November 14 – Abundance of Positive Matters

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”  2 Peter 1:2 (ESV)

These words are a prayer of blessing written by the Apostle Peter in the second letter he wrote to believers.  What a great difference our lives become when we come to know God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. “This is a strengthened form of “knowledge” implying a larger, more thorough, and intimate knowledge. The Christian’s precious faith is built on knowing the truth about God (cf. v. 3). Christianity is not a mystical religion, but is based in objective, historical, revealed, rational truth from God and intended to be understood and believed. The deeper and wider that knowledge of the Lord, the more “grace and peace” are multiplied¹." When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God brings us into His family and begins to reveal himself to us.  He wants us to know Him and to keep learning more and more about Him. Our verse today tells us what happens when we learn to know our Lord better. We read that we receive grace and peace in abundance through knowing Him. It will be true as we learn to know Him better. What a benefit is promised to us here.

 

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^[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 1:2.

 

October 28 – Who To Not Follow

“And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” – 2 Peter 2:2 (ESV)

The trends abound around us and like a tidal wave about to break, we may wonder what we can do. False teaching encroaches the Seminaries and Universities. The clergy, overseers, and leaders adopt doctrines which are contrary to Biblical teaching. Yet the rational necessary to normalize false teaching makes its way until good dominations become corrupted and endorse what God clearly has said is wrong. The effect of this subversion by the enemy on the Christian community is detrimental, for “many will follow” these false teachers. In spite of apostolic teaching and admonition, numerous Christians are swayed by “cleverly invented stories” (2 Peter 1:16). Many people who profess to be Christians actually deny Christ’s lordship over their lives, refusing to live as obedient servants to Christ and His Word. Instead of following God’s Word they succumb to lusts of the flesh, the world, and the devil. Such nominal Christians tragically will be included in the Lord’s condemnation of hypocrites at the judgment. Instead of shunning evil practices, gullible Christians “follow their shameful ways.”  What are these shameful ways? Peter uses the expression again when he describes the sexually immoral residents of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:7).

 

Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 16:283.

 John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 2:2.

 

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October 27 – Be Wary On Guard

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” – 2 Peter 2:1 (NASB)

The existence of those who will teach falsely about God has been the case as far back as human history right to the very beginning of humankind. Peter wrote his second letter to fellow believers warning them of this danger and reminding them that such had been the case among all descendants of Israel. Peter uses “among the people” which is used in the New Testament to identify Israel (Acts 26:17,23). Peter described false teachers in detail so that Christians would always recognize their characteristics and methods. Peter’s point, is that Satan has always endeavored to subvert groups of believers with deceptions invented by false teachers. The greatest sin of those who reject Christ and the most damning work of Satan is falsification of the truth and deceptions. Nothing is more wicked than for someone to claim to speak for God regarding salvation of souls when in reality he speaks for Satan to the damnation of souls. We can take the prediction of the presence of such deceptiveness as a promise and warning for us and be on guard. We must be willing to test all teaching with the God-inspired Scripture.

 

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John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 2:1.

 

March 5 –Gives Us Everything

“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,”  2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

We find our promise from God’s Word today in the second letter written by the Apostle Peter . “His” refers to Jesus Christ. Christ’s power is the source of the believer’s sufficiency and. all things that pertain to life.  All genuine Christian’s are eternally secure in this salvation and will persevere and grow because we have received everything necessary to sustain eternal life through Christ’s power.  This promise is especially precious because it is about what God does for us who belong to Him. He is the one who has called us to Himself because He loves us. He gives us eternal life and then provides us all that we need to live this new life.  We are His children. He wants us to be like Him. He provides all that we need for godliness. Do you ever wonder how you can come up to the standards God has set for you? If so, remember this verse and the promise that it is His divine power that gives us everything we need to live a godly life. We are never expected to do it on our own because God’s power is always there for us.

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November 14 – Abundance From Knowledge

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2 (ESV)

These words which are a blessing or prayer written by the Apostle Peter in the second letter he wrote to Christian believers in the first century.  This “knowledge” is a strengthened form implying a larger, more thorough, and intimate knowledge. Our precious faith is built on knowing the truth about God. Christianity is not a mystical religion, but is based in objective, historical, revealed, rational truth from God and intended to be understood and believed. The deeper and wider that knowledge of the Lord, the more abundant is the “grace and peace”. What a great difference it makes in our lives when we come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God brings us into His family and begins to reveal himself to us.  He wants us to know Him and to keep learning more and more about Him. Our verse today promises us what happens when we learn to know our Lord better. We receive grace and peace that multiplies through knowing Him. It will be true as we learn to know Him better. What a benefit is promised to us here.

