2 Peter 1:4a — Grass Clippings

Through these …

Summary: Stopping to examine these two words leads to an interesting study in cause and effect. What has Peter talked about so far that enables God to give us his promises? 

When I read the Bible, I usually buzz through the words like my lawnmower cuts through grass. The clippings fly up into the grass catcher of my mind and pile up so fast that I lose track of the individual blades of grass. Occasionally, I see something that catches my interest, like a stick or a leaf, and I’ll think about it for a moment. But then, I’m on to the next row, and the grass keeps piling up. 

Somehow, in this wonderful world of blogging through the Bible, everything is transformed. Instead of hundreds of blades of grass flying up at my face every time I open the pages, I get to stop and look at each blade. In today’s meditation, we examine the words, “Through these…”

Through these … what? What is Peter referring to? 

He goes on to say, “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises…” so whatever “these” are they were the means of giving us promises. 

What has he said so far? 

He has told us his name and who he serves. He has referred to whom he is writing to, and a reference to his faith. He also mentions Jesus’ divine power as the means for giving us “everything we need for a godly life.” He then wraps up referring to our knowledge of Jesus and why we are called to him. 

“Through these“ … what? How did Jesus give us promises? 

I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that the first of “these” is “the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Nothing could have come to us from God if Jesus were not completely righteous in all he thought and did. 

The second of “these” must be “faith.” Without faith, how can anyone receive God’s promises? 

The third of “these” that Peter was thinking about could be grace. It is by God’s grace that we are allowed to exist at all. 

The fourth of “these” might be simply the “knowledge of God and of Jesus.” Knowing God is the doorway to all knowledge that is worth knowing. 

Finally, the last of “these” means of giving us promises would be God’s “divine power.” Without power, God could not convey his thoughts to us. Without power, he could not be assured of making good on his promises. 

These five things may not be all of the things Peter was thinking about, but they are enough:

–   God’s righteousness.

–   Faith

–   His Grace. 

–  Knowledge of God and of Jesus. 

–  God’s divine power. 

Application: How we read the Bible is as important as our need to read the Bible. 

Food for Thought: How does the kind of knowledge we discussed in 2 Peter 1:2, “I’d Know You Anywhere” suggest another possible way for God to give us his promises?