“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:2-8,10
The high call of the Christian life is to partake of the divine nature, and all things are supplied for us to that end. The beauty and the mystery is that all things are ours, and we make them ours, and they can increase. Our dynamic, limitless Divine supplies fully and in increasing measure everything that brings godliness, excellence, and glory to Him.
So how do we become partakers? The vehicle of participating in our Lord’s nature is composed of His power, His knowledge, and His promises, all of which are very great and readily accessible for the willing follower. He is both conduit and force for removing sinful desires and instilling holy ones. He it is who fuels righteous passion and gives endurance to keep adding to our faith, supplementing virtue with knowledge, building self-control into steadfastness with godliness and affection and increasing love. Each when practiced begets more of the same, each exercised leads to the next.
What drives our spiritual motivation? Personal pick-and-choose preferences for the qualities with which it is more natural to engage? Do we concentrate only on the commands that can be followed with little effort, that do not mess with our comfort or require any changes? Do we nurture emotions and circumstantial feelings, or scriptural admonitions?
Do we long for the divine nature? The choices we make and behaviors we exercise determine our outcomes. They prove what we really want in this life, and to present Jesus in the next. If it is our priority to be more and more like Him, to learn the manners of heaven and to grow in Christ-likeness, we will more readily yield to His pruning and persist in obedience. We will press on to endure, and keep supplementing. (John 15:2,4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13-16; Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 John 3:2-3)
Where are we lacking fruit in our character, and impulses? Which areas need specific attention to bring them under God’s calling? What will we adjust in daily habits, spiritual rhythms, prayer focus, and practical actions, to partake more and more of our Savior’s nature?
Lord, help me take hold of Your grace the bids me forward in the Christian life, and to keep on in spiritual growth unto a divine nature with excellence that befits Yours, and glory You deserve.
As the rain and snow 