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June 25 – Our Flight From Danger

“(For by these) 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 1:4  (ESV)

There are good reasons for why God  has given us the many promises in the Bible. The Apostle Peter taught some of these reasons in the second letter he wrote. God expects His promises to produce changes in our lives. The “precious and very great promises” include abundant and eternal life as partakers of His divine nature. The changes that God desires in us are produced when we believe His promises. God wants us to be more and more like Him. We are His children and so we should resemble our Father in heaven. In the world there is much evil and sinful desires which cause the corruption of this world. “Corruption” has the idea of something decomposing or decaying. God promises us that He will help us escape the danger of corruption, through faith, a life that is pleasing to Him. Let's believe the promises and we can watch Him carry them out. Looking back to verse 3, we see that it is by God’s power we have all we need for a godly life, for true knowledge of Him. Because He called us to salvation by His own glory and excellence through the cross.

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June 28 – No Tripping, No Falling Away

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen”  - 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NASB)

If we take the time to consider, we might find that our current situation in this world has encroached into parts previously spared much of the trials and tribulations being experienced in other parts of our globe.  These events and conditions are not a surprise to anyone that understands and believes that God is sovereign and is not one that needs to be questioned as regarding His motives or reasons.  God does what He choses and is  perfect in all He does.  It is common today to think that the Lord God has somehow missed the cue on a few things.  But that comes from our thinking He must fit our concept of justice.  He fits only His justice which is without fault.  So our promise comes as a warning.  It is possible for us to be “carried away by the error of unprincipled men.”  These unprincipled people are failing significantly these days setting themselves up as arbitrators of their own rules.  It is possible to trip and fall away from our own steadfastness but God has promised a better way.  A way of grace and knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.  Let’s seek that way today.

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June 27 – Once by Water, Once by Fire

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  - 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)

In the context of these two verses we find promises of mockers who disparage the promise of the coming Day of the Lord.  These mockers who follow after their own lusts fail to understand the power of the Word of God.  We visited these verses just last month. Peter tells us that it is by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water it was destroyed in the flood. (2 Peter 3:5-7 NASB) So today, as we read yesterday, we have the assurance that it will be by the Word of God that the next destruction will be by fire.  And unlike an earth remaining after life was destroyed by the flood, the next will be total destruction. (2 Peter 3:10 NASB) Don’t fret the mockers who fail to understand that the Lord’s timing is nothing like ours.  God transcends time as we know it and a day equals a thousand years and a thousand years equals a day. It is not slowness on God’s part but patience waiting for all who He has called to be gathered. God is giving each all the time they need to believe. 

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June 26 – God Gave the Rainbows

“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”  Genesis 9:11 (NASB)
“I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13 (NASB)
“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”  -2 Peter 3:7  (NASB)

How is the state of your peace of mind these days?  With so many pressures and changes as well as threats and fears coming upon us, we might be encouraged if we consider two promises God made with the earth.  First, after the flood which destroyed all people and animals on the face of the earth, except for Noah and his family, and the animals he brought onto the ark.* God made a covenant with Noah.  A covenant is a promise and God promised to never destroy the people on the earth by a flood again.  He gave us the rainbow in the sky as His sign of that promise between Him and the earth.  God has kept that promise ever since and each time we see a rainbow, we can remember His covenant with the earth.  The rainbow and its colors were not created to represent gay pride.  The Apostle Peter reveals another promise about the earth. The earth and heavens being reserved for the Day of the Lord when intense heat and fire will burn up and dissolve the earth we know. How to respond, we will talk about the instructions Peter gave us from God. 

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* This is a link to a very interesting YouTube video about finding Noah’s Ark posted in 2018. It is 20 min documentary video. 

