“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” – 2 Peter 3:14
As Peter concludes his second letter, he gives a principle for living life in uncertain times as we anticipate the return of Christ and renewal of all things. As followers of Jesus, we must be diligent to live in a holy and peaceful way. This isn’t a casual calling or something that would be nice if we happen to do it. We must be diligent. We must be intentional and work hard to live according to all the commands of Jesus so that we’ll be found without spot or blemish.
This doesn’t just mean avoiding the “big sins” like killing people, stealing, or committing adultery. To diligently live without spot or blemish, requires that we be diligent about every word that comes out of our mouth – at home, at work, on the road, with friends, with colleagues, and with those we don’t much like. We must be diligent about everything we look at in private. Everything we write or post online. Every place where we’re tempted to cut corners or break rules that we imagine nobody will ever notice. No spot and no blemish is a very high standard. The good news is that when we discover we have a spot or blemish, God’s grace will clean that up when we repents and ask forgiveness. But we must be diligent to notice our sins, repent of them, and ask for that forgiveness.
We must also be diligent to be found at peace. Christians are told by Jesus to be peacemakers. That also won’t happen by accident, it requires intentionality. When conflict flares in our life, we must not fuel it or ignore it and we must repent when we do. We must do everything possible to make peace and resolve the conflict. When we’re angry or frustrated with someone, we must not let that fester and turn into bitterness. We must seek peace and reconciliation. We must not harbor resentments or hold onto feuds but rather be found at peace by Jesus. #FollowJesus