2 Peter 1-9.6.22

SCRIPTURE: 

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, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

OBSERVATION: 

Peter knew his time on earth was short, so he wrote this letter to the believers to warn them about the false teachers.  He stressed the importance of learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God's will, and loving others.  

UNDERSTANDING: 

God, in His grace, after saving us, has given us everything we need to be able to live godly lives.  When we trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we made a great exchange - our sin for His righteousness!  God graciously offered to trade His righteousness for ALL our sin!  It was through that exchange that we became living temples of God.  Jesus now lives in us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteous lives to bring glory and honor to God.  

Jesus demonstrated His love by sacrificing His life for us.  He is our example, and He came to serve, not to be served!

God's love and forgiveness has freed us to be able to take our eyes off of ourselves, and put them onto others, to love and serve people by meeting their needs.  Everything we have belongs to God, and as we give Him our time, energy, resources, talents, and abilities, we are honoring Him by serving the needs of others.

LIFE APPLICATION: 

God has empowered me, but I pray I will do my part to know Him better, and to make Him known.   The more I know Him, the more I will be able to discern and resist false teachings.  I pray as I rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help me, that I will remain strong, diligent, firm, and steadfast as I continue to grow in my faith.  AND, because of His divine power which He has given me to live a godly life, I pray I will make every effort to add to my faith goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love in increasing measure, which will keep me from being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of the Lord, and will confirm my calling and election in Jesus Christ my Savior.     

-Robin Orefice