June 5 – Dwelling in a New Dwelling Place

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”  - 2 Peter 3:11-13  (ESV)

We know from our reading over the past two days, that God is patient, wanting all He has called to believe in Him through faith. We know that there is a day of the Lord coming when the world, the earth, the heavens, will be destroyed in an ultimate day of global melting and burning. We ask today how shall we then live?  Peter tells us that we can hasten the coming of that day by living “lives of holiness and godliness.”  The words and promise of verse 10 are repeated in today’s verses.  On that day, we will see the heavens set on fire and dissolved, melted and burned. It is a frightening concept for anyone who depends on this world for their life.  Just as the pandemic has put in our minds the danger of worldwide calamity, the promise in this passage is even more frightening because there is no recovery.  But it is different for us who have been promised a different outcome.  God has promised all who by faith have believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior will dwell in a new heaven and a new earth restored to the righteousness as God intended.

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June 4 – That Day

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”  -2 Peter 3:10  (NASB)

Following upon the promise of God’s patience in the verses we read yesterday, the Apostle Peter reveals to us what the Holy Spirit has revealed to him.  There is a “day of the Lord” on God’s schedule that is coming. It is a period of time described in this verse.  Our promise today is that this “day of the Lord” will come suddenly when the world is not expecting or even ready for it.  It will be the time when this world and universe (heavens) will cease to exist.  This is the true day of ultimate global warming for everything will be destroyed with intense heat.  There is nothing to do to forestall its coming.  Like a thief it will sneak up on the world.  Thankfully those who have believed and have been adopted by God will not experience this time of wrath.  We can rejoice that God has provided a way of escape and is now (as we read yesterday) patient with all in the world, giving them time to believe. Let us thank Him today for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.  Because of that, we have been saved from this “day of the Lord.”

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June 3 – Patient With Us, Not Slow

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  - 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)

Our concept and mental image of time is one thing and mostly shared among people of similar cultures.  However, there are places and people in this world who think of time quite differently.  In the far north within the Arctic circles at the height of winter, and the winter solstice, those living within the polar circle who experience nights that seem like a month.  Our verse instructs us to not overlook that God is transcendent of time. In the Lord’s time, Peter tells us, one day passes as a thousand years.  A thousand years are just a day for Him.  All moments in our time are  always before God. We can rejoice because God is not confined by time as we are.  His promises are fulfilled according to His will and for us. We may “feel” that God is slow or delaying the fulfillment of a promise but, in God’s plan there is no slowness only patience with His creation. God desires all to come to repentance and for none to perish. So for our sake, He is patient while those who He has chosen and called come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  

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May 9 – Not Slow, But Patient

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. … Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”  - 2 Peter 3:13, 15 (NIV)

In this letter by the Apostle Peter, we read of a day to come when God will be done with this earth. Peter tells us of God’s promise regarding the end of the world as we know it now.  He encourages us, those who have believed, to maintain holy and godly lives. Doing so will speed the coming of that day.  What will it be like?  We encourage you to read the context in 2 Peter 3 as the promises here in our verses today and in the larger passage are very important to remember for us who believe.  When the world is in chaos or near chaos, we are taught to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him (2 Peter 3:14 NIV).  But we are to also remember that the reason these days have not yet come is because God is patience for more to believe in the Gospel and become children of God. Peter also confirms the Apostle Paul’s words to be wisdom and given to him by God. Although Peter and Paul began their relationship over a conflict, (Galatians 2:11-12) we see here that they are of one mind and on the same page. 

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April 21 – Not Of Human Origin

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  -2 Peter 1:20-21  (NIV)

We have a promise from the Apostle Peter in his second letter to all believers about our Bible.  The promise is this, the Scriptures come to us from God. They are trustworthy and true.  Peter is making it clear, Scripture is not of human origin, nor is it the result of human will. The emphasis is that no part of Scripture was ever at any time produced because men wanted it so.  So the Bible is not the product of human effort or origin.  In the OT alone, the human writers refer to their writings as the words of God over 3800 times. The prophets, in fact, sometimes wrote what they could not fully understand (1 Peter 1:10-11 NLT), but were nonetheless faithful to write what God revealed to them as they were carried along and moved by the Holy Spirit. We can therefore trust this promise that Scripture is the Word of God and written down by those who God inspired.  This same Holy Spirit dwells within in all believers to help us discern and understand this Word of God.  Let us seek His guidance to understand what has been given to us.

