Make Every Effort: Peter's Fervent PleasSample

Day 2: Peter’s First Plea, Submitting Our Heart to God’s Transformation

Here is Peter’s first, fervent plea for us to make every effort. Second Peter 1:4-8, “Through 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. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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.”

Before we explore the ascending glory of this revelation from Peter, let us remember again that God always calls for our heart (not the muscle which pumps blood–but our innermost being) to submit to Him before our mind. We’re so used to dealing with everything through our mind, but God loves to speak into our hearts. So, as we explore God’s messages to us through Peter, let’s open our hearts to God’s revelation!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Here is another example in Matthew 22:37: “Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

And yet another is in Jeremiah 29:13-14: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.”

We open our innermost being to God so He can speak to us, and we can hear His voice. Then in the power of the Holy Spirit our mind can engage and understand what we are to do with His message to us. That message can come directly into our heart while we are communing with God in prayer, or when we are immersing ourselves in His Word–the Bible. Sometimes He speaks to us when we are listening to a sermon at church or on the airwaves–sometimes when we are driving down the road, or just taking a walk.

Reflection: Are we so used to relying on our own reason that we have become closed to God’s still, small voice speaking into our hearts? Are we happy to settle for good when God wants us to have the best? We need to always be listening for His voice, and there is nothing more uplifting than hearing from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That’s why 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing; in other words, be in an attitude of prayer all the time! What a joyful way to live!