Theme: Know God from whom all blessings flow.
As Pastor Dan spoke so well this past Sunday on the second epistle of Peter, I could not help but consider the relationship between our Faith, our growth in Christ, and our willingness to move and act within that Faith. In James, we read, "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:15-17 NIV).
The desire and passion for the physical needs of our community and the placing of these words by James into action are hallmarks of our church. Our actions speak loudly.
However, what about the small actions that must occur within each of us to completely grasp the message Pastor Dan spoke about and the words of the Apostle Peter? To discover these, let us look closer at Peter's own words.
Earlier in his second epistle, Peter wrote in verse two, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:2 NIV) It is evident here that Peter tells us that abundant Grace and Peace come through the knowledge of Him who gives them. As in any relationship, getting to know someone takes effort and diligence. God has given us the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, to reveal Himself in full Glory, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He provides, and we must act by reading, studying, and applying. That is Faith in action, which compounds our Faith.
Later, in verse 3, Peter again says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him…" Again, the gifts of God come to us in proportion to our knowledge of Him. How can we understand His gifts without knowing the giver and why He is giving?
In verse 4, Peter writes, "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:4 NIV) To participate indicates an active partnership in the work of Christ through the knowledge of Him and His Power given us by the Holy Spirit. Praise God!
And finally, in verse 5, Peter begins his instruction on what to add by saying, "Make every effort."
One of life's great joys in Christ is discovering this mystery of Grace and Mercy and how it relates to our actions. Nature is replete with how our God designed this Cosmos we inhabit. A mamma bird feeds her new babies and protects them while showing them her love before forcing them to leave the nest and test what they have learned. The same is true for every creature God has created, including humans.
As Pastor Dan spoke, the message I believe I heard was to learn of God, know Him, and then add the things you learn of Him more significantly as you grow in knowledge. Then, like the bird who knows when it is ready to leave the nest, we will know when we are prepared to step out of our nest and fly on the winds of His Power and Love. There is no greater joy for one in Jesus than to walk in Faith and watch God work through that Faith.
Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Prayer:
Lord, I am in awe of how incredible it is to live in you, to be lost in you, and to be clothed in your Spirit. No more needing to prove anything to myself nor anyone else. No more living in fear of being discovered. Draw me nearer to you oh Lord and give me the sole desire to know you more intimately, to see your face and feel your love. Please give me the strength to surrender all to you and to want only more of you on and in me. And Lord, give me the strength and knowledge of when to step out and let me always know that you are the light of my path. Amen.
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