December 27, 2023: Make Every Effort!

2 Peter 1:5, "...make every effort to supplement your faith... For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:8, ESV)
 
Peter is talking about planning to grow spiritually. If every believer made every effort to grow spiritually, a major transformation would occur in the body of Christ. So many believers are just lazy. They have no desire to grow, no vision to grow, and no goals to grow spiritually. Look, you should be more of a Christian than you were last year.

Peter lists eight things we should grow in and possess in increasing measure. Jesus paid too great a price for you not to give Him your all and your best effort. You should have a plan for how you will grow spiritually. You could practice a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle. You could purpose to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. You could break down the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13.

Go before the Lord and tell him you want to grow this coming year. Listen. Be still and listen for His gentle leading. Write down what you hear and begin to build a plan to grow. Do it with a friend, and you will see much more success. Hold each other to your strategies. Celebrate your successes often, and do not quit when you fall short.
Start building a spiritual life that Jesus would be proud of. Make every effort!