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2 Peter 1:3-4

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, by which has been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We often find ourselves in prayer, asking God to ‘give us strength’, to ‘give us peace’, or to ‘give us victory’ in life. I know I have asked this in times of prosperity, weathering a storm, or battling sin. 2 Peter 1, however, tells us we have been given, “all things that pertain to life and godliness”. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am … the life” Christ is life. Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist”.

Jesus Christ is all things that pertain to life and godliness because He is life and godliness. And we have been given Jesus Christ, wholly, completely. There is nothing more for heaven now to give. We could not have anymore, and we could get by on no less. 

Colossians 2:10 says, “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” We cannot become more than what we are in Christ. This is not to say that we cannot grow more in the completeness of our sanctification, rather, the way we grow in the completeness of our sanctification is in abiding with the Christ Himself. 

We are no longer working for Freedom; we are working from freedom. We do not grow more complete; we simply grow in “the knowledge” of our completeness. We do not need to receive anything more from heaven, rather, know more of what we already have been given!

What does it practically mean to know more “of Him who called us?” The Greek word for “knowledge” in 2 Peter 1:3 is an experiential knowledge. HELPS Word Studies says, "knowledge gained through first-hand relationship", or “contact-knowledge”. We gain ‘heart knowledge’ of Jesus by daily experiencing His love and grace towards us, by relationship with Him. As we abide with, live with, dwell with Jesus Christ, we conform into the image of Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

So then, what should we pray when we feel we are lacking in things pertaining to life and godliness? We say, ‘Thank you Christ Jesus that You are my strength, You are my peace, and You are my victory. May I now “[partake] of the divine nature”, through the first-hand, contact, relational knowledge of You that you offer me. Amen’.

PRAYER & PRAISE

Psalms 31:22

I was afraid and thought that he had driven me out of his presence. But he heard my cry, when I called to him for help.

  • Thank You, Lord, that You hear our cry when we call out to You
  • Thank You, Lord, for the glimpses we get in the book of Revelation of Your greatness…there is none like You
  • Thank You for the recent rains
  • Please stir our hearts in praise and thankfulness
  • We bring before You those we know of that are struggling, encourage their hearts