We are accustomed to gathering supplies for what is needed in our day-to-day lives. We buy food to physically sustain us, vehicles to get us where we need to go, and fuel for those vehicles so they will be able to transport us where we need to be. The list of things we buy is endless. We want to be prepared for the day ahead. We live our lives with a consumer mentality except where it truly matters. In II Peter 1:3-4, Peter reminds believers of an incredible, empowering truth: God has already supplied us with everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. But are we using those supplies to their full potential.
II Peter 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
When facing daily challenges, weariness, or the temptation to rely on our own willpower, it is easy to feel spiritually under-equipped. We might look at our shortcomings or the demands around us and wonder how we will ever persevere. Yet Peter emphasizes that His divine power has already granted us all things pertaining to life and godliness. We aren’t left scrambling to earn or manufacture spiritual strength; we are invited to draw from the divine nature and promises He has already provided.
Then in verse 5 we are called to action! He is urging us to make every effort to supplement our faith with moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Faith is the foundation, but a vibrant spiritual life grows through intentional steps taken in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Are you being intentional when it comes to seeking the attributes that a growing Christian should have? Do you have a daily plan to be more like Jesus? Is your desire to please God in all you do, or are you on autopilot just getting through the day, following a checklist of activities until you can crawl into bed at night only to wake and start all over?
Today, remember that you are fully equipped by His grace. Rest in the reality of what He has already supplied, and take one intentional step to walk in His goodness and strength. If you are not sure how to add to your faith, just hang on. Starting tomorrow, we will explore all that God desires for His children to be successful representatives of Him.
II Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
The blessings that come from obeying and seeking to grow these things in our lives are found in verse 8. “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This should be our goal in life. We should desire to be fruitful and abundant in our knowledge of Jesus and if we are it will show in our daily lives.
