“Wisdom is divinely worked in those, and only those, who apply themselves to God’s revelation.”
J. I. Packer, Knowing God

I often want to be holier than I am. I want to be wiser, kinder, and more Christlike, but I want it to happen without having to make any real effort myself.
Can’t it be like my salvation?
I believe and receive.
Can’t it be like that?

God says no.
We reap what we sow.
That’s a spiritual law as well defined and constant as the gravity that holds our feet to the earth.

Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace procured for us by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual maturity requires diligent effort.

I make a lot of excuses for myself.
I bet you do too.
We’re so busy with family and work.
Or volunteering for worthy causes that depend on us.
There are so many diversions and distractions that all conspire to keep us from doing the single crucial thing we need to do.

Jesus called it the one needful, or necessary thing.
Can it really be just one thing?

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:42

I don’t think we really get the importance of the Bible as a spiritual resource.
We take it for granted.
It sits there on the shelf like an old college textbook.
But it contains ‘everything we need for life and godliness’.

That is exactly the phrase Peter uses.
Do you want grace and peace in your life?
Read what Peter wrote and remember that it’s God writing to us through Peter.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,
that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:2-4

A.W. Tozer said “Every man is as holy as he really wants to be. But the want must be all compelling.”

God asks us to meet Him part way.
It’s a test of faith for each one of us throughout our life.
A measure of our holy desire.
Day in and day out we have a choice in how spiritual we become and how carnal we are willing to remain.

Prayerfully read 2 Peter 1:1-11
God wants you to have that abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
That’s why He told you how to go about obtaining it.

Do you want to make spiritual progress? Do you long for spiritual maturity?
God is willing. He’s given you the indwelling Holy Spirit and everything you need.
Won’t you begin today and meet Him part way?

For more from Tozer see:
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/tozer/5j00.0010/5j00.0010.09.htm