Faith and Friendship Through God's Divine Power
Daily Scripture
2 Peter 1:3-8
3 By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory. 4 Through his honor and glory he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, that you may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces.
5 This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love. 8 If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Peter said God’s forgiveness and divine love give us the inner power we need to escape all that is wrong in our world. He described how every part of our life grows as we open ourselves to God’s transforming power. John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, wrote of this passage: “In this most beautiful connection, each preceding grace leads to the following; each following, tempers and perfects the preceding.” * This passage pictured qualities that transform our whole life. Cooperate with God to add each of these qualities, Peter said, and they will give you everything you need for life and godliness. This progression of virtues shapes how we live in community and friendship with others.
- Peter made the sweeping claim that God has given us everything we need for a godly life. Which of the positive qualities he listed—moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, affection for others, and love—do you find most appealing? Which are already present in your life? Thank God for them! How can you more completely connect with God’s spiritual power to grow in the others? Wesley also noted in his commentary that “sour godliness, so called, is of the devil.” In other words, moral excellence shouldn’t make us sour or joyless. Have you known anyone who seemed to believe that following God required being sour and severe? What helps you trust that God wants your life filled with joy and beauty, not drained of delight?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, remind me that I am never “done growing” in this life. Pour your Spirit into my heart, leading me on from one positive step of growth to the next. Amen.
GPS Insights
Jackson Sloan
Jackson Sloan, a freshman at Baker University studying business finance, wrote today's Insights. He grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and attends Resurrection's West location. In his free time Jackson enjoys playing golf with friends and family. He adds, "Something else I love to do is going to church with my grandparents when I am back from college."
The commandment “Love one another as I have loved you” has a special place in my heart. When I was a kid and was first told this commandment I didn’t truly understand how important it was. But as I got older, I started to understand how important it really is. Even small things can have a big impact.
When I was in high school, I would go on mission trips in the summer. This past summer we went to North Carolina where I experienced the same process Peter describes, a process that ultimately leads to love. In North Carolina my group built this nice old couple a deck. And the lady that lived there was one of the nicest people I had ever met. She made us watermelon. She gave us water and let us cool down in her house. She also came outside and talked to us even though it was in the mid 90’s.
For the next couple of days, we started to get to know her really well. She made being out in the heat and building a deck worth it. After we finished the project, my group decided to get her a gift for being such a great host and a great person. We got her wind chimes and a sign that everyone in our group signed. She was so happy. She gave all of us hugs and at that moment I was just truly happy to be helping a person who needed it and deserved it. She showed us love and we did the same thing.
Even small things like saying “thank you” or getting someone a gift can have a huge impact on someone’s life. And since that day I have tried to live my life by one of the most important verses in the Bible, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34-35).
