I don't normally do these kinds of entries. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because I don't normally appreciate them when I read them on other blogs. I should, but at this point, I don't usually value them. I will try to rectify that.
As I was reading, praying and meditating on God's Holy Word this morning, a passage from Simon Peter's second letter has been challenging my mind. I can see that my mind is not clear, and as I often experience, I struggle to get the real deep meaning of the scripture that can change my soul. I offer it up to those of you who want to dig deeper into it with me, that we can munch on it together for the building up of one another. I have made comments on each italicized portion in footnotes below the passage.
2 Peter 1: 1-11 (NKJV)
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as (1)His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, (2)who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given have been given to us exceeeedingly 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. But also for this very reason, (3)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, (4)to virtue knowledge, (5)to knowledge self-control, (6)to self-control perseverance, (7)to perseverance godliness, (8)to godliness brotherly kindness, and (9)to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (10)Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things your will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I pray that my thoughts from the italicized portions of the above scripture will help to build you up in your faith:
1) His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Is this not precious and powerful? God has given us EVERYTHING we need that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of HIM! It isn't something we do ourselves, but we receive it from God Himself. This is through the precious "relationship with God" that everyone refers to that sets Christianity apart from other religions.
(2) who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given have been given to us exceeeedingly 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. God is calling us to glory and virtue. What does this mean? I am still trying to fully understand. (Let me know if you have any insight. I understand that He desires for us to be virtuous, but what about the glory part?). Through glory and virtue He wants us to receive the divine nature (to become like Him) by escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. Lord, may we ever seek to escape the corruption that is in this world from the desires of our flesh! Thank You, dear God, for giving us what we need to do this, and bring it to pass.
3) giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue Diligence is hard work with faithfulness. Setting your mind to doing something and doing it with all that you've got. With this committed gusto, we are to build up our faith with moral excellence. Did you know that moral excellence (virtue) will help build up your faith?
4) to virtue knowledge We are to add to virtue knowledge. Where should this knowledge come from? From our time on the internet or in good books? I believe it comes from time spent with the Holy Spirit in His inspired Word (the Bible).
5) to knowledge self-control Self control comes as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23). In this letter from Peter we are commanded to add to this godly knowledge the power of the Holy Spirit to control our flesh. How do we do this? I believe we ask God to give us control over our flesh through His Holy Spirit. I don't claim to understand this, but I receive it with faith. Remember in the previous parts we talk about, that He has given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness - and that includes the power to rule over our flesh! Hallelujah. Lord, help us!
6) to self-control perseverance We need to endure in these things. Hold fast to what is given us. Don't weary or lose heart in doing good and ruling the flesh. Oh Jesus, we need You to help us hold on!
7) to perseverance godliness We must seek to take on godly habits, to become like Jesus Himself in all that that means. Lord, help us to pursue godliness. We want to be like You, and we can only become godly through Your help. Thank you for Your blood and Your Holy Spirit, Whom You have given us in Your great love and unselfishness.
8) to godliness brotherly kindness Brotherly kindness seems so easy and straight-forward. We are to be kind to our neighbor. Do we really do this? Do we forgive the one who cuts us off in traffic or be gracious to the one who cuts in line at the potluck? Do we reach out to our sick neighbors or to the new family next door? Do we bring food to the family who just lost a dear mother or had a new baby? Or do we give dirty looks to those who do not live in the grace which we have obtained, and condemn the ones whose faith is not the same as our own? Is my blog full of grace, or judgment?
9) to brotherly kindness love Love goes beyond brotherly kindness. Love is the choice of choosing the highest good for another in spite of the cost to ourselves. Love is what Jesus did for us on the cross and each day He lived on the earth. Love is waking early to spend time in intercession for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is caring for our children with no expectation for recompense. Love is the patience that we must hold onto in order to do the things we know we must do in order to raise our children, respect our spouse, honor our parents, and serve our Lord. Love comes from God. LOVE IS WHO HE IS.
10)Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things your will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ This is another of those exceedingly great and precious promises that Simon Peter referred to in verse 4. All I can say is wow. God gives us the knowledge, the grace and the power to do what He calls us to do. Thank you, Father. Help us.
P.S. Writing this out has helped me to dig deeper and to understand this passage more. I hope it helps some of you who read it. Let me know if you have any further understanding or comments regarding this passage, or any other word that might be edifying to other readers. God bless you today.
One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty, the beauty of the Lord. To inquire in His temple, the temple of the Lord.
This is my everyday thoughts about being a mother to three little ladies (12, 10 and 5) and a three year old son. We serve God full-time, and I am a physician assistant. I have the most awesome husband in the world. I am trying to seek and serve God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength.
