Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10, 11)
Dear Father,
I want these children to understand that it is possible to fall away from your grace. I also want them to understand that it is not easy to do so. What your servant Peter is telling us is that it can happen if we are aiming at nothing. If we, on the other hand, are making some effort to add to our spiritual growth, your Spirit works in us to transform us and give us power to overcome. If we "aim for perfection" (II Corinthians 13:11), we will, of course, never attain it, but aiming for it, in the humility of knowing we will not attain it, will keep us from being pulled away by temptation into a lifestyle that can lead us away from your grace (Galatians 5:21).
And even if we are not so drawn into sin that we are pulled completely from your grace (it cannot be fully said that we "live like this") I pray that these children understand that any time they fall into sin, damage will be done. And that damage will always include damage to those they love, and may include innocent bystanders. Help them to know that all of us fail and sin, but that we can reduce the amount of that failure and the severity of the consequences by possessing "these qualities in increasing measure". Please help them to understand the truth of the old saying "if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time" and instill in them a strong desire to conform to your will.
Amen
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