Growing Up in the Faith – 2 Peter 1
After 30+ years of ministry, there have been many times I've woken up thinking there's no way I can be pleasing God with my life and service. I just feel so inadequate. I feel like I should do more, be smarter and that there's no way I can be "successful".
But Peter will have none of that in this first chapter of his second letter.
Peter reminds us we already have everything we require for life AND for godliness. He doesn't promise it will come 'one day', but that we already have it. We aren't starting from scratch as we learn to serve and walk in faith. We are starting with a tank full of power from the Holy Spirit.
On top of that, we've been handed some great and glorious promises; promises we can cling to when nothing else seems to have any footing. It is by way of these promises that we are able to share in God's nature. Did you read that? We aren't just equipped to 'get by'.. He literally imparts to us His nature, learning to desire what He desires and walk how He walks.
Then he raises the bar on us. He says, "since you have everything you need for life, get busy adding."
I know we like to believe all we need is faith, and that's true in terms of salvation, but Peter says it's not enough to grow; to avoid being useless and fruitless in the faith. But he's a good teacher and lets us know exactly what we are to be adding to our faith:
Faith → Goodness → Knowledge → Self-Control → Endurance → Godliness → Brotherly Affection → Love.
If we, by the Spirit's power, will do the work of adding these things to our faith, he promises we will be effective and fruitful. Today, Peter wants us to remember Who lives in us; what He's given us in power and promise; he wants us to grow and not stay babies in the faith.
My grandson is 18 months old. It's a great age. I love this stage where everything is new. Everything is full of wonder and amazement. Watching him play with blocks, building towers and knocking them over is one of my favorite things to do, up there with seeing him giggle splashing in water puddles.
But when he's 25, it just wont be the same. Not only will my expectations have changed, so will have the things he does that bring me joy.
I saw this in my children's lives as well. As they became adults, got married, and started families of their own, I find great happiness and deep joy in seeing them do adult things well; in watching them grow. It's unnatural to stay babies.
It's same with faith.
God delights in seeing us become the image of His Son, just as we delight in watching our children grow into who they are meant to be.
So when the going gets rough, keep climbing.
Keep adding.
It's what we were made to do.
But Peter will have none of that in this first chapter of his second letter.
Peter reminds us we already have everything we require for life AND for godliness. He doesn't promise it will come 'one day', but that we already have it. We aren't starting from scratch as we learn to serve and walk in faith. We are starting with a tank full of power from the Holy Spirit.
On top of that, we've been handed some great and glorious promises; promises we can cling to when nothing else seems to have any footing. It is by way of these promises that we are able to share in God's nature. Did you read that? We aren't just equipped to 'get by'.. He literally imparts to us His nature, learning to desire what He desires and walk how He walks.
Then he raises the bar on us. He says, "since you have everything you need for life, get busy adding."
I know we like to believe all we need is faith, and that's true in terms of salvation, but Peter says it's not enough to grow; to avoid being useless and fruitless in the faith. But he's a good teacher and lets us know exactly what we are to be adding to our faith:
Faith → Goodness → Knowledge → Self-Control → Endurance → Godliness → Brotherly Affection → Love.
If we, by the Spirit's power, will do the work of adding these things to our faith, he promises we will be effective and fruitful. Today, Peter wants us to remember Who lives in us; what He's given us in power and promise; he wants us to grow and not stay babies in the faith.
My grandson is 18 months old. It's a great age. I love this stage where everything is new. Everything is full of wonder and amazement. Watching him play with blocks, building towers and knocking them over is one of my favorite things to do, up there with seeing him giggle splashing in water puddles.
But when he's 25, it just wont be the same. Not only will my expectations have changed, so will have the things he does that bring me joy.
I saw this in my children's lives as well. As they became adults, got married, and started families of their own, I find great happiness and deep joy in seeing them do adult things well; in watching them grow. It's unnatural to stay babies.
It's same with faith.
God delights in seeing us become the image of His Son, just as we delight in watching our children grow into who they are meant to be.
So when the going gets rough, keep climbing.
Keep adding.
It's what we were made to do.
Posted in Devotional
Recent
Archive
2025
February
July
November
No Comments