2 Peter 1:3-8 - The Right Tools

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Message: The Right Tools

Time: Written by Peter, he being influenced by the writings of Paul to Ephesus (Ephesians) somewhere between 62 and 63 AD. 

What the Lord is Saying: We had a guest speaker this morning at church and he did a message from 2 Peter on Right Tools. He used an example of fly fishing throughout his message to basically talk about the fact that God has given us Christians all the right tools that we need to carry out godliness in our lives. 

As is my pattern, I looked at the text and went back to verse 1 to understand a little bit better the context of this passage. Peter's message is written to those Christians that have the same understanding of faith or belief that he does. 

I noticed verse 1 says this faith is "by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." I wondered with that verse if Peter is linking God and Jesus or if God and Jesus are separate. On one hand, it sounds like he is stating that Jesus the Savior is God. But could he be stating that faith is of the righteousness of God and the righteousness of Jesus Christ?

In verse 2, he asks that "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Here again, Peter is mentioning grace and peace because of those (verse 1) having a knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 

Even if Peter is not stating that Jesus is God, he is linking characteristics that are the same of the two - righteousness, grace, peace - all found in the knowledge of God and Jesus. 

Verse 3 - "His divine power." When I read this, that's what made me go back to verse 1 and 2 and think about who's divine power He is speaking about for His is singular and yet so possibly it lends itself to think that verse 1 and 2 and the words of God and Jesus are unified rather than separate. Yet, His divine power could be the last name spoken in verse 2 (remembering that punctuation and verse divisions were added later). But also here we then have Jesus being the one with divine power and God also has divine power. Thus, there is another linkage here with Jesus and God having the same attribute of divine power. 

This here is the point of the pastor's message yesterday morning and initially the first point of the text of 2nd Peter. That to the Christian, the fellow believer and Peter - that through Jesus, his righteousness and our knowledge, those Christians have "everything pertaining to life and godliness." The everything we have is because of the faith we have, the grace, and the peace. This is indeed a compelling statement. We have everything pertaining to life because we have faith "through the true knowledge of Him." 

And later in the text it states therefore, with the qualities mentioned in verse 5-7, namely "moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love -- we are neither useless nor unfruitful." Thus we have everything we need for life an godliness and because of that we will be fruitful and useful. 

This sounds like a promise. This takes me back to verse 4 - "For by these" where these seems to be "everything pertaining to life and godliness." Peter says, "these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature." 

Again, we have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. We have qualities that we will supply to others and throughout life to be of use and fruitful. Thus, we become divine-like. 

But in this text then is a mysterious statement to me - "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises." Promises. What are these promises? 

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness..." There is a promise. 

2 Peter 3:13 says, "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth." 

We have everything we need for life and being Godly. We are those that have faith and knowledge of God and Jesus. We have been given qualities. We will be useful and bear fruit. We will be divine. And this is all according to His precious and magnificent promises. 

I find this interesting because Peter explains all of these outcomes which we have because of our faith, but doesn't specify the promises, and so his audience must have understood these promises. 

I don't know exactly what these promises are right now. I could look at commentaries and review the different ideas. I suppose for now I will focus on what I know - I have everything I need.

Prayer: God, you have done it. Through faith, I have everything I need to do everything pertaining to life and godliness. I want to discover this Lord. And believe this and trust in this. And help me to share this with others to encourage them. Give us all hope. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:14 - Experienced help wanted

Proverbs 10:14

Wise men store up knowledge,

But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand

Message: Experienced help wanted

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: For the wise man, knowledge is stored up and retrieved for later use. Scripture memory is an example of this. We memorize scripture so that we can access it at times and repeat it to remind us of the promises of God. It can encourage myself and others as well. As I hire people, the thing we are looking for in people is experience and people that have knowledge that they have retained after working on different vehicles over a period of time. But this applies to many different disciplines. We pay a premium of people who can think at a high level and possess this type of knowledge. This is knowledge retained and helps a person to be wise. Knowledge is a treasure. This is what we look for in teachers, in any profession. People have this knowledge train others that do not have the knowledge. 

One of the problems I have right now with one of my employees is this person sits in their office and rarely gets out of the office to see what is going on outside of her world. She expects people to come to her. She is guarded over what she is willing to do. She restricts all that she wants to do. She is gaining knowledge my guess in some areas of her life - dieting, nutrition, exercise, raising kids -- but her work as our employee is quite limited. She does not apply herself well. And in the process she has little experience and knowledge in how to do things. Yet, she collects a large paycheck. The system protects her. I am in the process of providing her a letter of expectations in hopes that it will spur on to greater efforts. 

