This is the final of five devotionals that are based on a beautiful piece of Scripture in the first chapter of Second Peter. The concept of the Scripture we are looking at is that by pursuing, or focusing on, the knowledge of God we can have everything we need for life and for godliness. It also teaches us that in this process we can participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world. As we look one last time at this short piece of Scripture maybe it would be good to observe a few things about the man who wrote those words. First, here is the Scripture we are talking about:
"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, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." 2 Peter 1:3-4
When we first look at those concepts, they almost seem too simple. Can it be true that so many wonderful benefits can come from just focusing on the knowledge of God and living according to what He says? But Peter knew what he was talking about. Here are some observations:
Peter had witnessed the divine nature of Christ firsthand as he spent years following Him, watching Jesus do miraculous things, and ultimately give up His own life taking on the punishment for the sin of the World. When Peter talks about participating in God's divine nature it wasn't an abstract concept to him.
Peter knew what it was like to lose his focus, turn from what he knew to be true, and crash on the emotional rocks of despair. At that crucial moment after Christ was arrested Peter denied three times that he even knew who Jesus was.
Peter understood what it was like to be forgiven, to be restored, and to be entrusted with ministry to Christ's "flock".
When Peter wrote the words that we read in the book of 2 Peter he was an old man who had endured things that we can only imagine. This guy knew what he was talking about. When he teaches us through God's Word that when we focus on the knowledge of God and live our lives accordingly, we are given everything we need for life and for godliness we should take that to heart!
Be encouraged by this today. Receive this counsel from the heart and mind of God Himself through His written Word. And let's pursue the knowledge of Him together as a church family, and as individuals, for the glory of God!
Marshall Pennell
Vero Bible Fellowship Elder Team
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