“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 life and godliness 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 and escape 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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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 if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 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, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:1-11 (NIV)
Live by faith, grow by knowledge. What a great encouragement from the Apostle Peter! By all intents and purposes, Peter’s instructions require us to remain close to our Lord. Our need is so great that we can never let our guard down for a moment.
Reflect upon this portion of a prayer by Peter Marshall:
“I needed thee when sorrow came, when shadows were thrown across
the threshold of my life, and thou didst not fail me then. I needed
thee when sickness laid a clammy hand upon my family, and I cried to
thee,and thou didst hear. I needed thee when perplexity brought me
to a parting of the ways, and I knew not how to turn. Thou didst not
fail me then, but in many ways, big and little, didst indicate the
better way. And though the sun is shining around me today, I know
that I need thee even in the sunshine, and shall still need thee
tomorrow.”
— From Catherine Marshall’s The Prayers of Peter Marshall.
May we all have this attitude and desire:
“God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.”
— Sarum Primer
Dear Father, thank you for your righteousness that we receive by faith; for the grace and peace that is ours by the knowledge of Jesus Christ; and for the promises we have from you. May they all be real in us to the end. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in your faith and knowledge,