A Lot Of Receiving

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. [2 Peter 1.3-4]

There is a lot of receiving mentioned here on our part, namely, everything we need and great and precious promises.

God has given us everything we need to live a godly life.

God has given us great and precious promises that allow us to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption (caused by human desires).

I want to stop and focus just a moment on the statement immediately above. God's promises, when received, allow us to share His divine nature. What? His divine nature? You mean, His being GOD? Any way we look at this, the implications are staggering. For 'old sinners saved by grace,' we have been transformed into the nature of God!

But think just a moment. Isn't this transition into God's nature imperative if we are to carry out the work of God in the earth? Yes, of course it is - and that is precisely why God has made it available. That is precisely why His Son showed us the way - His Son who carried His full nature on earth. Jesus not only demonstrated God's nature, but also was very clear that His example was to be followed!

But all of this is wrapped like a gift in "precious promises." We must receive and open this gift or it is of no avail. And, that is why we see so little of God's nature on display today (like Jesus displayed it). We have ignored these precious promises - promises that tell us we have all authority in heaven and on earth - promises that tell us to walk by faith and prove the benefit - promises that tell us to walk in the Spirit of God, preaching the Good News, healing the sick, and raising the dead.

And, God's nature in us allows us to escape the world's corruption caused by human desires... What? What is the world's corruption cause by human desires? It is the CURSE for disobedience! Every imaginable sickness, loss, disease, and difficulty is unleashed, corrupted, by default, upon disobedience.

But, like the scripture above begins, "God has given us everything we need for living a godly life." Yes, we have Jesus, Who is the culmination of every promise God has ever given!

But, we don't need Jesus in our lives! No, instead we need to die with Him, so that by His resurrection power we are raised with Him (in Him) to walk in God's nature as discussed here.

Father, my mind is racing with all the implications of Peter's letter. Help me to consider all that has been made available to me, receive it, and glorify You.