II Peter 2 After Peter's exhortation to us to be diligent in our faith and to strive to increase in those qualities that our Lord shares with us from His own divine nature,  he gives a stark warning about those who would lead us away.

A false teacher can be known by these qualities:

He is secretive.
He "introduces destructive heresies".
He maligns the truth.
He is greedy.
He exploits others.
He indulges the flesh.
He despises authority.
He is daring and self-willed.
He is adulterous..
He loves money more than righteousness.
He is arrogant.
He is sensual.
And he wants to make us all like himself...

Unfortunately, they may have once been believers, but have turned their backs on the Lord.
Their destruction is coming, Peter tells us, for God is the Judge.
He judged the rebellious angels, not sparing them, but casting them into hell. ( v4)
He judged the "ancient world", sparing only Noah and his family. (v5)
He judged Sodom and Gomorrah, rescuing only Lot.(v7-8)
By these examples we can know that judgement of the wicked and rebellious, the false teachers and those who have left the Shepherd's fold - will face certain judgement.

In light of this, how much more vital is it that we are diligent in our faith.. that we abide in Him and partake of His divine nature?  We must strive to keep growing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love! To stay on the narrow way, the way of Truth, the way of the cross.. the way of Jesus.  How thankful we can be for verse 9... " ... the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation..." 

Father in Heaven,  we praise Your Name,  Holy One of Israel, Redeemer, Savior, Mighty God!  Keep us in Your will and in Your Kingdom forever.  Open our eyes to see You more clearly and to discern fully those who desire to lead us astray.  Keep us strong in Your strength that we may stand firm and resist evil.  Thank You for the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  Thank You for Your grace towards us through Jesus Christ our Master. In His Name we pray. amen.

2 Peter 1

This letter is addressed to those who have "a faith of the same kind as ours"... a faith that comes by "the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

3 times Peter uses the word "knowledge" ( epignosis)  here:
v2 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
v3 ".. through the true knowledge of Him who called us... "
v8 "... in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"

It is in the context or "true knowledge",  of full acknowledgement and recognition of the supremacy of Jesus Christ as Lord and Master as testified by God Himself when He said " This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased"..  as reported by the eyewitness.. Peter, himself, that we believe and live.

Peter urges us to be "diligent" - to personally give much attention and care - to His calling and choosing of us to this life of faith.  Jesus has given us all we need to live this life:
It comes by His "divine power", not by our own strength or determination .
It is "everything" we need for "life and godliness".
It leads us to partake - to share, fellowship, partner - in "the divine nature". 

All of theses things are secured by His promises.. "His precious and magnificent promises", but we have to be diligent... we need to pay attention to how we live.
We need to keep walking in faith.  It is not a one time commitment, but a daily focus.  Am I exercising faith in Jesus right this moment?  Am I trusting Him for salvation, for life, and for everything I need to live according to His will? Do I trust His promises for myself, for my family... right now, this very moment?
We need to "supply moral excellence".  Am I diligent to be virtuous and honorable? To partner in the divine nature I must not bring any impure thoughts or words or actions. Have I repented of all uncleanness and impurity in my life?  I must be diligent to keep my heart free from evil. The Greek word here also has the idea of valor and excellence. We depend on Christ's divine power to renovate our character to be like His own.
We need to add knowledge.  This is the greek word "gnosis", the act of knowing. Understanding and being aware of truth.  We need to think clearly and to live according to truth as opposed to ignorance or deception or worldly philosophies.  Am I diligent to know God's Word so well that I can recognize a phony teaching?  It is important the I do this!  For my own sake and for the sake of those I love.
We need to add self-control.   Am I diligent to exercise self-restraint?  Do I allow my appetite.. physically, emotionally, or spiritually.. to get out of hand?  Jesus has given us this gift of self-control and I need to practice it daily.
We need to add perseverance.  The greek word is hupomone - cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy.. patient continuance.  Am I persevering?  Do I give up to easily?  Am I hopeful and cheerful in my waiting for His promises to be fulfilled?
We need to add godliness.  He has called us to be holy as He is holy.  Set apart. God focused.  Him first.. His will, His way, and His Righteousness.  Is my life about Him, or about me and mine?  Oh, Lord help me to seek You first and Your kingdom and Your righteousness!
We need to add brotherly kindness. By His divine power at work in me, I am able to show this brotherly love and affection to others... but it is an area that I need to be diligent in.  I have a tendency to be more introverted and a bit distant sometimes.  Lord, I need Your divine power to grow in this area too.
And finally, we need to add love.  Agape love.  Benevolent, giving, generous, grace-filled love. The kind of love we must first receive from our Heavenly Father.  Lord, add more love to my character.

