OK, Robin - so what are they? Well, yesterday's is from C.S. Lewis - "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." I loved this. It made me realize that it's not too late to pick this habit up again. It also helped me understand that if I am to continue to grow (as we should all strive to do) I must continue to set goals for myself ... to dream new dreams.
The quote for today is :"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice." (W. J. Bryan) It brought to remembrance recent conversations in our Ladies' Sunday school class. These conversations centered on the choices we make and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others. It also reminds me of all the times my parents told me we make our own destiny.
Both quotes are so very true. Our destiny in life is determined by the choices we make. Our eternal destination also depends on our life choices. And that is precisely why it is never too late to make the right choices -- to dream of eternal life.
We are never too old or too far gone in our sin to make a change and choose to serve our Savior. What better goal can we set? What better dream to have than the one of living with God in heaven eternally?
For those of us who already made the choice, we must choose to never give up. We must decide to continue to grow. God wants us to mature in our faith - to learn as much as we can so we can teach others. That is the choice we make. Do we choose to go with the status quo? Do we decide to just go through the motions of serving God? Are we Christians in name only? OR -- do we decide to actually live it every day?
Peter gives us great encouragement and the best reason in the world to keep growing -- to set new goals spiritually. Read 2 Peter 1:5-11. It is a somewhat lengthy passage; but so worthwhile to study.
"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence," make a conscience choice ... to do what, Peter?
"Add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance, godliness, to godliness brotherly love, to brotherly kindness love." That doesn't sound like going through motions to me. It sounds like we are to constantly set new goals for ourselves - to stretch and grow as Christians. And notably, this challenge doesn't have an age limit.
"For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." These "things" will not be ours by chance or accident. We will not obtain these qualities, let alone abound in them unless we choose to acquire them.
Next comes a warning, "For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." How sad it is to become so indifferent to your salvation that you have forgotten the joy of forgiveness! Yet that is a choice some will make.
Peter offers the better choice. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Did you get all that? We can decide to be diligent. We choose to be sure. There is so much to be gained if we do "these things" - if we continually add those qualities to our lives we will not stumble. What a glorious gain will be ours if we make the right choices.
Thank you Gentry for reminding me through your gift that we are never too old to dream - never too old to grow and mature in our Christian faith -- and for helping me remember that the choice really is ours (mine) to make.
By always adding to our faith, we choose our own destiny. We will be abundantly supplied an entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." What better reason for deciding to heed Peter's instruction?
Christ above all things,
Robin
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