2 Peter 1:3-10 (NIV)
3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For 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. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
Reflection
No doubt about it, growing up in the calling is hard work. Twice we read here about making ‘every effort’ along with a long list of qualities that we are to excel in. Living and growing in this calling is not something that just happens, something we do casually or even are passive about. But if we skip right to the list we miss out on the how and why. We might find ourselves just taking part in religious routines without any real power to grow. The passage, however, makes clear that power is Christ’s and that He gives us everything we need to live and grow. Empty routine becomes active participation in what Christ is doing in our lives and our communities. A people called are not so just by name, but by every living expression, reflecting the One who calls and empowers us.
Responding to the Transmission
We need real power to live and excel in the calling. The good news is that Christ has already given us everything we need. He calls and He empowers us to bring this calling to full expression in us. If there are things we do that have become dry routines, forgetting why we do them, or as we see qualities of our character that are not increasing in expression like Christ, let’s come to Christ with those areas. Let’s receive again why and how we live and grow. Let’s also pray for our communities that, empowered by the Spirit, we would continue to grow up into living this way together…for the sake of each other and for others to know God’s grace.
