TOPIC: HIS DIVINE POWER
Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:1-11
READ: INTRODUCTION TO 2 PETER
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
HIS DIVINE POWER 2 Peter 1:1-11
Have you, through our Saviour Jesus Christ, received a faith as precious as that of the apostles (v.1)? If so, then the benefits of new life are yours! Find two of these in v.2. The power to live a righteous life is divine, coming from God alone (v.3), not by our own might or willpower (Zechariah 4:6). When we have new birth through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, God enables us to participate in his divine nature (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). How is “the corruption of the world caused by evil desires” (v.4)? See James 4:1-3. Twice in this passage, Peter urges believers to “make every effort” (vs.5,10). This is a call to a serious commitment to Christian living. Our loyalty is to add one virtue to another (vs.5-7). What will be the result of possessing these qualities (v.8)? Practical faith produces results as a demonstration that we “have been cleansed” from our past sins (v.9). While these works do not guarantee our salvation, they nevertheless confirm it. They keep us from stumbling and uphold the promise of eternal life (vs.10,11).
Also Read: God will judge all corrupt leaders Ezekiel 21:18-32
Prayer for Missions: SOLOMON ISLANDS- The civil war of 1998-2003 paralyzed the nation on a number of levels and left many thousands uprooted and in need of practical help and spiritual counselling. Though outside intervention imposed peace and disarmed the ethnic militias, a deeper malaise in the nation remains. Pray for true forgiveness and reconciliation thvat come only through repentance. Without these, the nation can never really progress.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that your divine power has given us everything we need for godly living. Help us to add to our faith all the virtues of the Christian life.
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 24-26
Key Point: Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall(2 Peter 1:10)