Peter tells us that when we are diligent to add theses traits to our lives in faith.. we will not be "unfruitful" or "useless".  But if we don't work on these, we are "blind or short-sighted", and we may have even forgotten that Jesus saved us from our sins.

Father, we come in the name of Jesus, our Master, seeking Your divine Presence once again.  Lead us in Your ways, that we may abide in You, partake of Your nature, and be good and faithful servants.  Increase these qualities in our lives Lord.  Work on our faith, our virtue, our knowledge of the Truth, our self-control, our perseverance, our godliness, our kindness, and our love.. helping us to grow in the likeness of Jesus our Lord.  Thank You for the reminder from Your Word, that You have given us everything we need, in Jesus, to be all that You want us to be.  May Your will be done to Your glory and honor. Amen.

Psalm 91 This psalm is recited by many people as they go through difficult times.  It reminds us of the greatness of our God and the security we have in Him.

If we "dwell" in His shelter.. if we live in the security of His Presence, we  "will abide in the shadow of the Almighty".   We choose to live either acknowledging God as the Most High.. the One Who is Present everywhere and always.. and find comfort in His nearness, or we don't. We must make that choice.

Lord, Almighty God, You are my refuge, my fortress, "My God, in whom I trust".   This is a statement of faith.  When we make this our foundation and stand firm we will know that:

He delivers us from snares and pestilence( v3)
He covers us with Himself.. ( v4)
He faithfully shields us from the enemy (v4)
He takes away all fear (v5 -6)
He will punish the wicked all around us , protecting us all the while. ( v7-8)
He sends His angels to guard us and help us ( 10-12)

God commits Himself to helping those who love Him.
He promises to deliver us.
He promises to answer us when we call upon Him.
He promises to be with us in the troubles.
He promises to rescue us and to honor us.
He promises life and satisfaction.
He promises that we will see His salvation. ( v14-16)

Father, great is Your faithfulness to us who choose to love You and to dwell in Your Presence.  You are my God and I will trust You.  Lord, I come before You as one who has set apart Christ as Lord in my heart.  He is my Master and I am His servant.  What will You have me to do today, Lord?  I hear the Shepherd's voice in this Word today... trust in Me, find refuge in Me, stay in My shadow.  Help me to do this mindfully, diligently, and completely today.  For I pray this in the Name of Christ the Lord, amen.

Psalm 90  This extraordinary prayer is credited to Moses, a man who was as close to God as humanly possible.  His prayer gives us insight into his understanding and knowledge of God and into the life of men.

v 1 -2- The Lord is "the dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. "

God, the Creator, who "birthed" the mountains and the earth itself,  is our home.  He is the eternal God.  He has always been and will always be the Almighty Lord.  We only have life because He gives it.  We only have the universe because He made it. There is nowhere where He is not .. because all of His creation is in Him.  It ... the world, the earth, the universe is not our habitation.. He is.

This is a profound thought in light of our culture's current philosophies.  It is a truth that hits me anew right now. How often do we think of God as being out there somewhere, looking down at our world? But, Moses understood and we need to understand more clearly the Presence of God.  We want His manifest Presence and pray for open eyes... and we need to.. but, all along He has been and always will be our home.  I need to meditate on this some more.  Lord, give me understanding, please.

v3-12  Moses talks about the life of men.
We are dust... and we go back to dust.
Our births and our deaths are ordered by God's word.
Time is not a concern of God's for it has meaning only for man.
Generations come and go in His sight .. like morning when the grass sprouts and evening when it fades away.
God's focus is not on the length of our lives, but on the quality of it - do we finish our years in unconfessed sin and unrepentant hearts... and be consumed by His anger?  Or do we realize that this life is limited and with a heart of wisdom, fear His wrath and repent?

v13-17 We seek the Lord and He will let us find Him .  He is the One Who shows compassion on us with His great mercy.  He is the One who gives us joy and satisfies our souls.  He is the One who shows favor to us and gives us purpose by confirming the "work of our hands".
We need to see His works and His majesty.
We need to understand Him more, to know Him more, like Moses did.

Father in heaven, Great and Mighty are You!  Lord, our God, we live in You.  You are our HOME.  Father, it is in awe of You that we come and worship.. that we bow before You and praise You.  Your perfect plan for the whole universe is in Your everlasting arms.  We do not need to fear the events or actions of this sin sick world.  But, in holy fear of the One who sweeps away evil in Your wrath, we come to You in repentance and find forgiveness through Jesus, the Lamb of God.  Thank You for the works of Your Hands and the glory of Your grace. Amen!

