The Story: “For so…” of “For in this way…” What way? And to where? To whereis to the eternal Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. This is a Kingdom we enter now, increasingly, and finally on the day of Christ’s return. All who have tasted of the Kingdom want more. And, as they attain to more of the righteousness, peace, joy, and power of the Holy Spirit – which is the Kingdom of God (Rom. 14.17, 18; 1 Cor. 4.20) – they long all the more earnestly for the final appearing of their King and His glorious reign. Do you want to be in that company? Then, Peter says, the only way to be sure of this is by giving all diligence to grow in the knowledge of God and the godliness and love that issue from that. How shall we walk? And to where? Right this way!

The Structure: It is important to remember that this community of believers to whom Peter is writing had been experiencing persecution for their faith (1 Pet. 1). It’s not like they were on “cruise control” in their walk with the Lord. They were up against it, and giving all diligence to serve and witness was rather a hard slog. Peter might have excused them, given the adversity they were facing. Instead, he urged them on in their calling, so that they might be even more effective as servants and witnesses for the Lord. Not even persecution can excuse us from giving all diligence in bearing fruit for the Lord. What about the excuses we muster each day for why we aren’t growing, serving, and bearing witness any more than we are?

Meditate on Romans 14.17-19. How do Paul’s words supplement and reinforce what we see in 2 Peter 1.1-11?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Getting on with the Life of Faith: 2 Peter 1,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.