Affirmation Monday – 2 Peter 1: 3-4

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Escape

If 2 Peter were a car, it would be one where the driver has stomped on the gas and when the engine has redlined, popped the clutch. The result is a very high-speed start.

Peter has barely said, “Hello!” before he dives into the essentials of Christian living. His first words are brassy, powerful, and encouraging. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…”

Wow.

It is easy to take our eye off of the ball (and of Scripture) and lose sight of this truth. We have everything we need for a godly life.

So what do we need?

We need a knowledge of “him who called us.” This thing called knowledge falls into two categories. One is called “book knowledge.” This we get from reading and listening to the Word. The other is “first-hand knowledge.” This comes from our direct experience with God. The first is given to us in the Bible, the second by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we take part in the divine nature.

When we hear the Word of God and believe in the one who was sent, Jesus, we become part of God’s family. We are restored to a relationship with God, given new life. We also participate in God’s nature by doing his will.

This does not mean that we live by checking a few boxes. You know; check a box when we go to church and check another box when we hand a few dollars to a beggar. Life in Christ is not about checking boxes. In Matthew 7: 21 Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Doing God’s will is not just checking a box now and then. Participating in the divine nature is a full-time commitment. The Good News is that God has given us, “…everything we need for a godly life.”

Application: Check your commitment to Christ. Are you taking advantage of everything God has provided for you? Have you escaped the corruption caused by evil desires?

Food for Thought: How do Peter’s words contribute to our ability to live a righteous life?

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