Called and Elect

2 Peter 1:10-15

Several times I have been privileged to be with people who knew that they would soon die. We all know that we will die, but we assume it will be someday, and someday seems far, far away. However, sometimes people know that they are at the end of their lives. At these times, people tend to question eternity. The question I have heard that I want to talk about today is, “Have I been good enough?”

In 2 Peter 1:10, Peter says:

2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

“Make your call and election sure.” (“Sure” in this context means “certain” or “solid.”) If we are sure of our calling and election, when we come to the end of our lives, we will have an answer to the question, “Have I been good enough?” Knowing the answer to the question of our eternal home is the certainty that Peter is talking about.

When Peter says, “your call and election,” what comes into your mind? 

What is our call, and how does it differ from election?

First, we are talking about eternity. What is your destination when you die? Our calling and election are part of our salvation and have to do with eternity. Questions that a person might ask when they come to the end of their life are “Am I called?” Or, “Am I elected?” 

Jesus gave an illustration of a wedding feast. The host sent out invitations, and the invited guests found excuses not to go, so the host sent his servants out in the streets to compel people to come. Some guests showed up not dressed for a wedding, and the host had them thrown out. The wedding feast stands for heaven, and the invitations stand for God’s calling us to be saved. At the end of the illustration, Jesus said:

Matthew 22:14 (NKJV) For many are called, but few are chosen.

Jesus also distinguishes between “calling” and “election.” (“Chosen” in this context is the same word Peter uses that was translated as “election.”) The idea behind being called is the invitation. To state it plainly, to be called is to be invited.

The answer to the question, “Am I called?” is “Yes!” Everyone is invited. God invites everyone and His invitation is genuine. Anyone who wants to can come to the Lord for life. God, for His part, wants everyone to come. In 2 Peter 3, Peter tells us that God is not willing that any should perish.

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God does not want anyone to perish. For this reason, God is waiting to bring this world to an end, giving everyone time to repent. He is waiting for people to respond to His call (invitation). To be clear, God is not a trickster. His invitation is real, so free-will also must be real. The invitation is to all people everywhere. However, now to muddy the water, Jesus said:

John 6:44 (NKJV) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

Jesus is talking about election. 2 Peter 1:10 says to make our calling and election sure. Election means chosen. Along with the question, “Am I called?” the question “Am I chosen?” must also be answered. We all are part of the “many” that are called, but are we a part of the “few” that are chosen? Jesus told His disciples:

John 15:16 (NKJV) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus says that we did not choose Him, but He chose us. He also says that He appointed us. An example of this from the Old Testament is the prophet, Jeremiah. God told him:

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV) Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

God’s choice of Jeremiah, the Apostles, and each of us works the same way. God chose Jeremiah, God appointed (ordained) Jeremiah, and God has chosen and appointed you if you know the Lord Jesus.

Calling and election are different sides of the same coin. I have heard those who teach free-will condemn those of us who teach election, and I have heard those who teach election condemn those who teach free-will. The debate will continue because the Bible teaches both. We are responsible for our choice. The problem is that not a single, solitary one of us will choose to seek God. Romans 3 quotes Psalm 14 when it says:

Romans 3:10–11 (NKJV) ¹⁰As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; ¹¹There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”

The truth of the Gospel is that salvation is completely (entirely) accomplished by God. Consider Ephesians 2 with me.

Ephesians 2:4–5, 8–9 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), … ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast.

If you are proud of your faith, you can give that up because it is not of yourself, it is the gift of God. Salvation is always and completely a gift of God’s grace, related to NOTHING that we do.

Because of His great love, God saves us. Here is the rub (irritating fact) not everyone is or will be saved. We tend to ask “Why?” Romans 9 uses Pharaoh as an example. Why didn’t God save Pharaoh? This question is answered for us in the Bible. First, God anticipates our human response and says:

Romans 9:16–19 (NKJV) ¹⁶So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. ¹⁷For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” ¹⁸Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. ¹⁹You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

In answer to the this “Why” question, God says:

Romans 9:22–24 (NKJV) ²²What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

For many, this is not a satisfactory answer. The miracle of grace is that any of us are saved, and we focus on the fact that some are not saved. God addresses this issue, and His answer is that we should be a bit more humble. 

Romans 9:20–21 (NKJV) ²⁰But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

God is God, and we are not. Some things are beyond us. The fact that many are called but few are chosen is just that - it’s a fact. Complaining against God and saying He is unjust or it is not fair does not help. This fact was not a happy one for Pharaoh, but it was happy for Israel. 2 Peter 1:10 assumes the fact and urges us to make sure we are among the chosen.  

