Category: 2 Peter

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:5-8  (day three)

…and in your brotherly kindness, love.

Each attribute listed by St. Peter builds toward love. Years earlier, Jesus, issuing his new command to love one another, took stock of all the world’s grasping for power and forcing its way, and, right in the middle of the mightiest empire the world had ever known, pronounced love the pinnacle of any and all acts, whether human or divine. John (let us love one another, for love is from God), Paul (faith hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love), and here Peter all testify to love. How is it that they so confidently affirmed the Lord’s words? Was it that “Jesus said it so that settles it?” Or was it rather that they underwent love’s healing presence within their deepest selves? Read their stories and see.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:5-8  (day two) …and…v. 5, 6, AND 7

Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts inventory? When you get results you will hear people saying, “I have the gift of hospitality, or patience, or kindness, etc.” This isn’t the way Peter presents this list in these verses, and I am certain that Paul would agree. If we are not careful when we take those assessments, we will tend to think gifts are some sort of side dish that we can choose one with our meal – but you can only get one! Peter says apply diligence as a starting place, and then add – and, and, and, and. There should be a measure of all these characteristics in our walk. Sure, you may have an abundance of one gift, but in some measure, they should be present in us all. So, add some love, AND joy, AND peace, AND patience, AND kindness…you get the idea.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day seven)

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises. vs 4

Precious; a word that derives an image in our minds. Maybe it takes you to a Precious Moment figurine, a precious jewel, or maybe if you are a Tolkien nerd like me, you hear the voice of Sméagol saying, “My precious!” The language is meant to draw an image. Even if Peter had no clue that we would connect the image to a fantasy fiction series, he clearly wanted us to see that God’s promises are immensely powerful and intensely personal. These are characteristics of God that He reveals to us in our faith and through His promises.

These promises are magnificent. When we see them come to fruition, we realize that it was greater than we ever could have dreamed. He is Immensely Powerful. Yet, like a jewel, much of the value is found in its rarity. He does not hand out promises like a politician trying to win favor with the people. He gives you a promise at the moment you need it so that He can show you How great He really is. He is Intensely Personal. You are precious to Him, and so His promises are precious to you.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day six)

When Peter wrote his second letter, he wasn’t addressing individuals. He wrote to churches – communities that gathered to hear the Word read aloud and discern its meaning together. In the first century, Scripture was always received in community, not in isolation.

That matters when we read Peter’s encouragement: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (v.3). This is not merely an individual promise but a corporate one. Together, the church has everything it needs to grow in godliness. Together, we are called to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

In a world where faith is often privatized, Peter reminds us that the Christian life is not a solo pursuit. Growth in Christ is something we discern, pursue, and embody together.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day five)

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

How incredibly important are the promises of God. Peter connects them to becoming partakers of divine nature – thinking, hoping, praying, loving, and living like Jesus – all informed by the promises of God found throughout the scriptures. Look at David for example. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” We see circumstances (walk through the valley) and a divine reaction (will not fear) because of the promise of God (you are with me). There is both faith and freedom found in God’s promises.

“The full evidence of Jesus’ power will be seen only in the future when he keeps his promise. That truth frees us from having to pretend to be perfectly whole people today. We are Christians, who are gripped by God’s promises for the future, thrilled by them, and motivated to live godly lives now in his power.” – Christopher Green

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day four)

We have been given everything we need for life and godliness. This doesn’t come in the form of a starter pack or tool shed with every tool imaginable – it comes through the Spirit who dwells in us. Because we have the Spirit, we have constant access to the One who formed us and the world for his glory. The Spirit is transforming us more and more into the likeness of Christ, taking us from glory to glory. This is such great assurance, especially on our darkest days. We have access to the ever-flowing fountain (Jeremiah 2:13) whose waters will not be cut off. As we continue to live in the Spirit and form a greater awareness of Christ’s presence with us, our life will become an ever-growing testimony that we truly have all we need through him.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day three)

…you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Lust, often sexualized in common usage, refers to any desire having the quality of a craving that eclipses all concern for the well-being of others.  Power, pleasure, position, possessions – one treasures these things as the means to connection, safety, security. And eventually one sees them as synonymous with connection, safety, and security. Because they appear to be rare, they must be forcefully obtained at any cost before someone else finds them and leaves you with nothing. Such a world is zero-sum by nature, and you are the only one who will look out for you. Peter found a different life – heaven’s life – in which connection, safety, and security never cease no matter the circumstances. Jesus taught Peter to live as he lives – eternally.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day two)

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: v. 1b

I am reading a devotional that includes poetry, song, scripture, and wisdom from great men and women of faith. I love the heart of George Herbert. This is a portion of “The Authour’s Prayer Before Sermon”

Thou hast exalted thy
mercy above all things; and hast made our salvation, not our
punishment, thy glory: so that then where sin abounded,
not death, but grace superabounded; accordingly, when we
had sinned beyond any help in heaven or earth, then thou
saidest, Lo, I come! then did the Lord of life, unable of him-
selfe to die, contrive to do it. He took flesh, he wept, he
died; for his enemies he died; even for those that derided
him then, and still despise him. Blessed Saviour! many
waters could not quencn thy love! nor no pit overwhelme it.
But though the streams of thy bloud were currant through
darknesse, grave, and hell; yet by these thy conflicts, and
seemingly hazards, didst thou arise triumphant, and therein
mad’st us victorious.

The faith that we have received from Jesus came at great personal cost to him, but his victory over death was also our hope of salvation. We must continue to walk in the honor of his victory. We did nothing to earn or deserve it, but by his mercy we are able to partake in it. Thanks be to God.