2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV) Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I used to think that living the life that Jesus spoke about was not possible on this side of eternity. I thought that there was just no way that anyone could live like Jesus did. But then I would read the challenge of 1 John 2:6 that says that whoever claims to live in God must live as Jesus did. Ouch. So it turns out that living like Jesus is not only possible but is fully expected when our lives have been surrendered to God. But how in the world do we live like Jesus did? That sounds like a mighty tall order...and it is. But what God expects of us He expects because He is the one that has promised to do what is necessary so that we will be changed to the point where we are not just trying to live like Jesus did, but that instead we are living that way because we’ve been transformed by Him. That’s when the incredible promise of not stumbling anymore becomes a reality.

If we read the verses preceding the two verses above, they refer to adding things to our faith (verses 5-7). The majority of them are familiar from another portion of scripture that outlines the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Some of the ones mentioned are love, goodness, perseverance (which can be likened to faithfulness) and self-control. The other two mentioned are godliness and mutual affection, which happen to flow from having the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you. So in other words, if you want to never stumble, be filled with the Holy Spirit! You are filled with the Holy Spirit when you ask God to fill you (Luke 11:13). The Word of God tells us that the Father will fill those who ask Him with the Holy Spirit. If you are asking, you have to ask seriously. In other words, if you are not living right or dealing with sin in your life, then you couldn’t expect God to take your request seriously. But if you want more of the Lord in your life and are tired of the rollercoaster ride that your walk with Jesus can be when you are trying to live your faith in your own strength, then go ahead and ask God to give you the Helper that Jesus promised. Then the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control will be manifested in your life and you will no longer stumble in your walk with Christ.

Praise the Lord that there is a way to keep walking on the narrow road without stumbling. With God being so, so good, I should have never doubted that just as He made a way for me to be washed from all of my sins and saved to enjoyed eternity in heaven with Him, He also made a made a way for me to walk sure-footed on the path to righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!

Pastor Joey Vazquez