Life and Godliness
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2 Peter 1:3-11
3. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4. by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. 5. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6. and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7. and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11. so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Again today, we have a “hard” path to go down! But Peter is saying that God has given us what we need to progress along this path by sending us Jesus Christ. And even more: the Holy Spirit guides and directs our path. Okay, maybe we CAN do this! Through our knowledge of God, we have everything we need spiritually to live in this world. Our responsibility is to use all those things! That’s where the “hard” part is!
What matters, is not what others think of us. Of course, we want to live as upright a life as possible. But what we must have first and foremost is an internal assurance and an inner strength and confidence only possible through God’s gifts of grace, understanding of the scripture through the divine indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and demonstrated in the life of Christ. His resurrection is what gives us authority to speak. Faith is what allows us to endure ridicule. The Holy Spirit is what helps us know when to speak and how to deliver our message in the most effective way.
Peter is talking to believers about what’s going on within themselves. Okay, so you’re saved. Now what are you going to do? We can avoid the corruption and sinful ways of this world by practicing self-discipline and introspection based on the life Christ led in his human form. We grow in our faith as we study the bible and reflect upon God’s greatness and power to create the world and to make each of us divinely drawn to Him. We refine our faith and live a more upright life through practicing the spiritual disciplines.
We have all these tools and resources freely given and available to us. But they have no value, no power, without our intentionally making use of them. God’s grace makes the offer—it’s up to us to accept the terms! Work each day to achieve faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brother affection, and brotherly affection with love. These ideals are not easy, but they are possible because of the triune God.
I hope today you make your calling and election sure as you go out into the world. And that you anticipate with excitement and wonder your entrance into the eternal kingdom at the end of time.
Mary
