2 Peter 1:2-4
May grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.3 His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power.
4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
As I was beginning the new book of 2 Peter, this is very difficult for me to just pass over and not make some comment on what the Lord is directing my heart to this morning. Everyone wants Grace and Peace. But few actually find it. It is conditional. It is conditional on 2 things:
- I must cultivate a true knowledge of God’s word so that I can respond in this world the right way.
- I must remember that I am a slave. A slave does the will of his master.
THIS IS what a true child of God does and is! A superficial knowledge of Christ is not what grants a person his assurance that he has been saved. It is to the degree that he submits to his master and Lord – Jesus! Jesus provides assurance that hs is in the faith.
We have already been given every necessary component to obey and honor the Lord but we must choose to do so, based on my knowledge of Scripture. God is no going to shove down my spiritual throat true understanding of His word. I must be disciplined to study and by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit – DO – what I have studied.
Last night – I was challenged to remain in a situation that did not h0nor my Lord Jesus. I had to leave the room with a challenge on my lips. I announced that I was leaving and that they should as well. OF course, they didn’t! Those who do the will of God will enter his kingdom – all the others will not – with shock on their faces. They will say – But Lord… did we not do this or that? He will say – depart from me – you who practice lawlessness. Now, these people are dear to me! They represent everything in this world to me! But even my loved ones should not trump my love for the Lord Jesus Christ. I must respond to my master when he bids me – leave!
Oh, how I have justified my sin under the desire to want to be “entertained” or to “Relax.” A slave does not relax or put aside his masters’ wishes – just because he thinks he deserves it or that the master will understand this time. No – God never looks past a child’s sin. He will if we repent and move on with our – loving His will – over ours.
So to conclude:
- I must know the word of God by my discipline to study it.
- I must put aside my will and remember that I am a slave. Slaves have no rights! Slaves respond when their master bids them GO – DO – LEAVE- whatever!
I will be rewarded with His eternal kingdom, and I will have peace and grace when I sin. It will be multiplied to me if I do these things.