Thoughts on 2 Peter 1:3-8 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Do we believe the truth state here? That God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. We often live like God has given us a started kit for life and godliness and we must develop and add to it what is necessary. Yet if we do this we are saying that God's grace is incomplete.
We must take note of what we have been given. Here it is stated as 'through our knowledge of Him.' Often we mistake this for knowledge about God and His ways. However, this is talking about our knowing Him through a growing personal relationship. God has called to us to join Him. The next few verses show us how to develop a deepening relationship with God, one that will not be ineffective or unproductive. This last statement show that our relationship/knowledge of God should always be bring about changes in us producing more and more of God's character in us.
Is this the kind of relationship we have with God or are we more focused on ritual, acquired knowledge and religious habit?
