Tuesday 17th October - 2 Peter 1

Today’s chapter is 2 Peter 1

Tom writes:

As with every excellent meal, there is a good portion of seconds.  And this second portion from Peter has a strong aroma of humility. Peter says that by the death and resurrection of Jesus we have already received everything we need for life and godliness. That is actually quite a shocking statement. We have already been given all we need to ace this test. Many of our prayers suggest we don’t believe this… when we beg or plead for stuff we already have. But - in case we lean too far out of that window - this is not a push to “mega-faith” or self-reliance. If we think we apply this truth by focusing on ourselves (our Spiritual Pedigree, our Faith, our stuff) then we will end up far away from the “love” that is the climax of our faith. Rather like a blind lady receiving a guide dog, we should see the provision of the cross as a helper for us. The divine power walks alongside us helping us do what we could not do. We remain unable to see with our own eyes, but we can now ride the bus, go to the shops and work our job because the dog sees and the dog becomes our eyes. In the same way God’s divine power is already with us, enabling us to live the kind of Christ-like life that was impossible for us before. We couldn’t be joyful in suffering. We couldn’t hold a sound mind in every strife and storm. We couldn’t abound in affection for our enemies. Our hearts couldn’t see and grasp those things. But the heart of Jesus could grasp those things and - by his power and his promises - his heart becomes our heart.

Now if I was blind, it would be obvious how I would be led by the dog. But how am I led by my God? Peter points to the God’s promises. He tells his people to pick them up or hold them tight. If Peter - who met Jesus, who walked with Jesus, who was made the boss by Jesus - calls God’s promises very great and precious then I think they warrant my time. Will I be humble enough to give them it? Will I put in the effort to find them in the scriptures and score them onto my soul? Will I accept my tendency to be short-sighted and so adopt a way of life that trusts the nuzzling and nudging of the dog over the resonance of my own heart? What I mean by this is this; will I allow the promises God has written down in the scriptures to steer and guide my actions and behaviours more than just what feels right or good to me in any moment? I so much want to be like God. I so much want to see my faith give birth to love. I need to start to learn the promises of God. 

Question for reflection

How many promises of God do you know by heart?