Feb 19th: Escaping the corruption in the world 2 Peter 1:3-4
As we continue our study of 1st & 2nd Peter we reflect on God's divine power.
During the "horse and buggy" days, a carriage was pulled by one horse and therefore was deemed a one horsepower carriage. Then the steam engine was developed and eventually the gasoline powered vehicle. Today the pony (motorcycle) is driven by a 100 horsepower engine. Can you imagine pulling a wagon with one hundred horses at once? Wow! That's power.
Well, how do we compare this to God's divine power??
How can we define God's power?? How would you tell someone about God's power??
You would probably talk about the creation of the world, or the human eye, or the beauty of the rose, or the color of a butterfly, toucan, or tiger, or maybe the roar of the ocean, or the landscape of the Rockies. As you move more into the spiritual realm you may talk about forgiveness over sin, God's grace, redemption, salvation....
Would you ever mention that you can now participate in the "Divine Nature of God"?
Yes, the Divine Nature of God!! Wow,Wow!
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
What is God's divine nature? Love, Mercy, Grace, Hope, Justice, Provision...
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself."
If there is something that we think we are lacking in God we need but ask because He has given us everything we need. We just need to know it!!
This divine power will also allow us to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Do you (I) have evil desires? Really, what are your (my) desires? Do you (I) pursue these in public or private? Is promotion an evil desire? How about pride? What about jealousy, self-righteousness, coveting?
Ask, "Lord, do I have any evil desires in my heart? Please show me these in prayer, through Your Word, via my Pastor, in circumstances, by Your Spirit."
Do you believe this Word of God? If we are to WAJD, then we must "desire" these things: to believe in God's divine power, His precious promises, His divine nature.
posted by BPC @ 7:07 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Wow, that Francois is a smart guy!
I'd like to answer the question of how I would define and/or tell someone about God's power. I liked what you said. If at the opportunity of defining the power of God, almost always I personalize it and share of how my life was changed when I was introduced to Jesus and of having a personal relationship with Him. Then I may explain what has happened since then and how I experinced God's power through anwered prayer. I certainly do not walk in the power of God constantly. Do you? How would on maintain that type of relationship? Or do we accept our fallen nature and cry out "why do I do the things I shouldn't and don't do the things I should"
Life has tossed a couple of curve balls recently and I feel like I am fouling out. Having said that....I believe that God loves me unconditional and His mercy is new every morning.
Yes, His love for us is unconditional yet He does require of us to be faithful, obedient, repentent, truthful, thankful...are these "conditions"? Sometimes we mix-up grace and responsibility, otherwise we should sin more so grace abounds even more...but this would be foolish. It is interesting (His grace will cover us but at the same time our motives should be pure in how we live out our salvation.) We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Does God want us (and provide for us) to walk in His power? I believe He does, but I believe we can live a life of excuses...scripture says we should "throw off" the sin that so easily entangles; and that we can not go on sinning. Yes, we can live in His power...try it for a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month. There is a difference in committing a sin, and remaining in sin. 1Jn 3:4-6
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