I'm taking a little different approach to 2 Peter. I have to admit I have procrastinated on it because it feels like a completely daunting task for me! I have said several times that I am not a writer. My thoughts are often scattered (hence the name of my blog), and my grammar, well it's pretty bad!!! So here I sit wanting desperately to translate to you (mostly Mari, my one faithful commenter!!) the truths that God is showing me in my study, and fearful of not being able to articulate the beauty of God's word. But I feel compelled to continue, so like Steven Curtis Chapman says in his song "I'm diving in"! I pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate your mind to His truth's and I will get out of the way!
Also this will be done over a few blog posts, so they don't get to long.
WHO we are? (Verses 1-4)
Peter is all about encouragement of the saints! Really, that showed up so much in 1 Peter. Even though there will be struggle, take heart, remember whose you are, rejoice, etc....
Here in 2 Peter, right off the bat he reminds the faithful of who they are! They did not have to think them less then he, or the other Apostles (who had seen Jesus). They were on equal standing with them. There is no saint in the Kingdom of God that is greater then any other. Why? Because (by) the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ we have obtained (to receive by divine allotment) it!
So many of us (myself included) look at others and say "WOW I wish I had their faith!" Well Peter is here to tell you, YOU DO!
I often said as the Director of Children's Ministries, that God does not make Junior Disciples. In verses 3 & 4 Peter says that God's divine power has granted to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through KNOWLEDGE of him. There is so much more to this run on sentence of his I just need to show it:
2 Peter 1:3-4
So you see we have all we need, our knowledge of Him needs to grow. Satan would like us to believe that we are weak and not useful in the Kingdom of God because there is always someone with more knowledge them we have, BUT throughout this chapter Peter will encourage us to understand that we have what we need IN HIM (Christ)! What we need to do is claim it, and practice it (which we will learn later).
I think my first question always has to be:
- Are you one of those who through faith has obtained an equal standing? Have you professed faith in Jesus Christ, and excepted his wonderful gift of salvation? If you haven't, please seek out someone today to further explain the wonderful plan of salvation laid forth in Jesus Christ! If you have:
- Are you seeing your faith as inferior to others? What does the passage say about who you are and what you've been given?
- Are you claiming the divine power granted you to live a life that shows your equal standing with other believers?
Get into the Word today!!!
2 comments:
You know - when I see you have another one of these posted, I always have to make myself wait to read it. These take time and concentration to get the most from them.
So - I really liked this one too! I have never thought of Peter as an encourager, and you've shown him to me in a whole new light!
Your questions are pertinent to me. I must admit that although I don't feel my faith itself is inferior, I often am disappointed in the way I show it and use it. And that brings me to #3!
Again, I have to say that this would be a great Bible study or devotion book. I've been praying for you in that regard.
Thanks for sharing this!
It really is about taking the WORD at it's word and BELIEVING who I am IN Christ. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. I became a believer later on in life. I married a man who had given his life to the Lord at age 5 and who had walked closely with Him. He has gone to university and studied the word - I had done none of that and I was a pastor's wife! People who know that my husband had studied at Liberty University and gotten honors etc. then they would turn to me and ask where I had studied - well I hadn't - talk about feeling like an nerd. But over the years and through my time with the Lord - He has affirmed to me that I am just as much called with my little schooling as my man is with his much schooling - it's the Word of the Spirit in us - and I'm so thankful. He truly has given us all we need - if we will just take the time!
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