“Make your call and election sure.” (2 Peter 1.10)

New Testament Challenge, Day 37 – 1&2 Peter


For most of the past week I have been writing about the risk of not maintaining what I would refer to as an “active faith” in Christ. Today’s readings ring clear again of the danger in allowing there to be a disconnect between our faith in Christ and our daily living. Saint Peter says,

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For it these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1.5-9)

Saint Peter warns us,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false prophets among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who brought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2.1-2)

Can it not be said, especially in the so-called Bible belt, that the Orthodox Church is blasphemed and spoken of as non-Christian by many pastors? What else can account for the fact that the ancient and Holy Traditions of the Apostles, who were guided “into all truth” (John 16.13) by the Holy Spirit, than the warning of Saint Peter? Like it or not, there ARE false teachers in Christianity today and we shouldn’t be surprised. Scripture tells to expect as much.

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicket; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

It’s almost Christmas and many of you may be reading this blog because you are searching for answers during the holiday season. I urge you this week, take control of your life and give it over to the Lord. It’s never too late (until your dead) to begin a new life in Jesus Christ. Why not make that new day today? Find a local Orthodox Christian Church and enter into the Kingdom of God for Christmas. It will be much better than any fancy-wrapped gift under a tree.