A Rich Welcome

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

— 2 Peter 1:10-11

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Peter repeats the same phrase from vs 5, "make every effort". The Greek word he uses means, "make haste, endeavor, exert one's self, give diligence." Now he says we are to exert diligence to confirming our calling and election. What is "calling"? Ephesians 2:10 describes it as being, "created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 2 Timothy 1:9 says, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." Before time began, God thought of me and had a purpose for me. By embracing, pursuing, and living out this calling is how I make every effort to confirm it.

My election is "the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons." God chose me. As much as I tend to think I chose to follow You, You chose me. And You chose me before the foundation of the world. To confirm my election means to live this out. In the simplest of analogies, if I am chosen by a schoolmate on the playground to play kickball on their team, then I play the game for their team! I'm on Your team, so now I get to play!

If I do these things, verses 5-7, Your promise to me is that I will never stumble. I won't fall into sin or trip into misery and error. Instead, I will be richly welcomed into Heaven. The picture is of a victorious soldier returning home from battle amid the shouts and applause of those for whom he fought.

Lord Jesus, may I receive a rich welcome into Your eternal kingdom when this life is over. May my name be known in Heaven because I lived out my calling and election here on earth.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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