2 Peter 1:1-11 – “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 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. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  NASU

Each time I read this passage the thought of the “Incredible Christian Promise” comes to mind.  The apostle Peter, often a rash and even brash man had a heart so tender and in total contrast to his physical presence, that reality is amazing and inspiring.  This salutation regarding Christian virtue is powerful and worthy of examination.  He identifies his audience as ‘fellow believers’ and prayed for the multiplication of God’s Grace and Peace to them.  He then reminded them that, in Christ, the Divine Power of God had opened the door to everything pertaining to life and godliness.  He reminds them that, as believers, they are partakers of the Precious and Magnificent Promises of God.  He then details some of those promises and provisions or benefits of being a Christian.

That Grace enabled them to become partakers of the ‘divine nature’ and enabled them to escape the corruption of the world that is facilitated by lust.  If you only understand lust as being sexual you miss the message.  If you understand that lust is, by definition, a longing for something especially that which is forbidden you move toward the light powerfully.  He then implores them to take definitive action in their lives by applying diligence in faith and yearn for and reach for ‘moral excellence’ or ‘virtue.’  Moral excellence will produce godly knowledge and that knowledge inspires ‘self-control’ and ‘perseverance.’  Perseverance will in turn produce ‘godliness’ and through that pathway comes ‘brotherly kindness’ and the fruit of that is LOVE!

How long has it been since you paused to deeply consider what has been granted you in SALVATION?  Heaven is a phenomenal prize and worthy of pursuit but there is so much more afforded us that applies to the HERE and NOW!  He has come and called us to Him!  As we respond to His call to Salvation let us then move into His purpose for our lives and through His LOVE fulfill our assignment here on earth with JOY!  We do not have to live under the torment of the devil and the almost unbearable pull of temptation for we have partaken of His divine nature and IN CHRIST we are FREE!

            God, bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!