Truly God is gracious and faithful according to His word. As it is written, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1).
Today I was re-reading through the first chapter of 2 Peter, intending to read the whole of this wonderful epistle, in preparation of completing a bible study scheduled, God willing, next Saturday with a dear sister in Lord Yeshua. Earlier in the day I had had need to seek God through Lord Yeshua for His mercy, pardon and cleansing for some ungodly heart attitudes I recognised I was struggling with. I had also been so blessed, strengthened, edified and encouraged by the teaching brought by a servant of Lord Yeshua which had focused on the Lord Himself during the service at the church fellowship I attend. My inner-man therefore had already begun to bask in the stirrings of the Lord – even the discomfort of having some of my weaknesses revealed for cleansing- and trust towards God for His light by His word also stirred in my heart.
I have read 2 Peter several times over in the recent weeks since this is the bible study mentioned above but it as I re-read the now very familiar words of 2 Peter 1:5-8, the thought which today came to mind, was ‘okay, so now through the word we know what we are to add to our faith, but HOW do we add these things? How do I add the ‘virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love’ when these things are not naturally occurring in me, when my strivings seems to yield little or unsatisfactory results and I keep running into personal frustration almost to despondency at times. The Scripture passage says this:
‘…….. giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The thought which followed almost immediately seemed to answer it all: by faith. The faith which God has given to me enabled me to grasp hold of the word which further then came to mind: ‘..work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure’ Philippians 2:12-13 (underlined for emphasis). It answered it completely!
God who is my Help, through His Son Yeshua the Messiah and by the power of His Spirit will enable me by His grace through faith to do His will as I trust and obey Him. After all, as Peter remind us, God by ‘His divine power has given to us all that that pertain to life and godliness’ 2 Peter 2:3. How that word in Ephesians 2:8-9 became clearer still in that moment: ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.’
As my sister in the Lord – mentioned above – reminded me during our last bible-study together, we have reminders in the word of God, the Holy Scriptures, because we who belong to Lord Yeshua tend to forget!
Indeed I had forgotten, for when I re-read 2 Peter 1:2-4 – yet again – I was enabled to see more clearly that the very simple thoughts above was what Peter was speaking of more profoundly by the depth of the Spirit within him, saying this:
‘Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’
(underlined for emphasis).
Thank You Heavenly Father for the all-sufficiency of Your grace in and through Your Son, Lord Yeshua to help me in my need. Please help me to co-operate with Your Holy Spirit at work in me that Your word may work mightily in me to transform me and make keep growing in Your grace and in the knowing Your Son Yeshua so that You are magnified and glorified. I ask this also for all those who read this and who love You in sincerity and truth, who are also purchased by the precious shed and sinless blood of Your Son, Yeshua the Lord, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Shalom.
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