The contrasting idea in this verse is the "mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand." This is the person that does not gain through experience. The King James Version says it is near destruction. It is like a house getting ready to fall. This is a person that often doesn't think before speaking and simply let spews of their mouth whatever they are feeling at the time. People say things an then express some sort of apology following for what they said, hoping that the apology makes null and void what was said. People act impulsively and then regret for it often brings destruction on themselves as well as those near. 

Prayer: O God, you are rich in mercy and your ways are great. Help me to remember always the importance of being consistent in my life to continue to be motivated, diligent in all of my activities in life - to gain experience wherever I go and be a help to those in need. Guard my tongue from quick words and saying things improperly. Guard my heart. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 17:22-23 - Loved by the Father in the Son

John 17:22-23

22 And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; they they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me. 

Message: Loved by the Father in the Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: From Tabletalk, today's lesson hones in on the idea of Unity - with the idea that this is the meaning of the High Priestly Prayer. So far what has stood out to me about these verses is how there isn't much intercession in the prayer and instead Jesus is often declaring truths - and how I don't often see this as a focus when we pray. We are all about God rescuing us from whatever ails us at any one time. In our Sunday School class, with so many at the end of life, it is the pains of living and the struggles of things hitting people now at this stage of life which brings about most of the prayer requests and yet I notice this has been a point of emphasis even when we were in classes of younger families. I often think this is also a symptom of how we live - with all of the creature comforts of life and health is the only thing that bothers us. 

As Jesus prays for the disciples or the world, the prayers are often about keeping the disciples united in God, have joy, sanctify them in truth and now today, perfected in unity. Why don't we pray like this? Rather than these things being a given in our life, Jesus is showing us we need to pray for these things. Jesus here recognizes the need for us to be in unity. 

The previous lesson made mention of the importance of unity. Of being one; that the crux of the disciples witness to everyone and believing in Jesus is to be One. But Jesus also says that Truth is important (v. 17) as He asks us to be sanctified in Truth. Jesus has been speaking about Himself often and the relationship the Father has with Him.  

I have mentioned previously, in the attempt to keep the Main thing the Main thing - this is difficult as what I call non-essential others called essential.

But this passage in verse 22 starts with a proclamation that Jesus  begins with a strange request or hard to understand request by Jesus and that is - "I have given to them the glory which Thou hast given Me."

Going back to John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." In this verse, glory is something we behold and is a culmination of the God becoming man - there is a purpose in Jesus being here and it is for us to see the Glory of God, passed on by God to Jesus, but in the form of Jesus. It is to see God for who He is. It is proclaiming God to us. It is to really see God as God. If we behold God as He is, doesn't our life then look different? Don't we approach life differently once we understand God? Perhaps that is what Jesus is trying to get across when He prays for us - that the truth of Him of God is what is important and that we need to behold this. 

 

And so when Jesus says, "I have given to them the glory which Thou hast given Me," it seems that Jesus is saying He has delivered God to man. The truth of God has been given to Man. And in that truth resides our oneness. Unity is grounded in God in us and His glory in us. 

 

It does seem we are not united because of truth - of how we define our lives, ourselves. We are too focused on differences and Jesus is saying He wants us to be defined by God's truth as He has been revealing it through these many messages. 

 

And we are to be One, to be united with what purpose? "that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them." That everyone would know God loves them. God loves you. That is the crux of our message and who we are and what we are to know and what everyone is to know. God loves us. 

Summary: Jesus has come to declare God's glory - the truth of Who He Is and we are to be united, One, so that all we know God loves them.

Promise: God's love for us cannot end.

Prayer: Lord, to know Your Glory is what I am seeking. And for everyone to know Your love is what everyone needs. It is really that simple. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 12:42-43 - A Call to Commitment

John 12:42-43

42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Message: A Call to Commitment

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: The last lesson spoke of people rejecting Jesus. And that even through rejection the prophecy of ages past, as in from Isaiah, has been fulfilled. Jesus continues to walk toward the cross, but along the way he is ministering to people, healing people, while also showing people He is called by the Father and has the same authority as the Father and is equal to the Father - and repeatedly we see descriptions of people "believing" in Him and this is a sharp contrast to those that are not believing in Him. Thus, to believe in Him seems significant. 

There are 3 Latin words used by sixteenth century Protestant Reformers to describe the elements of saving faith: 

• notitia - knowing the basic facts concerning the person and work of Jesus
• assensus - the belief that these facts are true
• fiducia - personally entrusting ourselves to Christ to save us

People are to go from knowing to believing to trusting. And then while it is not part of salvation, after trusting people cannot help but then exercise their lives in visible ways. People bear fruit, showing their good works, confessing Jesus before others. 

In these gospel accounts, in seeing the contrasts from people believing and not believing, perhaps what I don't see is accounts of people trusting Christ and yet Jesus is declaring these truths as he speaks of living water and bread of life which seem to speak to a full commitment to God. But even today's words contrasts the previous verses of people rejecting God and states in verse 42, "Nevertheless many of the rulers believed in Him." So was this assensus belief only or did it also include fiducia? We may not know. 

