek God
Recognize that God has given you a sense of eternity, and that He is the only one who can satisfy your deepest needs and desires.
Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and to guide you in His truth and will. Study His Word, and listen to His voice. Pray to Him, and commune with Him. Serve Him, and follow Him.
Humble yourself before God
Realize that God is beyond your comprehension, and that you need His wisdom and grace. Do not lean on your own understanding, or rely on your own strength. Do not question or challenge God’s ways, or resent or rebel against God’s purposes.
Do not boast or brag about yourself, or judge or condemn others. Rather, submit to God’s authority, and depend on God’s power.
Seek God’s forgiveness, and extend God’s forgiveness. Learn from God’s correction, and grow in God’s likeness.
God has set eternity in the human heart, and He invites us to know Him and love Him. This is the message of Ecclesiastes 3:11, and this is the message of the gospel. Let us heed it and live by it.
It is important to take care of your heart. Not just the physical heart that pumps blood, but also the emotional heart. The Bible says to “guard your heart” (Proverbs 4:23) because everything you do flows from it. This means that your thoughts, words, and actions are all influenced by the condition of your heart.
To guard your heart, you need to be mindful of what you expose it to. Surround yourself with positive influences that build you up and encourage you. Avoid negative influences that tear you down and discourage you. This could include things like negative self-talk, toxic relationships, or harmful media.
Another way to guard your heart is by practicing forgiveness. Holding onto grudges or bitterness can weigh you down and prevent you from living a full and joyful life. By choosing to forgive those who have wronged you, you release yourself from the burden of anger and resentment and open your heart to healing and restoration.
In conclusion, guarding your heart is essential for living a healthy and fulfilling Christian life. By being mindful of what you expose your heart to and practicing forgiveness, you can protect your emotional well-being and positively impact those around you.
