2023/08/31 - 2 Peter 1: Everything Needed
Jerry Starling
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Reading: 2 Peter 1 – Everything Needed
Verse for Today
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)
Daily Devo
Precious Faith
The epistle is addressed to “those who have received a faith as precious as ours.” This precious faith is based in the righteousness of God and is His gift. Apart from faith in Him, we are nothing.
Precious Promises
God also gives us “great and precious promises so through them we may escape from the corruption in the world because of lust and may become participants of the divine nature.” His divine power has given us all we need for life and goodness.
Participation in the divine nature is indeed a divine gift! Yet, we were created in the image of God, but now broken by sin. A precious faith is the beginning of our restoration. But more is needed. Hence, the virtues must be added.
Precious Virtues
Here we must make every effort to support our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and agape love. If these are in you in increasing measures, they make you effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Those who lack these things are short-sighted, blind, and forgetful of forgiveness of past sins.
Having these things, we will never stumble. “In this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.”
A Precious Death
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful ones.” (Ps. 116:15) Peter know he is nearing the time of his death. Accordingly, he intends to keep reminding you of these things, though you know them. “I think it right, while I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know my death will come soon, as our Lord has made clear to me. I will make every effort so after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
We thank God that Peter penned these words so that near two millennia later we have these precious words of encouragement and wisdom.
Eyewitness of Christ’s Glory
Peter said he did not follow cleverly devised myths when he made known the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice said, ‘This is My Son, My Beloved with whom I am well-pleased.” We heard this when we were on the holy mountain.
“So, we have the prophetic message fully confirmed.” Be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in the dark. “Understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation; no prophecy came by human will, but those moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
These words from Peter have power today, just as they did when he wrote them. The question is, will we listen to them now, or do we think we are beyond the knowledge of the simple fisherman to whom Jesus said, “I will make you a fisher of men”?
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Pray for Yourself
Father, I pray that I may have a precious faith, precious promises, precious virtues, and a precious death. In His name, I pray, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me)
Father, I offer this prayer for all who read these words. I pray that each of us will carefully look at the precious things in this chapter and see in them the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! This is my prayer, in His precious, holy name, AMEN!
Updates for Central
SonQuest begins Friday. If you are going, get ready for three days of fun mixed with some great Bible teaching. Come back fired up for Jesus!
The morning Ladies’ Class resumes at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 6. All ladies are invited to participate.
Kid’s Club is on Saturday, September 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Kendra Crist is in charge.
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our contribution that day will go to EEM for Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed 1,960,000+ Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They hope for more this year.
PRAYER NEEDS
Susan Allen came home yesterday following her procedure. Keep her in your prayers.
Cindi Crist will have a surgical procedure on September 1 and is anxious about it. Keep her in your prayers.
Jennifer San Juan asked for more prayer for her daughter, Dawn. She is not doing very well, and Jennifer is deeply concerned.
Carl Bolli asks for prayers, as he fell a couple of weeks ago. Joy Bland, who lives four doors from Carl, has been helping him. He also asks for prayers for her.
Lee Cain asked for prayers for Mike & Kathryn Hartman. She had a head-on collision when a car came across the median directly into her. She is out of the hospital, but still has more surgery to face. Pray for both, as he owns his own business, and this is taking much time away from it.
Nancy Gray has been diagnosed as having Covid. Please pray for her as she recovers.
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home and ready to enter rehab. Keep her in your prayers.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. Ruth said he is in rehab. Their daughter is also still recuperating from a broken ankle. She needs prayers as does the whole family.
Kristi Holder is planning to be at SonQuest. Jerry says she improves daily and will be taking it easy at SonQuest. Keep her in your prayers.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks, with an MRI (hopefully) coming soon. She recently told me she really needs our prayers to help her through.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.