"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
2 Peter 1:2-4
When you think back on the life of Peter, and how he was when Jesus first called him to be a disciple, and then you see Peter in the book of Acts, preaching that first sermon, something noticeable and noteworthy has taken place in his life. It is a remarkable change, one that gives me inspiration and encouragement as I study. Peter was such a man's man. He was so earthy, so full of life and yet so guided by his flesh. But as you read about Peter in the gospels, and then see him Acts, standing up to preach that first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, you know without a doubt, that something magnificent has happened in his heart, to allow this man to transform this way.
When I read these two short epistles that Peter wrote, placed in our Bible near the back, I can see and hear the tenderness of Peter's heart, and the work that the Lord has done in him over the years, and I pray that that same work can be accomplished in me. Through the divine power of Jesus Christ, He has given us, you and me, all things that pertain to life and godliness. It is through the knowledge of Him. It is always about Jesus. It always has been. It always is, and always will be. Through our knowledge of Him, as we increase in it, we become closer to Him, and our life becomes more and more conformed to His. As we get into His Word, and allow His Word to get into us, we are washed pure by the water of the Word, and our lives day-by-day are conformed to His image. He has given us this through the knowledge of Him, so that we can be partakers of the divine nature. Not something to observe from the sidelines, watching others live this, but we too, can be partakers of the divine nature.
Beloved, Jesus our Savior and our Lord has given us many precious promises in His Word that allow us to trust Him in our lives, even for the small stuff, building our faith in Him and in His Word. This day, go out into the world, and allow that divine nature that we partake of to shine through to the dark world around us. Yes there are cynics. Yes there are scoffers. But do not be daunted by them. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord our God is with us! Walk closely to the Lord, depending upon Him to provide for you this day. He is our sufficiency. Peter's life was transformed in an amazing way. Allow the Lord to transform your life today, and allow Him to use you today. Perhaps even to preach a sermon like Peter's on Pentecost! Amen.
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