our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Promises, Promises
He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4
My youngest daughter and I have a game we call “Pinchers.” When she goes up the stairs, I’ll chase her and try to give her a little pinch. The rules are that I can only pinch her (gently, of course!) when she’s on the stairs. Once she’s at the top, she’s safe. Sometimes, though, she’s not in the mood to play. And if I follow her up the stairs, she’ll sternly say, “No pinchers!” I’ll respond, “No pinchers. I promise.”
Now, that promise may seem a little thing. But when I do what I say, my daughter begins to understand something of my character. She experiences my consistency. She knows my word is good, that she can trust me. It’s a little thing, keeping such a promise. But promises—or, keeping them, I should say—are the glue of relationships. They lay a foundation of love and trust.
God’s Word to us reveals His heart toward us.
I think that's what Peter meant when he wrote that God’s promises enable us to “participate in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). When we take God at His Word, trusting what He says about Himself and about us, we encounter His heart toward us. It gives Him an opportunity to reveal His faithfulness as we rest in what He says is true. I'm thankful Scripture brims with His promises, these concrete reminders that “his compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Lord, thank You so much for Your “great and precious promises.” Help us to recognize and to rest in what You say is true, that we might fully experience Your tender goodness.
God’s Word to us reveals His heart toward us.
承诺、应许
因此，祂已将又宝贵、又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们⋯⋯得与上帝的性情有分。-彼得后书1章4节
我常和小女儿玩一个我们叫“捏捏”的游戏。当她上楼梯时，我会从后面追上并试图捏她一下。这游戏的规则是，我只能在她上楼梯时捏她（当然是轻轻的），一旦她上到二楼就安全了。但有时，她不想玩这个游戏。当我跟着她上楼梯时，她会严肃地说：“不要捏捏。”我就会说：“不要捏捏，我答应妳。”
我对女儿的这个承诺似乎是件小事，然而当我信守承诺时，我的女儿就开始了解我。她知道我言行如一、遵守诺言，就能够相信我。要守住这样的承诺并不是什么大事，但是，向人承诺或信守承诺是维系关系的要素，也是爱与信任的基石。
我想，这正是彼得说上帝承诺让我们“得与上帝的性情有分”时，所要表达的意思（彼得后书1章4节）。当我们相信上帝的话语，相信祂所说关于祂自己和我们的一切事，就会明白祂看重我们。当我们认定上帝所说的都是真实可信的，上帝就能向我们显明祂的信实。圣经记载了许多上帝的应许，我为此而感恩，这一切都提醒我们：“祂的怜悯不致断绝。每早晨这都是新的。”（耶利米哀歌3章22-23节）
主，感谢祢那“又宝贵、又极大的应许”。
帮助我们明白并坚信祢的话语都是确实可信的，
好让我们能更深经历祢的温柔美善。