Journal 2 Pet 1 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
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…” 2 Pet 1:1b-3
Observation: Calling and how calling is confirmed: through His divine power and His living Word. Goal? The knowledge of Him by His own glory and excellence.
Analysis: Every so often I have to get off my high horse and get down to brass tacks.
The above is about preaching the Gospel to myself. I find that I can have this “better than you” attitude and forget that this Kingdom journey involves a ton of people that God is doing things with individually and at a possible different pace.
But what I can defer to always, is the objective Word of God, which reveals two things:
- My salvation is all of God and of Jesus.
- The power to live a life of Godliness is all a grant of Him, the Triune God.
Even the unction of mission stems from these two things: I am not actively embracing and pursuing these, all other works may fall. Still, it is God and always God, with boneheaded me just trying to respond to His direction.
The Holy Ghost (thought I would use that today—something different) reminded me that a tendency I have is to get a little arrogant (ok, a lot arrogant) when I think I have learned something.
But right here in the first sentence: “To those…who have obtained a faith…a faith of EQUAL standing with ours…” Peter did not have a “holier than thou” attitude. Look how gentle and reasonable he is in this greeting. I am imagining arms around me, welcoming this stranger (me) as a brother.
I want to be like that—discerning, but welcoming.
Prayer: Father, this is one area that I fail in a lot. For some, especially if they are saying that they call on your Name, my eyes squint and I immediately go into x-ray vision mode—intense to discern what they are about—and lose any sense of love of the brotherhood.
Help me figure this out, please, that I may honor You in every aspect of my life.
AMEN