The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day six)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.”(v 3)  There go my excuses!  Feelings of inadequacy no longer welcome!  Not a “natural” confidence for me.  Learned.  Supernatural.  Spirit given.  Scripture based.  EVERYTHING we need has been given us in the person of Jesus Christ.  “My grace is SUFFICIENT for you.” (2 Corinthians 12)  “ALL THINGS are possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)  In followers of the Resurrected One, lack of confidence is the exception.  Anxiety is the stranger.  “If God is FOR US, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)  “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)  Got any giants that need killing?  Allowed any fears to rule your decisions and restrict your witness?  When Christ died for sin and rose to victorious life, God declared that no hill is too steep, no assignment impossible for those who share His life.  Great news!  We have everything we need!

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day five)
It’s a promise that I have had the privilege of sharing with many teenagers over the years. It’s a promise that prompts hope. It’s a promise that stirs courage. It’s a promise that encourages vision.
“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.” (2 Peter 1:3)
This semester 2 different teenagers on 2 different campuses in our city have had the vision/burden to start Bible Studies on their campus. May sound easy enough, but this requires courage (talking to administrators). It also demands hope. (Will students come? Will a faculty member sponsor and provide a classroom or meeting space?). It evidences vision. (Christian students growing in their faith. Lost students hearing the Gospel and being around a community of believers.) So, as you pray, study the scriptures, and worship (privately and corporately) are there ways God is leading you that spark courage, hope, and vision? Remember, as you move forward, He Has Promised!!

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day four)
It almost sounds like we can work our way into salvation.  Remember though, Peter is writing to believers.  Verse 4 says He (God) has already granted us His precious and magnificent promises.  What follows salvation is the process of sanctification.  We are to grow…mature…in these areas of faith:  moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  Peter says these qualities will cause us to be both useful and fruitful to God.  The Christian life is anything but passive.  Peter admonishes us to be diligent in our pursuit of these Godly qualities.  We want to be useful to God…we want our lives to count for His kingdom.  God’s promises have been given and we are stewards of these valuable resources.  I was recently asked, “How do you think God wants you to steward the rest of your life?”   Excellent question!  Be diligent to be the very best steward of His amazing grace.

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-15 (day three)
“Make every effort to add to your faith…”  By faith we turn towards the saving grace of God.  There are things that faith then makes possible for us to take part in so that the character of Jesus Christ gets formed in us.  Goodness in our thoughts keeps our minds open to the world around us.  Knowledge of the way the universe really works–spiritually and physically–adds stability to our faith.  Self-control channels knowledge in a direction that helps others instead of puffing ourselves up.  Perseverance maintains our presence with one another in community.  Godliness shows us others in light of how God sees them.  Mutual affection (“brotherly love”) seeks to act on what we see in that light.  And love gives us the ability to rise to the level of desiring the good for others.

 

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day two)
“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 of the world caused by evil desires.”  Have you been looking for a way to escape corruption and evil desires?  Who hasn’t?  This word of comfort is so much more than a platitude it is a call to discipline yourself.  The passage goes on to remind you how you can take part in that divine nature; by adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  Against these there is nothing on earth that can  shake you from those promises.  This is not an inactive faith, as we discipline our minds and hearts we come closer and closer to those great and precious promises.

RE Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day one)  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . .for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. . .” (v 3, 5)  Peter is the poster child for the foolishness of human pride.  His early struggles with thinking he could serve Christ out of sheer determination are well documented in the gospels.  He has come, finally, to a more balanced view.  God’s grace is everything we need.  Our privilege is to participate in the divine nature.  This does not, however, exempt us from doing the work.  “Make every effort”, he says in v 5.  Not just a few efforts.  Not just one or two.  Every effort necessary to get the job done.  To your faith add goodness.  To your goodness add knowledge. . .  The list is long.  Long enough to keep a believer busy for a lifetime.  Grace allows no laziness.  Real faith equals real effort.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day seven)
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.”  (v 4:12)  I don’t know why I am surprised, but I am.  When my days feel dark and difficult.  When things “don’t work”.  When prayer is hard and critics are many.  Perhaps I should have listened more carefully.  “If they hated me, they will hate you”–Jesus.  “Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God”–Paul.  “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers. . .against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”–Paul (again)  To follow Christ is a difficult, dangerous path.  Those who do so must expect both blessing from God and opposition from the world.  It is a strange way to save the world, I admit, but if (and when) life is hard, we should not be surprised.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day six)
“To the elders among you. . .be shepherds of God’s flock. . .serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing. . .not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (5:1-3)  Christians need leaders.  Sheep need shepherds.  God’s people never do well when “everyone does what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25)  Part of God’s love (for us and for the world) is to appoint leaders over the church.  Three names for the same office.  Elder.  Shepherd (Pastor).  Overseer.   The qualifications are high.  God’s leaders must be willing.  Volunteers. Eager.  More concerned about service than personal success.  Must use example as the main power of influence rather than heavy-handed authority.  In times of persecution (such as Peter wrote in) leadership becomes even more necessary and dangerous.  Even so, God is faithful to give leaders and reward them for service.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day five)
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

God inspires Peter to write about humility. Really??!! Peter?? He could apply to be the poster child for arrogance, impulsiveness, and stubbornness. Yet God does a work in his heart and life through Jesus that changes Peter forever. And 30 years later, Peter is willing to share the truth he has learned about humility. Do you suppose it is the alarm clock Peter hears most mornings (rooster crowing) that causes him frequently to remember and rejoice. Peter remembers how easily sin and pride can hijack the human heart. And he rejoices that God gives grace that restores and strengthens the human heart. Isn’t that how God works so many times in so many hearts? Really!!

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day four)
The devil is our adversary.  He is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  He is a formidable enemy, but he has been defeated already.  So how do we stand firm against him?  Verse 9 says, “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  Our response to the fiery ordeals, the suffering of our life, communicates fear and defeat or faith and triumph.  As a believer, we have the Spirit of glory and of God resting on us.  We can face suffering with a different perspective.  When God’s people suffer for being a Christian and submit to God in their suffering, He is glorified.  That is our goal in the Christian life…to bring glory to God.  Maybe we can’t see how our suffering can do that, but we have His promise that He is glorified in our humility.