Growth and Maturity · Discipline and Diligence · Identity and Purpose · Promises and Faith

Knowledge, determination, and limitation?

5 min read, approximately

“Since all things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us by his divine power, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his glory and excellence, through which he has given us precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you might become participants in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by lust, you too, making every effort for this very reason, add virtue to your faith; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, patience; to patience, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; and to brotherly affection, love. For if these things are in you and abound, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, having forgotten the cleansing of their former sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never fall. For in this way you will be granted a full and generous entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3-11)

“But one and the same Spirit does all these things, distributing to each person individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)

Each of us has been given different gifts, talents, and strategies. Naturally, we have different ways of doing things and think differently, because that is how God designed us (Isaiah 64:8, Ephesians 2:10). But a serious problem arises when we set aside what we are made of and end up focusing critically on others.

Examining 2 Peter 1:3-11

We are a great creation, a great work of art without limits, made by the great Lord—so why would we limit ourselves?
Let us see what 2 Peter 1:3-11 teaches us:

\1. ‘Precious and exceedingly great promises’

Imagine the scene… Almighty God is calling us to give us precious and exceedingly great promises, while we complain to him that someone is limiting us… Where does the problem really lie: with the person we think is limiting us, or with us because of our unbelief?… Did we know that we have the mind of Christ? (1 Corinthians 2:16)… That is right: we have no limits! So when we believe others are limiting us, we are being unbelieving!

“Jesus said to him: If you can believe, all things are possible for the one who believes. Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said: I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-24)

Let us leave unbelief behind and embrace the precious and exceedingly great promises that will help us become participants in the divine nature. Otherwise, unbelief will only lead us back to the corruption in the world caused by lust… (2 Peter 1:4)

\2. ‘Making every effort for this very reason’

We often take our eyes off Christ to look at what we have not been told to focus on. Then we fill ourselves with excuses and complaints to the Lord, do nothing about it, and, on top of that, blame others for what we ourselves should have done long ago… We lose our focus!
Focusing on these things will only lead us to idleness; from idleness we will move to gossip and meddling where no one invited us, saying what we should not (1 Timothy 5:13)… Sadly, we accomplish nothing by wasting time!
That is why we are advised to add to our

“… faith virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, patience; to patience, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; and to brotherly affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Does the Bible not tell us to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness? (Matthew 6:33)… Does the Word not tell us to fix our eyes on Jesus? (Hebrews 12:2) Why? So that we will not

“be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8)

So let us get to work!

\3. ‘Be diligent to make your calling and election sure’

Is what we want to achieve important? Is it worthwhile? If so, let us respect ourselves! Seeing fruit will always require effort, dedication, focus, perseverance, attitude, responsibility, discipline, and time! Our calling and election! Let us remember that we are not running for just anything

“Do you not know that all the runners in the stadium run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

What prize?

“For in this way you will be granted a full and generous entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11)

Are we upset because the person ahead will not let us pass, yet unable even to say, ‘Excuse me, please’? Please, let us speak the Word! Let us stop limiting our walk or complaining to the Lord while doing nothing about it!

What do you say? A new day with determination?!

Ready to run toward the prize? Find music that strengthens your faith in our Songbook at SanidApp

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook