His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by (alternate translation: “to”) his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)
I was thinking about that alternate translation this morning. We are called to God’s glory and goodness.
Put another way, we are called to be like our Father. To take on his character in our lives. To shine his light to those around us.
And so Peter says,
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
And yet, while there is effort required on our part, God doesn’t just leave us our own and say, “Just do it.”
Rather, Peter tells us,
By these (his glory and goodness), he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 2 Peter 1:)
What promises?
Probably his greatest promises are that his Spirit is actually living in us, leading us and empowering us, interceding for us. (John 16:13-15, Romans 8:11-14, 26-27).
But we also have his promise that no matter how much we may struggle, our efforts will not ultimately be in vain. Because as John tells us,
We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
That’s what keeps me going whenever I see all the ways I fall short.
I don’t have to do this on my own.
My efforts will not be in vain. I will be like Jesus someday.
And until that day, I stand in grace. (Romans 5:1-2)
Father, thank you for making me your child. Thank you for your great and precious promises to me. I stand on those promises. Help me to become more like you each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 