2Peter 1:1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 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. 4 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. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What a great assurance! God has given us everything we need to live a godly life (vs 3) Along with that we have His precious promises (5).
So we have His provision and His promises. That's great but many believers see the next verses as a problem. They are only a problem if we are lazy and shortsighted. Spiritually shortsighted people work only for immediate gratification. So if daily disciplines of the faith (Bible study, prayer, loving, holy living etc.) don't bring immediate results they will stop trying.
Recap:
God has given His Provision.
God has given His Promises.
God asks us to give Proof that we are His children.
I believe you, dear reader, are among those who will work to prove that you really do belong to God the Father. Remember this work does not save you. It shows you are saved and strengthens your faith.
Today supplement your faith with that list above.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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