Verse of the Day 8/30

2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered sound doctrine, sound living, and sound speech.  Today's verse starts off with therefore.  We must start with what it is there for.  The passage tells us what we must add to our faith, things that lead to and promote sound doctrine, sound living and sound speech.  These things include but aren't limited to knowledge, self control, virtue and more in verses 3-7.  Peter is driving home the point that true Christians will act like Christians.

 

This diligence is not just for a period of time or a stage in life, but for all of our life.  We are running the race, a marathon, and it takes diligence to press on to the end.  Paul encourages us to not only run but run to win.

 

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

Reading those words of "there is in store for me a crown" made me think of the chorus to the old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross".

 

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

 

May we cling to the sound doctrine and teaching of the cross of Christ.  May we be diligent in confirming our faith.  May we strive. ,make "every effort" (v.5 below), to run this marathon for the crown.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

2 Peter 1:5-11  New International Version (NIV)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

 

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.