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April 13 – Power From Knowledge

“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 (ESV)

Think for a moment about the amazing power that true knowledge brings to us.  All the power available, from God, to live and be godly comes through our knowledge of Him.  With the promise in our verse for today, comes the promise of this knowledge of God who called us.  We have access to God’s glory and God’s excellence through this knowledge.  We have also been given His promises that have the power to make us deserving of sharing a portion of His divine nature.  By these promises and not by any works, we are ever able to do or bring, we are set free to escape the corruption and sinful desires that bind us to this world’s depraved system.  As partakers of His divine nature we enjoy His divine power as if it is ours.  Life and godliness are what is at stake.  Knowing does not guarantee godliness but it seems that ignorance guarantees ungodliness.  Peter says, the divine power that leads to godliness is given through the knowledge of God. We should put a premium on instruction of doctrine in the Scriptures!  

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January 2 – Precious Promises

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  -2 Peter 1:4  (NASB)

We have entered our fifth year of taking a brief moment to consider God’s promises to us.  God’s promises all come to us from His promise of abundant and eternal life. It is God’s grace and peace multiplied to us and the precious promises given us by God that results in our being adopted as sons and becoming true children of God.  We do not become ‘little gods’ but we do become ‘new creatures,’ through our re-birth in the Spirit.   We have received from God eternal life as a gift and so we possess a share of His nature which He has given to us.  This promise is also our way of escape from the corruption of our old nature.  If we have made some serious New Year’s Eve resolutions regarding our way of living which are honoring to God, and if  we really want to stick to them, God’s promises are here for us for that very purpose.  Let's resolve together to learn and hold on to all that God has promised every day. 

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July 21 – Precious Promises Granted

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”   2 Peter 1:4 (NASB)

Take notice of “by these” in the first six words in today's verse.  The “these” are what he wrote in the previous verse,  “everything pertaining to life and godliness...”  Peter asserts that as Christians we are fully equipped to live a life pleasing to God for we have been given all we need to overcome any obstacle we face, and that we can persevere under trial. God is sufficient.  These are the promises God has given to us, promises we find in other scriptures, and promises we can  trust.  By trusting in God's promises we are allowing Him to make us more and more like Him – we become participants in the divine nature which He is developing in our lives.  Each of us who believe in Jesus and have received Him as our Lord and Savior are being conformed to Him.  This is a wonderful truth and promise that one day, when we are in heaven, corruption of this world will no longer be a factor and we will experience the completion of that process conforming us to His nature.  It will all be to the glory of our Almighty God.

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August 27 – Until the Dawn

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”   2 Peter 1:19 (NASB)

Our God knows the needs of His people. He knows that we could not get along spiritually by ourselves in this world.  That is why He has revealed His thoughts to us in the Bible.  We have our Bibles to read and we have opportunity to hear God's Word taught and preached.  This privilege is what the Apostle Peter wrote about in the verse we have chosen for today.  What would we do without the Scriptures which God has had recorded and preserved so well for us?  We would really be in the dark about God and His creation and His love for us, wouldn't we?  Peter compares God's Word to a light shinning in a dark place.  And, Peter recommends that we pay attention to what it says and teaches us.  If you've ever walked a path at night without light to guide your way, you know how important a torch or flashlight is to avoid the rocks, holes and even snakes on the path.  God's Word is a light to our path in life which helps us to avoid the pitfalls and the snares and the evil workers who wish to trip us up.  Trusting God's Word will guide us until the dawn when there will no longer be any darkness. 

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April 19 – Paying Attention for Light

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19 (NIV)

Our God has provided us with all that we need. This includes the instruction that we need to live the Christian life. He knows our needs and has provided help for us in the Bible. We read about this in the second letter written by the Apostle Peter. God has spoken to us through the Old Testament prophets and also through the apostles such as Peter who wrote these words in today's verse.  Yes, God's word in the Bible is like a light shining in a dark place.  As we read the Bible, and as we hear it taught and preached, its teaching lights up the way for us as we pay attention to to it. It dispels the darkness that clouds our understanding.  Like the morning dawn, which brings light to our days, the Word of God which we receive in our hearts from the Bible, brings the light we need to understand how and what God is leading us to. We do well to pay attention to the message given to us today, it has the promises of God for our lives. 

November 14 – Abundance that Matters

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2 (NIV)

These words which are a blessing or prayer written by the Apostle Peter in the second letter we have in the Bible.  What a great difference it makes in our lives when we come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God brings us into His family and begins to reveal himself to us.  He wants us to know Him and to keep learning more and more about Him. Our verse today tells us what happens when we learn to know our Lord better. We read that we receive grace and peace in abundance through knowing Him. It will be true as we learn to know Him better. What a benefit is promised to us here.