September 28, 2020
Nobody likes to suffer, yet the witness of the Scriptures is uniform in declaring that suffering is one of God’s greatest tools of transformation in the lives of His people. In his letters to the scattered church throughout Asia Minor, Peter addresses this issue and provides encouragement for believers who were under attack through persecution, oppression, and even direct attack by the enemy through false teachers. In the midst of their suffering, Peter reminds them to keep their eyes fixed on their eternal reward: Christ Jesus Himself! As we spend time over the next eight days reading the epistles of Peter, let’s make it out goal to fix our eyes on Jesus and to maintain joy in Him even through the most difficult trials and suffering!
In the opening chapter to his second epistle Peter gives us some incredible promises: God has already given us absolutely everything we need in order to live a godly life through Jesus! He calls his readers to pursue this kind of godly living by being ever increasing in certain qualities, such as faith, virtue, godliness, knowledge, and love. He says that if you are increasing in these qualities in your life, you will be effective for the Kingdom, assured of your salvation, and kept from falling!
Peter then goes on to recall his experience with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, how he had seen the glory of Jesus revealed and heard the Father’s approval of the Son. He reminds his readers that their testimony about Jesus is the truth, and that it confirms the prophetic witness of the Old Testament prophets.
This is significant because Peter is about to address the issue of false prophets. He makes the distinction clear: true prophecy never arises from the heart of man, but comes from God as the prophet is carried along by the Holy Spirit. He tells his readers to pay close attention to the prophetic witness because it is like a light shining in the darkness; we would do well to do the same!
2 Peter 1
Greeting
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Confirm Your Calling and Election
3 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, 4 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Christ’s Glory and the Prophetic Word
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- How can you be intentional to be pursuing the qualities that Peter lists in this chapter? How might paying careful attention to the glory of Jesus and the prophetic witness of the Old Testament aid in this pursuit?
Good morning LORD,
Thank you for my many blessings for they are too numerous to list.
Most of all, LORD, I thank you for my salvation. Help me this day to share the Good News with the wanders in my life. I cry out for their salvation. I desire that none be left behind.
May I not be a stumbling block for any but only salt and light. Send you Holy Spirit before me and soften hearts, open eyes.
Help me to capture each brief moment that I will have with others today to tell them of your love for them. May I be an encourager for each, pointing them to you.
As I travel the narrow path today, guide my feet, my heart. May my words and actions reflect only you.
I surrender all…for it’s in the name of Jesus, your son, I pray,
Amen
AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!!! Terry what your prayer did for me is so very uplifting. Thank you so very much my sister in ✝ Christ.
Dear Lord please strengthen my spirit to live today virtuously building knowledge of you. As your scripture states this knowledge empowers my self control, steadfastness, godliness, affection, and ultimately your love. May the work of my hands and words from my mouth help spread your love and bring you glory.
I will pursue knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love.
Thank you my Father for another day in the land of the living. Thank you for your plans for me/us today. Help me Lord to be an instrument of your glory in all you allow me to be a part of today. My faith is built on nothing less than my Jesus blood and His righteousness. Vs 4-7, Father my prayer is to escape the corruption in this world caused by evil desires. I pray Father help me today to add to that faith all that is listed in these verses. It is in Jesus name I pray with thanksgiving??. Amen!
Lord forgiven me for being so in focus with sports that I did not Sat reach out on my Internet and join F Franklin and 48,000 prayer walking in D C praying for our nation. Help me not to be so prideful that I do not recognize the ten sins that Pastor Trammell reported that is caused by being in “hurry”
Christians are Gods retardant to sin the world.
Thank you Lord for Paul, Timothy, Matt. , Mark, Luke, John, Peter… all those that have recorded your direct message to us! Thank you for the constant “reminder” of what they say to us by way of your Spirit. Help me to be consistent to read and study every day 2 Tim. 2:15 was the first verse I ever memorized after I was saved on June 2, 1968. Thank you Lord for reminding me every day & teaching
me new truths every day!
Lord strengthen my faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I love meeting You in the morning and walking with You all day long. I can’t imagine life without You. ThankYou for loving me so much that You forgave my sins…past, present, and future and You are already preparing a place for me in heaven. I will praise Your name forever. Thank You for all of my blessings that are too numerous to count. Lead me and guide me with Your Holy Spirit that dwells in me. May I be a light that shines for You and directs others Your way. In Jesus ‘name. Amen.
Thank you God for all your many blessings, thank you for Your Son Jesus, Praying for the virus to go away,Praying for all violence to realize it leads to destruction of our Beautiful Country! Always have believed: United We Stand, Divided We Fall, not looking like this will HAPPEN!