All!

All!

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

The Context and Focus:

Peter would know something about the effect and impact of the power of God in the life of a person. Here was a man actually called Simon, initially weak and easily given to anger, but with an encounter and a relationship with Jesus, became bold. Here was a man who a few days earlier was cursing himself as he denied ever knowing Jesus, became the same man who stood before thousands to preach about Jesus, and in one day, about 3,000 souls were added to the church. This same man would also be bold to tell the Jewish leaders at the time that he would rather obey Jesus than fear men. The end of the life of Peter looked nothing like how he started, and that is where the impact of the verse above is best felt. It is easy to boast about something you claim to have worked for by labour or by application of intellect, buy it is pretty difficult to boast about something you do not even know the origin or purpose. As I take stock of where I am now, can I say, of a truth, that I am made by God, or do I have an false, inflated opinion of myself?

The Message:

The audience of this letter is also critical. The verses just before the one above clarifies: 'To those who have received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ'. It is not about privilege or possessions, but by faith in the saving knowledge of Jesus. It is by salvation that a man has full and unfettered access to all that the death and resurrection of Jesus bought and secured. If I do not accept or identify with the sufferings of Jesus, how would I accept his resurrection and glory? If I do not accept the pain of the cross, how do I look forward to the glory of heaven? The same power that secured the resurrection of Jesus is the same power still available for all who surrender their lives to Jesus, and this is a power that never fades or fails. This power continues to change the hearts of men, and is available for all who ask God for it. Actually, Jesus is referred to as 'the Wisdom and the Power of God', so it is Jesus I get when I ask for enablement to help me live well and to please God. 

The Conclusion:

This power secures provision for the earthly and the eternal. This power has supplied all that I need for life and Godliness. God does not expect me to be so focused on heaven that I forget to make impact on earth, and I must not be so distracted by the earthly that I forget to plan the right way for heaven. Both are important, and it is by daily dependence on God that I can get guidance on how to maintain the right balance. The verse above makes reference to 'true and personal knowledge of Him'. You cannot fake what you have not personally experienced. If I will show it, it has to first be a part of me. There is a call of God upon every life, but as God does not force Himself on anyone, he will supply all I need in order to make the right decision to answer his call. That decision is what all of us must make, at some point in time in our lives. Eternity hangs on whatever decision is made, either forever with God, or forever away from Him. God has done ALL his part; what of me? God's time of favour is here.