Reading further perhaps is additional evidence for it says "but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him." Is this describing a people with belief but not trust or is belief already complete and they are not yet mature to live their faith out before men. I think we all experience fear of declaration at times. Yet, John describes here people that believe but are not confessing Him because of the fear of being left out of their current religious life at the synagogue ("for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue). This is interesting because they believed that believing in Jesus, the mere belief excluded one from the synagogue, despite Jesus being one that declared himself in the synagogue. Perhaps because these were rulers believing they believed that rulers of the faith surely could not also be synagogue adherents. 

But then the text makes it a little clearer when it says, "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." Once again this describes the commitment we are to make before the Lord - moving our belief to trusting and in that trusting willing to go to any length to being a child of God. Rulers were believing - yes! But then we don't see the works of the faith though works are not described here, but what is being described is whether we declare that we are in Christ and as such we are willing to have our lives change which may mean changing where we worship and changing those in our lives we previously sought for approval. 

In my life, I see this occurring in my life as I am a person that seeks approval. I think a child can't help but want approval from their parents. They want to make their parents proud in some way. I always think of Tyson playing upwards basketball, probably around 5th grade or early middle school and playing in a game, making a shot on one end and as he goes down the court he looks over at me. He has done something good and he moves his eyes toward me - look at me Dad. Look at what I did. Are you not proud of me? I also remember the time in our house on Moon when I got mad at him and the other kids and he went immediately to drawing a picture, taking me back to us going to the Lobos football game and taking us back to a good time we had together, trying to restore the relationship. Those two moments - my son looking to me, declaring himself to me, wanting me to recognize him. Those are two of the most memorable moments of me as a father to my oldest son. My son wants my approval and wants to know that everything is fine between us. 

So in this text are we seeing a description of people believing only and then is the defense to entrusting or the signification of trusting found in declaring God before men, no matter the cost. And perhaps did believing in Jesus then not include synagogue worship?

Summary: Following belief in Jesus should be a desire only now for the approval of God and yet people can still at times continue to seek the approval of man instead. 

Promise: Possibly we have not trusted in Christ if we are not willing to declare our faith publicly before others. 

Prayer: Lord, I continue to unpack these truths from You. Even as I know that I am your follower, describing it and defining and contrasting that faith from those that don't believe remains a goal of mine. As a converse with people that hold to different views or maybe even more advanced in their knowledge, I am challenged to unpack further these truths. I do want my faith to be not afraid of disappointing man or even not getting their approval because I want to be more concerned about your approval God. My faith needs to be before others. I am not to be hiding my faith and only a Christian with good speech in church. But proud of my faith beyond the church walls, at work, in my neighborhood and before others throughout the walk of my life.        

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:16-19 - Misunderstanding Jesus

John 12:16-19

16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

Message: Misunderstanding Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: I love the honest reflection John gives in verse 16 to begin this lesson today - "These things His disciples did not understand at the first." What has just transpired? It is Passover and Jesus has left Bethany and gone to Jerusalem. He has entered the city and people are crying out Hosanna! or "Save Me" and acknowledging that He is blessed and Jesus also finds a donkey to ride in on, showing his humility and possibly some sort of completion like in battle of the culmination of who He is. And in this process, "The Disciples are scratching their heads, trying to figure out what is going on." Jesus is doing things. They are following Him. And they are trying to put it all together. They are experiencing Him. He is teaching them. They are slow to get it. And Jesus understands this. He has raised Lazarus it seems more for their purpose and the purpose of other people, that they will see this and better comprehend who He is. 

And then John writes in the future in verse 16 -- "but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him." Sort of "Ahh, now I get it." At the time, maybe they went along or maybe they did things that they didn't understand at the time but still did it. And then later they remembered. 

Verse 17 states that those who were with Jesus when He raised Lazarus continue to testify about Him. John 11:15 says, "that you might believe." Well, it has happened, people are believing. People continue to "testify about Him." The raising of Lazarus has sparked conversation. And in verse 18, "people went and met Him" for this reason of raising Lazarus. Again, more words that speak of the impact of a miracle. This miracle saw Jesus as someone they wanted to know.  

But then the Pharisees who were bothered by Jesus. So we have one crowd that is going after Him and seeking Him and learning of Him. They are pursuing Him and then the Pharisees who are pursuing Him for their selfish gain. They are pursuing Him to apprehend Him and take him out of the spotlight. The Pharisees are looking at one another and disappointed stating, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him." In other words, they are saying that they themselves are not doing any good yet. Nothing is changing. People are still pursuing Jesus. In 11:57 they expected people to report Jesus but instead they want to know more about Him. 

