Are You Making Every Effort?

Are You Making Every Effort?
written by Chris Baker

The Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3-4, that God has given us everything we need for holy living through His divine power. Peter goes on to describe the qualities that we should possess in increasing measure. However, before he describes these qualities, he says something very powerful! Verse 5 says, “for this very reason [because God has given us everything we need for holy living through His divine power], make every effort. Those three words really struck me – Make every effort! 

According to this passage, the Lord has already given me everything I need, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live a godly life that is pleasing to Him. Therefore, am I making every effort, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to pursue godliness? I wonder, are these words challenging to you as well? Are you currently making every effort, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to pursue holy living? 

God calls us to live holy lives, so that we will be good representatives of Him to the world. We are called to model a holy life because it pleases the Lord. Are we more concerned with pleasing Christ or ourselves? Do we desire to draw closer to the Lord, if so, then how is that evidenced in our lives? Meaning, do our actions back up our words? Do we just say that we love the Lord, or do we show Him that we love Him by keeping His commands? John 14:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commands” (NIV).

Our desire for holy living should not come from legalism, self-righteousness, or the like. Rather, a desire for holy living should come from the Spirit of God within us. If we truly love God, then how are we loving Him? God demonstrated His love for us in sending His Son to die as a ransom for our sins. The Lord put His love for us into action. Christ was not only raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, but He dwells within the heart of every believer! “Christ in us the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Therefore, since the very Spirit of God dwells within us, may we make every effort to love and please the Lord.

Lord, help us to be Christlike in all that we do. I pray that you place a desire within us to love, please and obey you! Jesus thank you for freeing us from the slavery of sin! May we seek to please you in all that we do. Transform us into the image of your Son I pray in Jesus Name. Amen! 

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

1 John 3:23-24

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