* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace.” A few days ago we started walking our way through 5-9 of Peter’s second letter. The Apostle Peter wrote, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG). Today we will focus on the following statement, “With these qualities active and growing in your lives…no day will pass without its reward.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You don’t have to wait ‘till you get to heaven. There was a time when many believers were so miserable down here, in the earth, that they thought their only hope was heaven. They dreamed of a day, in the sweet by-and-by, when the Lord would swing down His sweet chariot and let them ride on up into a land of ‘no more tears’ and ‘no more fears.’ They lived so focused on heaven that they failed to have any expectation of good while they were in the earth. But God never intended for you to spend your life in the earth dreaming of a great escape. Your time in heaven will come, but your time on the earth is NOW. God wants you to discover and develop your purpose, so He can deploy you to make a difference. You CAN live an amazingly rewarding life NOW, here in the earth, before you get to heaven.
2. When you know your purpose you have a sense of urgency. Peter said, “Don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given.” Paul said, “Make the most of every opportunity… understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Eph 5:16,17). You don’t have time to waste. You only get once chance at life. When you stand before God He is going to want to know what you did with the life and grace He gave you. If you were to die today, what would your answer be? If you don’t like the answer, then it is time to make some changes. Don’t waste time getting after your divine purpose.
3. Everyday can and should be rewarding. Peter told us that if we grow in grace — by adding “good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love” to our faith — we can can enjoy every day of our lives. He said, “No day will pass without its reward.” Like I already stated, you don’t have to wait ‘till you get to heaven to receive your reward. God will reward you now, every day of your life, as your pursue the fulfillment of your divine purpose. Solomon said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecc 9:10). Another translation reads, “Every time you find work to do, do it the best you can.” If you live this way you will experience a life that is rewarding, fulfilling and fruitful.
Closing Confession: Father, thank You for reminding me that I do not have to wait ‘till I make it to heaven to experience Your best. You want me to make it to heaven, but You also want me to enjoy the ride. I declare that I will. I am committed to growing in You daily. I discover and develop the purpose You gave me before the world began, so You can then deploy me into the world to make a difference by Your grace. I make the most of every opportunity. You open doors for me that no man can close, and I walk through those doors with confidence and boldness. You close doors for me that no man can open, and I take the re-directions with gratitude and grace. You place me in the company of great men and women, and I glean all You want me to glean from them. You put me in positions where I can make an impact, and I seek to make that impact by Your grace and power. I do not waste one day of my life. I make the most of every hour of every day. Everything my hands find to do, I do it with all my might, knowing that Your grace is on me to succeed. And as I live this way I get to experience a life that is rewarding, fulfilling and very fruitful. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