Psalm 89  The first part of this psalm is full of praise and exaltation:
" I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever !'
God is faithful.
God is kind.
God is awesome.
God is mighty.
God is righteous.

The psalmist recalls the Lord's covenant with David.  He praises the works of His hand.  He proclaims the excellencies of the Lord.  He remembers God's promise to David, a throne established forever.

But, starting at verse 38, the psalmist gives a glimpse of his struggle...  he is holding on to his faith, but he isn't seeing the Lord at work in his day.
He feels cast off and rejected.
He feels that God has broken the covenant.
Israel has become a reproach.
The splendor of David's kingdom is gone.
Where has the Lord gone?

There was no way that Ethan, the psalmist, could see the bigger picture that we have the privilege of seeing.. that the throne of David would be forever the throne of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son.
It is His horn that is exalted.
It is Jesus who cries out to the Father.
It is Jesus who is the highest King.
It is Jesus who was rejected.
It is Jesus who bore all our reproach.
It is Jesus who will fulfill every promise.


The psalmist was diligent to keep on looking to the Lord, even when he felt such despondency.
"Blessed be the Lord forever!" 

May we do the same!

Father, You are mighty and You are faithful.  We do not see the big picture like You do.  We do not know what the future holds for ourselves, our families, or our country.  But, we do know that You have it all in Your hands.  We are so thankful for the living hope we have in Christ Jesus!  He is our eternal King and all of Your promises will be fulfilled in Him  by Your faithfulness.  You are righteous and we put our trust in You alone.  Blessed are You forever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 5  Peter has given us some specific instructions on how we are to live according to God's purposes as we set apart Christ as Master in our hearts:
Be holy
Proclaim God's excellencies
Do what is right
Patiently endure suffering
Bring harmony
Be sympathetic
Be brotherly ( or sisterly)
Be kindhearted
Be humble
Bless and don't curse
Defend our hope with gentleness and respect
Keep our consciences clear
Use sound judgement
Be spiritually sober
Live in the spirit according to God's will
Pray

In this final chapter he addresses those in leadership, the shepherds, to be the example for the flock. Willingly and eagerly living according to God's will.

Then, Peter addresses everyone to "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. " 
"Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you. " ( 5:6-7)

Peter also warns us once again to resist satan, "firm in your faith".  For, "after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. " (v10)

Father in heaven, You are the God of all grace, and we praise You.  Thank You for calling us, for choosing us, and for the living hope that You have given to us.  Eternal glory... our inheritance in Christ Jesus... lays before us.  You have redeemed us, forgiven us, brought us into the covenant of grace through the blood of Jesus who is our Lord and Master. Perfect us in holiness, Lord, as we submit to Your will and purposes for each of us. Thank You for this Word, this true grace of God. Be glorified Lord Jesus, as we Your servants live in obedience and humility before You. We pray for Your will to be done in us as You have spoken.  amen.

I Peter 4  Peter continues to charge his listeners to follow the example of our Savior and to know His purpose.. and thus our own, the reason we have been chosen..
 Already in this letter he has told us that:

We are chosen "that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood" ( 1:2)
His great mercy " caused us to be born again to a living hope.. " (1:3)
As obedient children... we are called to be like the Holy One " who called you" - to be holy in "all your behavior". (1:15)
We are a "chosen race, a royal priesthood... that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (2:9)
"... such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men." (2:15)
"For, you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." (2:21)
".... that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;" (2:24)
".. for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." (3:9)

And he has given us the key to finding these purposes for ourselves, " but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts..." ( 3:15a) 

Now Peter continues to instruct us how to live according to Christ's purposes.  And the next one is a doozy... " Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased to sin.... so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh... for the will of God." ( 4:1-2)

To surrender our flesh... to die to self and to selfish desires is paramount to this calling that we have through Christ as we set Him apart as Master of our hearts.

It is why the gospel has been preached... "even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God." ( 4:6)

And one more purpose , "the purpose of prayer" ( 4:7) - Because the end of this life is near, we are called to be of "sound judgement and sober spirit" and to pray.
We pray :
For fervent love for each other.
For a heart of hospitality towards those in need.
That we will be good stewards of God's grace
That we are serving God with "the strength He supplies"
That we  will glorify God in all things.

These are the fruit of a life fully surrendered to God's purposes for us. We share in Christ's sufferings, we keep rejoicing in trials, and we await the day when we will exalt in the "revelation of His glory "

Thank You Father  for Your grace towards us.  So thankful that You are patient with us and tenderhearted towards us.  May Your will be done in us. Let Your word fill our thinking and move our bodies in Your footsteps Jesus!  You are Lord, my Master.. and I am Your slave.  Amen.