Here is a hint - if you are still in Egypt, you are not among the chosen.

In 1 Peter 1:4, Peter says that we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (appetites). THEREFORE, if we are still in bondage to our lusts, then we have reason to worry. This is why the Apostle Paul says:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 

(Compare Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.)

Examining ourselves to see if we are in the faith is also what Peter refers to when he says to make sure of our call and election. In 2 Peter 1, twice Peter says to be diligent. Both times he urges our utmost concentration and effort. He tells us to add virtues to our faith. He says we are to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. We must understand that these things do not save us because salvation is not of works lest any man should boast. However, Peter does say:

2 Peter 1:10–11 (NKJV) …if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Many stumble. Many doubt and worry. We know that, in the end, it is not whether or not we have been good enough. The question is whether or not we have trusted Jesus for our salvation. But, how do I know if I have trusted Him? Where I have lacked brotherly kindness, I will have doubts. Where I have lacked love, I will have doubts. If we pursue Jesus with all our heart, soul, and strength, we will be sure. We will be certain. We will not stumble.

In addition, Peter says that in this way, an entrance into God’s kingdom will be abundantly supplied. (Let me say again, we are not saved by any works that we have done but by faith in Jesus.) This abundant entrance is hearing God say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” Jesus taught us that we can store up treasures in heaven. Many will be saved, but it will be a “just barely saved.” This is what the Apostle Paul is teaching when he says:

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (NKJV) ¹¹For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

If you spend your life building bigger barns to store up treasures here on earth, you are going to leave it all behind on that Day; you will suffer loss as this Scripture says. You will be in heaven, but according to this passage, it will not be an abundant entry.

In 2 Peter 1:14, Peter tells us why he is reminding us of these things. He says:

2 Peter 1:14 (NKJV) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

Peter was at the end of his life. He was not asking, “Have I been good enough?” He was writing to remind us of the fundamental truths of the gospel. In fact, he says:

2 Peter 1:15 (NKJV) Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

The translation “decease” here is unfortunate. The word is “exodus,” like the book in the Old Testament. The book of Exodus got its name from the Children of Israel leaving (exiting) Egypt. It was a great deliverance. Most modern translations get this one right when they say “departure.” Peter is looking forward with anticipation to his “departure.” He is going to be with his Lord and Savior, the one he loves. His concern is not for himself. His concern is to leave a permanent reminder of how to get where he is going. He is sure of his call and election.

Are you?

Does the question plague you, “Have I been good enough?”

Are you ready for the Day of your departure?

Where are your treasures? 

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!

Let’s apply all diligence so an entrance will be supplied to us abundantly.

Great and Precious Promises

2 Peter 1:3-9

2 Peter 1:2–4 (NKJV) ²Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Grace and peace are multiplied to us in the knowledge of God. 

God created us in His image and in His likeness. But, the evil one deceived us and we thought that we could become like God. However, while we bear His image, God is infinite and we are finite; God is all-powerful and we are weak; God is present everywhere, and we are in one place at a time, and God knows everything, and we know very little. God tells us that as the heavens are higher than the earth, so His ways are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:9)

Our determination to be like God led to sin and sin to death. Because of sin, we were blind, poor, and naked. Ephesians 2 tells us that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. But, as Peter tells us, God’s divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Ephesians 2 makes the same point when it says:

Ephesians 2:4–6 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Because of His great love, God used His power and wisdom to provide a way for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. Ephesians 2:5 tells us that God made us alive together with Christ. On this subject, Jesus told Nicodemus that we must experience a new birth to enter the kingdom of God. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that makes us alive in Him, and this is the rebirth Jesus spoke of. Believing in the Lord Jesus is simple enough for a child to understand, and at the same time, it is a great mystery. We cannot understand how Jesus can be both God and man and a member of the Trinity, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. When Peter says that His divine power has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness, He is speaking of the mysteries of our salvation. He is teaching concerning how God works for our benefit.

Peter’s next subject is what God has done for us in what we term “salvation.” After Peter reminds us that we are given everything we need through the knowledge of God, He says:

2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The exceedingly great and precious promises are those things that come with “salvation.” Of course, among these promises are the forgiveness of our sins and a home in heaven, but we are also given much more. Peter focuses on two of these great promises. First, we are made partakers of the divine nature. 

This happens through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit makes us alive together with Christ and is the power of God in our lives. The Spirit gives us the mind of Christ, whereby we understand the word of God. In addition, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives reflects God’s “virtue” (nature). The Apostle John explains this concept in relation to the love of God in our lives.

