Divine Living

2 Peter 1:1-11

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

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.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How are you feeling about entering into a new year, a new decade? Excited? Anxious? Hopeful? I have all of these feelings this year. I have big dreams, big ideas and even some big fears. As much as I have loved the last decade, one thing is certain — I’m ready for change.

The last decade has been a big one for me. Timmy and I were married in 2009, so I feel as if I have ‘grown up’ over the last ten years. All the hopes and thoughts of 'when I grow up,' actually happened and I can honestly say life is better than I could have imagined it ten years ago. As beautiful and significant and genuinely blessed as the last years have been, I am ready for new — new routines, new rhythms, new adventures, new expectations and new growth.

This passage in 2 Peter gives us a framework for what progress can look like — beginning with a solid foundation and moving forward with compounding growth. Let’s take a deeper look …

We can’t miss a vital detail tucked right in the very first verse — Peter is addressing those of us who have received a precious faith. What beautiful language. Think of all you have received, maybe even over this last week or the last year. Think about the most meaningful gifts you have received in your life. A lot of things we receive on our own merit, as in, we earn and deserve them. We can earn a promotion and deserve the recognition that comes with it. We can earn awards and accolades.

Other things in life, even Christmas gifts, aren’t technically earned but simply received because of our relationship with the giver. Because of our position and proximity to the giver, we are the recipient of a gift.

Now, salvation does not fall in either of those categories. Salvation is received ONLY because God, the Giver, set out on a mission to redeem His people back to Himself through His master plan — a rescue mission of love. Can we earn it? No. Do we deserve it? No. Is it given out of obligation? No. 

Salvation is given and available only through the righteousness of God and through the obedience of Jesus Christ to do the will of His father for the purpose of redeeming His people. 

And, yes, that is the most precious gift we have ever received.

Through His gift to us — His righteousness given in exchange for our sinfulness (2 Cor. 5:21), we now have everything we need for life. Not just a good life, but a godly life (read this on Ephesians 1).

Through Him and His abundant grace and peace (2 Peter 1:2), we can know Him. And in knowing Him, we are equipped and able to live good, holy and productive lives for His glory.

We have all we need, but we cannot think so highly of ourselves or be deceived in thinking we now can, and should, just live ordinary lives and simply enjoy the work of Christ at its most basic level — the assurance of our salvation. Praise God for our salvation! But there is so much more. And in 2020, I want the ‘more.’

From this passage, I see the ‘more’ as participating in the divine nature of God and escaping the corruption of the evil one. Participat-ING — actively being a part of God’s work by actively tapping into God within us — the power of the Holy Spirit.

In 2020, what do you want to participate in? Divine work or evil work? Extraordinary or normal? Eternal or temporary? May I encourage you to seek Him and chase after the ‘more’ that is available through living in and through His divine nature. Shift the culture in your every day, shift the culture in your home, shift the culture in your workplace, shift the culture of your routines and rhythms. Boldly ask God to help you participate in His divine nature, and as a beautiful result, escape the corruption of evil.

What will this take? How is it possible? Let me be clear — NOT through your own ability, will power or desires. Can I be honest? You’re not strong enough on your own to escape the corruption of the evil one, and you certainly are not able to tap into any divine nature. On your own, you are not divine. But Christ is and He has already defeated the evil one. This ‘more’ is only possible through the power of God at work in you through the Holy Spirit. If you are a Jesus follower, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you as your Helper and your divine strength. The presence of God Himself is in you, and in His presence is His power and strength (read Ephesians 1:19-23 to have your mind blown). 

Just take a minute and rid yourself of the expectation YOU can do this. As smart as you are, your intelligence is not enough to escape evil. As great of a time manager as you are, it is not enough. As mentally tough, determined and goal oriented as you may be, YOU are not strong enough. 

Ask God to be this for you. Ask for His strength to be made perfect in your weakness. Ask for His power to do what your strength and will power cannot do. Ask Him and believe. And then watch Him do more than you could ever dream of or imagine.

The recipe for this divine living is found in verses 5-7:

Faith (the foundation) + goodness + knowledge + self control + perseverance + godliness + kindness + love (all in increasing measure) = an effective and productive life in Christ. 

Can you imagine anything better for 2020? Do you want 2020 to be effective for Christ? Do you want the next year of your life to be productive in Him — as in, being on mission for His mission, actively participating in His Kingdom work? Of course you do. We all do! 

But at the same time, do you have doubts? Yep, me too. And God knew that when He gave Peter these words. That’s the beauty of verse 9. God gets us. He understands. And there is grace even when our hearts may be hard and it seems like nothing can penetrate or revive it back. You may be ending 2019 with a heart so calloused by doubt that you’ve read all of this and can honestly say you don’t want more. You just want to get by. And that really long list of attributes sounds like more work that you don’t want to do. Growing in goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love sounds exhausting. You don’t have the time or the energy.

God hears you and knows you and loves you.

And just like you can’t be divine in your own nature, you can’t jolt your heart back on your own. BUT, the power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave can and will do it. Here are some helpful steps to take if you find yourself here:

• Be honest with God about the current state of your heart. He knows, so let that comfort you and not intimidate you. Talk it out, yell it, cry it or mumble it. Just be honest.

• Ask Him to forgive you for forgetting the grace that saved you. Ask Him to forgive the fact that you’ve forgotten how precious the gift of salvation truly is.

• Ask Him to remind you of His purpose and plans for your life. Not plans for tomorrow, but His plans for kingdom work and value. 

• Ask Him to help you desire verse 4.

• Ask Him to help you desire verses 5-8.

Let us begin 2020 sure. 

• Sure of what Christ has done.

• Sure of our relationship with Him.

• Sure of His call on our life to love Him and make Him known.

• Sure of our foundation of faith.

• Sure of WHO receives our praise and glory.

• Sure of WHO has lordship over our lives.

When we are sure of who God is to us, His authority over our lives and His place as the center of our affection and adorations, we will live — divinely, abundantly and eternally.