Have you ever pulled an all-nighter trying to reach a goal?

I did when I was steeped in making revisions for the graduate research paper that stood between me and my degree. Although I craved sleep, I craved meeting my deadline much more. My goal was set and my eyes were on the prize. I was finally close to being done with my graduate studies, once and for all.

Peter reminds us to keep our eyes on the Prize: Jesus Christ.

Jesus empowers us to live fully and serve God faithfully. Jesus’ presence in our lives gives us hope as we live in expectation of our heavenly inheritance. Jesus rose from the dead and His power over death allows Him to speak life over the dead areas in our lives.

Peter reminds us that God has given us everything we need to live for Him and to serve Him well. Our love for God is a buffer against the temptations and difficulties of this life that seek to trip us up and cause us to stumble because we know that inexpressible joy awaits us on the other side.

In the meantime, we “pull an all-nighter” of faith, holding on to Jesus and diligently pursuing a relationship with Him.