It is interesting to me - Tabletalk today has titled this, "Misunderstanding Jesus" but it seems it is more apt to say "Not understanding Jesus yet." There is a difference and that seems to be what I see - Jesus is being pursued and followed but not yet understood. Understanding Jesus is not always that easy. 

Summary: The disciples continue to follow but still do not understand Jesus completely, but one day they will, we know this. Meanwhile, the Pharisees remain bothered. 

Promise: Once we surrender ourselves we will see Jesus. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for helping me to understand You. I see my life pursuing You and yet not understanding most of the time and most of the time wrapped up in myself. I think of growing up and going to church as a young person at Heights and going but not getting it. Maybe this was producing in me a desire for greater understanding. And then at 14 you used a movie to waken me up so that my life in You, in Christ, could begin. And since then I continue to pursue You and I am so thankful for that process, to know You more and seek You and try to understand You better and then how I can be present for others. Help me to be present. Help me to see people better and discover them. Thank you for keeping me on the path toward You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 7:47-52 - The Prophet from Galilee

John 7:47-52

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You have not also been led astray, have you? 48 No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49 But this multitude which does not know the Law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before, being one of them), 51 "Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? 52 They answered and said to him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." 

Message: The Prophet from Galilee

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter has mostly taken place over an 8 day period of the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem after Jesus' brothers asked him to go there with them, though Jesus went privately rather than publicly, focused on the idea that it is not yet His time (to be apprehended or seized). In Jerusalem he goes to the Temple and continues to speak of His origin being from the Father and the Father has sent Him. He is the living water but also mentions an important verse in 38 that those who believe in Jesus will flow forth rivers of living water. So we will pass on the water that He is, the Life that He is, the compassion that He is, the sympathy that He is. We will bear great fruit as the Spirit of God comes upon us. There are still some that think He is a prophet only, and not also the Messiah. And the last passage gives the idea the Pharisees are ready to seize Him but the officers will not apprehend Him because they seem to believe He is someone different. 

Despite the officers not arresting Jesus, the Pharisees who had sent the officers were not fooled and now in these verses believe that Jesus has fooled the officers. These Pharisees will not be persuaded by Jesus and are hardened, not willing to see Him for who He is. They even remark this in verse 48 - "No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?" Meaning none of the rulers and none of the Pharisees actually believed in Jesus. And this was Jesus' outcry or plea or request always - that people would believe in Him. And reminds me once again what is wrapped up in that word belief. For Jesus it is more than agreeing He is who He said He is. It is receiving as mentioned in John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." And then his talk of being born again, of living Water, and the bread of Life - these texts signify it is more than belief but an all consuming belief that changes our lives and how they are to be lived. 

And the Pharisees had a disdain for the multitude in verse 49. They state that they do not know the Law. Even today, I think we see this that accepting Christ is for the uneducated. It is for the pipe dream people that are simply holding onto a hope of the future. But it is not for the educated. It is not for the smart scientist, but it is for the simple person. But with the Pharisees is the thought it is not for the one's actually well versed in the Law. But rather, what occurred is those who knew not the Law believed in the one who authored it. We can get too smart for our own britches is the catch phrase. 

But then Nicodemus comes on the scene. The one who asked Jesus about being born again in John 3:4. He, being one of the Pharisees, states that Jesus deserves a fair trial. He stated that Jesus needs to be heard. But again, the Pharisees response is the same stating that he too must have been misled, stating again what others have said (verse 41) that Jesus could not have come from Galilee. This however was only folklore, not based upon Scripture but tradition that the prophet could not come from Galilee. 

Summary: The Pharisees believe the multitudes have been misled by Jesus and later state the same of one of their own - Nicodemus. Some will not believe no matter what Jesus says. 

Promise: Gaining knowledge is a good think but we must be careful it does not puff us up. We must still be willing to listen, realizing that something different may still be what we need to learn. 

Prayer: You are Savior and Lord. You are living water, the bread of life, and we need to be born again, all of us. Help me Jesus to always listen to You and be careful that I am not stuck in my own ways. Draw people to yourself. Give people an understanding of you, like so many around me. Thank You for the truth of who You are and the joy of discovering those truths in the reading of Your word now, today. Even now. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

My Utmost for His Highest - June 8th - What Next?

Determine to know more than others.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. - John 13:17

    If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbor bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbor bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

    When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become stodgy spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing. 

    The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. "To obey is better than sacrifice. (I Samuel 15:22)" Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. "If any man will do . . . he shall know. (John 7:17)" 

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My thoughts

Moorings - Lines that tie you to the dock. Don't stay in the safe place and never out on the water. Get out to the depths. Don't pause when told by God to do something. Don't plan on doing things for God; let God instruct you daily and then follow Him to do it. Knowing more is trusting more and doing more.