In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

6-18-2016

-Time Alone With God daily devotional

2 Peter 1:3-8

New International Version (NIV)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election
3 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. 4 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.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Start

Consider: Have you ever heard someone describe the Christian life in ways that made you feel like you could never measure up to that high of a standard? Sometimes we hear the faith presented as an uphill trudge that causes us to stumble repeatedly, falling backwards instead of making forward progress. How can we possibly be encouraged when we think we are called to the impossible?

If we don’t hear Peter’s heart (and all of his words), this great passage could discourage us. Look at those qualities that Peter tells us to add to our faith…

“…goodness…knowledge…self-control…perseverance…godliness…mutual affection…love.” (1:5-7)

None of us feel like that is a description of how we consistently live. None of us would check those off of our list as completed tasks. We don’t feel like our lives measure up to those ideals.

So let’s go on. We don’t want to miss the beauty of Peter’s challenge. The joyful part for me comes in verse 8 where he calls us to “possess these qualities in increasing measure.” He is not asking us if we’ve arrived at perfection. He’s encouraging us to grow—to experience the life of Christ “in increasing measure.”

Therein lies all the difference. Instead of being discouraged at who I am or what I’ve done or what I haven’t accomplished, I’m called to the joy of knowing that he will increasingly open my capability to share in the “divine nature” (1:4)—to share the life of Christ.

I look forward to the day when my knowledge will increase along with my self-control. I’m glad that the Holy Spirit will empower me to persevere. I’m excited to grow in mutual affection with my sisters and brothers. And I’m even optimistic enough to think that sharing in the divine nature will make me good and more godly, exemplified by love.

We’re not there. But we’re going there.

Pray: “Lord, again today, I open myself to you and ask your Spirit to fill my day by filling me. Give me this day the qualities that you want to see in me in increasing measure. I won’t strive to accomplish righteousness. But I will ‘make every effort’ (1:5) to allow you to do your work in me.”