It’s Never Too Late to Live for Christ

05/24/21 – 05/31/21

A Firm Foundation

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/25/21

To build lives that glorify God, we must build on the immovable, eternal, and sure foundation He has provided: Jesus Christ.

Read 2 Peter 1:5-11. Any decent architect knows that a strong building must have an immovable foundation. In 2 Peter 1:5, Peter tells us that our faith, if it is to be strong, must be built on the righteousness of Christ—our only hope for eternal salvation.

In verse 5, Peter begins with the words, “For this very reason.” Since we have already been saved by Christ’s righteousness and given everything we need to live a godly life, we are equipped to build our lives as monuments to God’s glory. We can pursue spiritual maturity each day.

In this passage, Peter clearly gives us the blueprint for building godly lives: To faith we add goodness, then knowledge, then self-control, then perseverance, then godliness, then mutual affection, and then love (see 2 Peter 1:5-7).

Peter knew from experience that these wonderful qualities are the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us. So he exhorts us to make every effort to walk by the Spirit and thus confirm our calling and election—our identity as sons and daughters of the living God (see 2 Peter 1:10).

It’s never too late to build productive and effective lives for Christ. When we begin on the rock of Christ’s righteousness, we can build with confidence, knowing that “he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Amen belongs here!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for freeing me from the bondage of sin to build a life of beauty and righteousness with Christ as my foundation. Use me for Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).