Apostle Peter a servant of Jesus Christ, here is addressing an entire group who came to Christ through faith. About faith it’s written, “of great price, valuable and costly”— not because of any good deed but the true and precious faith that comes through the righteousness of God and Jesus Christ.

In our reading today, Apostle Peter tells us about the Christian qualities which should be practised in the life of a child of God and such character will surely display the divine nature expected by Our Heavenly Father in all aspects. To save lost mankind, God opened to the whole world through Jesus Christ, not only redemption, but in His mercy, has provided all the provision for a child of God to reach the destination which is eternity. The blessings of His promises to a child of God are countless and in this portion itself many of them are stated—precious faith, righteousness, grace and peace, all things that pertain to life and godliness, the divine nature to escape from corruption and lust….the list goes on.

As God has made the path clear to us to go forward, there are certain responsibilities resting on child of God to be practised daily. Our key verse states some of our responsibilities:

• More Diligent:-Diligent is a word used several times in the Word of God and twice in our reading (v.5 & 10). Diligent means to make effort, labour, go forward, etc., It’s not just a one-day process or just sitting around, after being saved; it’s a process of day by day growing in Christ Jesus. No company gives promotion to the employee who is lazy and not hardworking; likewise, in the path of Christian growth, we need dedication, hard work and a pursing to reach the destination. Once we start to labour diligently then we begin to see the glorious possibilities the Lord opens before us. Let us be more diligent in every area of our Christian life.

• Confirm your Calling & Election: – Calling and election were for certain people and the priest hood was given only to Levities in the Old Testament. But through Jesus Christ our calling is: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Pet.2:9-10). Jesus declared to those who followed Him: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)

• Practise Christian qualities:– All eight Christian qualities—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, love— are supplementing our spiritual maturity and it guarantees security in Jesus Christ (Vs.5-8). V.9 says those who don’t practise these are shortsighted, forgetting they have been cleansed from their past sins. Practising them in our daily lives and examining our lives through the mirror of God’s Word will surely bring forth the blessings God promises to us.

Apostle Peter warns about the possibilities of failing to do these things resulting in your fall. Failing is nothing but abandoning/neglecting the purpose God assigned to each of us and a disobedience to His call. Let us stick within the boundaries of God’s Word and make sure each step is according to His plan.

Thought- A Diligent following will ensure: “For so an entrance shall be provided unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”(2 Peter 1:11)