MAY 5

2 Peter 3:14
Memorise 2 Peter 3:14
“Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless”

A reformed life lives for Christ. This clear and noble vision or goal is also animated by the sure hope that a paradise of new heaven and earth awaits the believer. There also needs to be a right attitude of earnest diligence in the pursuit of Christ-likeness, in order that our testimony shines for the Lord.

Peter lovingly pleads with God’s people, that in light of the hope that we have, we should have earnest diligence to ensure that our lives are pure and holy in the sight of God. We must endeavour to live a life of peace without spot in our character and our dealings with those around us. We ought to live blameless, such that others can see Christ in us. Thus we are reminded that cultivating a Christ-like character is vital in God’s eyes. In order to achieve this, we need to be systematic and make a conscious effort day by day examining our response to situations and also our conduct in our interpersonal relationships with others. For example, are we willing to forgive others and seek forgiveness if we have wronged another? Do we make sure that each day we live counts for God?

Men like John Wesley and John Knox were such men. They showed their great devotion to God and His kingdom in the way they ordered their lives. It is said that John Wesley rose at 4 a.m. and work solidly through to 10 p.m., taking only brief breaks for meals. He did this for the 54 years he spent in preaching God’s Word. Equally zealous and diligent was John Knox. Though he was weak and had to be held by his attendants, John Knox was so filled with divine passion that one of his friends said of his preaching, “So mighty was he in his yearning that I thought he would break the pulpit into bits!”

Dear teen, do you regularly examine yourself? Having been hurt by others, do you seek revenge? Do you counter a nasty remark with another? Are you willing to live in peace with someone who irritates you? After examining your thoughts and actions, seek guidance from Scripture and obey. Through all this, we can have a testimony that is pleasing to God and which brings glory to His name!

Thought: May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, live in me from day to day, By His love and power controlling, all I do and say. ♫ ♪ ♫ ♫
Prayer: My gracious, merciful and loving Father, may I continually examine myself so that my life can be a testimony for Thee each day.