His [God’s] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence…
2 Peter 1:1-14
Peter dictates his second letter to Silvanus, his secretary/scribe, to be sent to the Jewish Christians dispersed from Jerusalem throughout the Roman Empire. After his brief introduction, Peter writes that Christians have been granted “all things that pertain to life and godliness…” Peter encourages the Christians to “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” In our sanctification, Christians are to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and, love. Love here is the Greek word “Agape” which is the active love that one shows outwardly toward his/her neighbor. Peter, then, writes that practicing these qualities will “keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” By so doing these things, we can confirm our “calling and election” and never fall in our walk in the Christian life. Then, Peter says that he will be a constant reminder to them for these things so that they remain faithful in their Christian life. Christian, do you have someone in your life to remind you of the walk you must continue to make? Though all Christians struggle in this life, it is good to have a fellow Christian to lean upon when times are rough and you may need encouragement or rebuking. Ask God to bring to you someone who can be that kind of friend to you.
Source: S C Ball October 1, 2023
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