MAKE USE - NOT EXCUSE
After a huge increase in sales of exercise equipment and memberships, there’s normally a big drop off of interest in exercise about this time of the year. The interest in the new equipment, memberships, and resolutions begin to fade as time goes on for most people. It’s certainly not a lack of the necessary tools that keep people from obtaining their goal, instead it becomes a lack of motivation and discipline to use what is there.
In the same way, God’s Word tells us that we have everything we need to grow and mature but making the effort is the key to take us to the next level. Read the following verses and note verse five.
2 Peter 1:2-10 (ESV) 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 make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
“For this reason, make every effort…” God has loaded us up with benefits and tools but unless we make the effort, we’ll not enjoy the benefits. Just like people who make great resolutions and buy the best equipment or membership will only see the benefits if they make the effort to use the equipment or membership. If we make every effort, we’ll find a way to apply ourselves to get into the gym or use the equipment at home. If we wait for someone to prod us or do it for us, it just won’t be done. We can blame others or make excuses all we want but the results are the same. It won’t happen until we make the effort.
Today’s passage from God’s Word points out the things that God has provided by His grace, along with the motivation in benefits that will be ours if we apply ourselves. If we don’t apply ourselves, then words like ineffective and unproductive will fit our walk with God as well as our desire for fitness or any other area of discipline.
It’s a matter of making use of what we have or making an excuse.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
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