“…make every effort…” – 2 Peter 1.5.
God has given us so much. If you read the above phrase in the context of the passage (2 Peter 1.3+4) you realise His abundance and generosity.
Other places in scripture tell us similar things. Romans 5 says that we were enemies of God (verse 10) and yet He sends His Son so that our relationship to Him can be reconciled.
He has done it all.
Often that’s where we stop. He has done it all. Therefore there is nothing more I need to do, and anything I should do Holy Spirit will do for me… Does this reasoning sound familiar?
Holy Spirit has been given to us to enable us. He works in us and through us. He has been poured out in abundance (Titus 3.5c-6). He comforts us and guides us. He teaches us and opens our eyes to things that we would not see with our natural eyes…
But we must set the alarm clock.
We must “make every effort”. Not sit back and let Holy Spirit change us, but be intentional in our changing.
If we feel we should be praying for someone, set a reminder to do so. If we feel we should be visiting people, put it in your diary. If you feel you should be getting up earlier in the morning to spend time with God… set the alarm clock.
We cannot expect Holy Spirit to do what we have been told to do, and even made to do. God won’t by pass the things He has put in us to glorify Him with. The key thing is our will. We need to use our will to do certain things.
Yes, God works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” but we must still use our facilities. And although He works in us, etc, we have the ability to say “No.” We can look God in the face and say, “I don’t want to.” He can make us do it, but usually He won’t. He wants your will as that is the only thing He chooses not to tamper with (more often than not).
So, “make every effort”. Set the alarm clock and see what God will do through you as you place your will at His feet.
Father, may you help us. We are so willful. We prefer our time, our things and our way more than we do Yours. And yet, your ways are far above our ways, your thoughts far above our thoughts. Holy Spirit, help us to yield to You. Help us to lay down our wills for the sake of the Kingdom. May we reflect Jesus and His joy in obeying and walking in the things of You, more and more. For Jesus Christ’s sake, so be it.