1 John 4:7–8 (NKJV) ⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God, who called us by His own glory and virtue, has made us partakers of His nature so that we will reflect His glory by showing His virtue. (Virtue means goodness.) This brings us to the second great promise that comes with Salvation. Let’s look at 2 Peter 1:4 again.

2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Corruption and death are in the world because of lust. “Lust” in this context means “desires of the flesh.” Romans 8 gives an excellent explanation of the problem with our fleshly desires.

Romans 8:4–8 (NKJV)  ⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In these verses, we learn that the carnal (flesh) mind is God’s enemy. This is the part of us that wants to be like God (large and in charge). Remember, this desire is what brought sin into the world in the first place. According to Peter, God has delivered us from the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God reminded the nation of Israel of their escape from slavery in Egypt by establishing the Passover as an annual festival. He also uses the celebration of communion to remind us of our escape from slavery to sin. 

Israel’s slavery in Egypt and our slavery to sin are parallels. Sin is a horrible taskmaster that seeks to destroy us. Romans assures us that sin leads to death. (Sin always leads to death.)

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin leads to death but look again at how that corruption comes into our world.

2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Here is a question for all of us: “If God has delivered us, why do we choose to live according to our lusts?”

We forget that living for our flesh (appetites) brings death and corruption. Peter writes to encourage us to live in a way consistent with the great grace God has given to us. He shows us a path to godliness. This is not about legalistically keeping rules. No, we are talking about living free in Christ, free from the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We are not saved or delivered from sin by any works that we do, but since we have been made partakers in the divine nature, we are called on to add things to our faith. The things that we are called upon to add to our faith are all virtues. In other words, they are all good things.

Peter does not say, “Please do these things.” Look at what he says.

2 Peter 1:5, NKJV But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,

The reason Peter is talking about here is the fact that we have been made partakers in the divine nature. And, what we are to do is apply all diligence. Many translations say, “Make every effort,” instead of “Giving all diligence.”

This is the paradox of our faith. The Holy Spirit is given so that we can live godly in Christ Jesus, and it is impossible for us to live godly lives without the Holy Spirit. And yet, we are to make every effort, apply all diligence to live in a godly manner. In our flesh, we can do nothing good, but we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.

Look at the virtues (good) we are to add to our faith.

2 Peter 1:5–7 (NKJV) ⁵But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

The qualities listed here are for everyone. (Virtue can be translated as goodness.) So, here is the list: 1) goodness, 2) knowledge, 3) self-control, 4) perseverance, 5) godliness, 6) brotherly kindness, and 7) love.

As we’ve begun this series, we’ve seen that we are made partakers of the divine nature through our knowledge of God. The knowledge that is listed among these virtues is not the same kind of knowledge. The knowledge that leads to salvation is a personal experience or contact knowledge. The knowledge that we are to grow in as a virtue is understanding. The word Peter uses is different from the word he has been using this far. He uses the common word for knowledge. In other words, remaining ignorant is not a virtue. 

 

We must grow in our knowledge of Scripture and doctrine. We must grow in our knowledge and understanding of life in general. This knowledge would include science, history, literature, culture, and whatever is of benefit. 

The list is easy to understand but harder to put into practice. Therefore, Peter explains to us the importance of building these things in our lives. He says:

2 Peter 1:8–9 (NKJV) ⁸For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Here we are given a positive and a negative reason for building these virtues in our lives. 

First, they will make us fruitful. Even if we suffer for being good, in the end, it will benefit us. There is no downside to being good.

Second, if we lack these virtues, it reveals that we are shortsighted.

Going back to the question I asked: “If God has delivered us, why do we choose to live according to our lusts?”

Have we forgotten?

Romans 8:13 (NKJV) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Choose life. We have been delivered from the corruption that is in the world through lust. So, why do we choose to live controlled by the desires of our flesh?

Multiplied Grace

2 Peter 1:2-5

 2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Is “grace and peace” just a standard greeting, or is there more meaning to this?

Peter is greeting us, to be sure, blessing us with both grace and peace. But, there is more to this than just a greeting. Peter says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you,” and then he tells us how grace and peace can be (or are) multiplied to us. God gives grace in abundance. He favors us. But, there is always a more abundant supply of grace. Multiplication implies a doubling, tripling, quadrupling, or even increasing a hundredfold. 

However, before we consider how grace is multiplied, we must understand our need for grace. Do you understand our need for grace and peace?

We need grace for this life and for the life to come. Let’s consider our need for grace for the life to come first.

