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.
(verse 4)
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(I’m lingering for several days on these verses in 2 Peter 1:3-11. They’ve become dear friends, often recited in my morning devotions.)
Everything. (See yesterday’s post.) That’s what Peter has said. Everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us. Amazing. It fully covers the territory. And all of it coming through the Lord’s divine power, poured out into our lives as we know him, the One who has initiated with us in the first place, calling us into relationship.
Peter ended that previous verse by speaking of the Lord’s glory and goodness. Peter himself had directly experienced these, not least of which on the Mount of Transfiguration and in his own boat on Galilee in the midst of a great catch of fish. Now he tells us that through the Lord’s calling, glory, and goodness he has given us great and precious promises.
When I was a kid I had a little pocket-promise-book that was filled with scripture after scripture outlining the very great and precious promises of the Lord, each of them tailored to different moments and needs. If I was making my own pocket-book today, here are some of the highlights I’d include:
Philippians 1:6 – For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
John 14:12-14 – “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
John 14:16-18 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth … I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness.
This just scratches the surface of the “very great and precious promises” he has given. Add to the list. Reflect on it often. What a treasure trove! Everything we need!
And the amazing result of living in these promises is that we become participants in the “divine nature,” his very life flowing in us, filling us up, delivering us from the traps of the world, equipping us to walk in the ways of Jesus himself.
Oh, how good. Promises. Great and precious, indeed!
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Lord, thank you for the abundance of promises you have given me. Promises that direct me to you, that enliven faith, that build hope in the midst of hardship, that teach me to lean into you. Strengthen my grip to grasp them more firmly. Amen.
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Grip:
Take one of the promises above (or another the Lord gives you) and “grip” it all day. Pause often to read (or recite) it. Thank the Lord for it. Ask him to fulfil it in your experience. Watch for his answer.
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Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash
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