Make Every Effort

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Make Every Effort

Date: Jun. 27, 2024

Passage

2 Peter 1:1-11 (ESV)

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 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.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:10

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

God had given us everything we need to live a godly life. While doing so, we put our hope in the kingdom of heaven, to be with our God and Jesus Christ.

Peter exhorts us to “Make every effort.” Make every effort to add goodness, self-control, perseverance, and, eventually, love. However, although we would really love to persevere, be self-controlled, and be full of love, we have our limitations.

But as we meditate on Jesus and come to him daily, Jesus our good shepherd will help us. He will enable us to add goodness, perseverance, godliness, and love to our lives.

May we call on our Savior Jesus every day and let him change our lives from chaos and sinfulness to perseverance, self-control, and love. Let us make every effort to come and hold onto Jesus daily, and he will help us to be more like him every day.

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, please help us to come to you and be more like you.

One Word: Make every effort to be like Jesus.

Fallen Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Key Verse: 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

  “Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
  lest you share in her plagues;

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references