We all live with the reality that we will die someday. We do not know when or how, but we know it will happen. (I will put in at this point the exception that I do not expect this generation of God’s children to die. I expect that we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. And, this makes the need for grace even more urgent.)

People of all times have wondered what happens after death. As far as I know, every culture and every people group believes in an after-life. Communism has unsuccessfully tried to stamp this out of the people and places it has under its control.

The Bible, and thus God, says:

Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…

Judgment is a reason we need grace. Look at the point Hebrews 9 is making. 

Hebrews 9:27–28 (NKJV) ²⁷And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Jesus dying so that we will not have to suffer the penalty for our sins is pure grace. Eagerly waiting for Him is an indication that we have received this grace. The truth of God’s grace demonstrated in Jesus is expressed in a well-known verse.

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God loved us and sent His Son. This act is the very definition of grace. Grace is undeserved favor, and grace is the premise of the gospel.

This world is at enmity with God. It is hostile toward God. In fact, we were all God’s enemies. Romans 5:10 tells us.

Romans 5:8–10 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. … For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, …

God says we were sinners and His enemies. This hostility toward God is part of the reason there is evil in the world. We desperately need to be reconciled to God. We need peace. We need peace with God and peace in our hearts and minds.

Grace and peace with God are not just for the judgment or the afterlife. We need peace with God here and now for this life, and, in fact, we experience God’s grace with every breath we breathe. 

Do you enjoy a beautiful sunset? That is a gift from God. Do you enjoy a glass of orange juice? This also is a gift from God. We experience God’s grace in countless ways, including peace. We experience peace beyond comprehension when we leave all our cares and anxieties with Him. Philippians 4:6-7 speaks of this peace.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV) ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We can take everything that concerns us and weighs us down and ask God for what we need. Jesus told us:

John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The question for us today is, “If Jesus has given us His peace, why are our hearts troubled? Why are we not experiencing His peace?”

Just before He said He gave His peace, Jesus gave one answer to this question. He said:

John 14:1 (NKJV) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

From this verse, we understand that a key to peace is faith. We must believe in God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is where we learn how grace and peace are multiplied to us. Let’s look at 2 Peter 1:2-3.

2 Peter 1:2–3 (NKJV) ²Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

In verse two, the Scriptures say, “…in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” In this context, the word “in” could also be translated as “by.” However, verse three connects to this thought and says all things have been given us “through” the knowledge of Him.

From this, we gather that we find grace and peace multiplied to us through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

I think I can illustrate this through an incident that happened when Peter was with Jesus. On this occasion, Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius). 

Matthew 8:23–27 (NKJV) ²³Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ²⁵Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

²⁶But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

They marveled because they did not really know who Jesus was. And, this was the reason for their “little faith.”

When Jesus said that He was the way, the truth, and the life, the following discussion occurred.

John 14:8–9 (NKJV) ⁸Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The disciples were troubled and afraid because they did not know Jesus, who and what He was and is. They lacked faith for the same reason. 

They had two things that were obstacles to their understanding. First, they only saw Jesus in His physical form. (The exception being one event on the Mt. of Transfiguration.) He walked like them, talked like them, slept like them, and ate like them. So, for all they saw, He was one of them, except for the miracles. 

The second obstacle was that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given, they were transformed. In an instant, they went from cowering in hiding places in Jerusalem to changing the world for Christ. One reason for this transformation is explained in John 16.

John 16:13–14 (NKJV) ¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

They had first-hand experience of Jesus, but they needed the Holy Spirit to make the truth clear to them.

I fear that many of us lack firsthand experience with Jesus. 

We get this experience by spending time with Him. There is no substitute for spending time in the Word of God for yourself.

It has always been easy to let other things crowd Jesus out, but it is especially so today. For example, consider this statistic.

According to a survey conducted in February 2021, nearly half of the respondents stated that, on average, they spent five to six hours on their phone on a daily basis, not including work-related smartphone use.

Fewer than five people in a hundred said that they spent no time or less than an hour a day on their phone. The point is that we spend much more time with social media than we spend with our Bibles, with Jesus. 

Jesus has promised the Holy Spirit, and He told us that abiding in Him means abiding in His words.

John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

We can trust His promise to provide the Holy Spirit, but we must make time to be in His word. Psalm 1 tells us that the blessed or happy person meditates on God’s word day and night.

I am not trying to push a legalistic requirement. But I am trying to urge you to consider a path of multiplied grace and peace. 

Nothing in this life or the next is more valuable than knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jeremiah, the Lord says,

Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NKJV): ²³Thus says the Lord:

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

²⁴But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,” says the Lord.