1 Peter 1:3-4

OBSERVATION/EXPLANATION

This was written 3 years ago when I started that study of 2 Peter.  It’s very personal, and I suspect that you’ll be able to see my emotions in the words.  Because of that, I almost didn’t post it; but then I realized that it is much more effective at explaining the meaning of verses 3 and 4 than my usual method.  It also reveals God’s perfect timing and omnipotence in the fact that my study led me to these verses very obviously on the very day I needed them.  God is so good!!

COMMENTS

This world is evil.  Things happen that shouldn’t happen.  Sometimes, the weight of the evil around me weighs on my heart, a burden that is too heavy to bear.  I always know it’s there; but sometimes, it hits in an unexpected manner and reminds me once again:  This world is evil.

NOTES

Then, God speaks to me—again, the Always-Faithful One—and He reminds me that He has provided for me, even in this circumstance:

“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.”  (2 Peter 1:3-4)

This is such a rich passage—complicated yet simple.  God, in His power, glory, and goodness, provided a way for me to ESCAPE the corruption in the world. 

Escape.  The word implies captivity.  Evil desires imprison us.  We suffer as a result of the evil desires of others.  We cause suffering to others as a result of our own evil desires.  The victim becomes the perpetrator.  It’s a seemingly never-ending cycle. Frustrating.  Discouraging.  Painful.

Yet, God doesn’t leave me in that helpless and hopeless state.  Rather than dwelling on the sentiments expressed in the previous paragraph, I go back to the one before that.  GOD, IN HIS POWER, GLORY, AND GOODNESS, PROVIDED A WAY FOR ME TO ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD!  What is His escape plan?  “Knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”  As I know Him more and more, as I respond to His call, and as I receive and witness the fulfillment of His promises, I "participate in [His] divine nature and escape the corruption in the world”.  My own evil desires are replaced with the desire to be like Him, and the pain I experience as a result of the evil desires of others is covered with His healing oil. 

The burden eases, and I am at peace.

Hope In An Evil World

COMMENTS

This world is evil.  Things happen that shouldn’t happen.  Wickedness, dysfunction, and unkindness seem to be rampant.  It weighs on my heart, a burden that is too heavy to bear.  I know—evil is always here; but sometimes, it hits in an unexpected manner or from many different directions and reminds me once again:  This world is evil.

NOTES

Then, God speaks to me—again, the Always-Faithful One—and He reminds me that He has provided for me, even in this circumstance:

“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.”  (2 Peter 1:3-4)

This is such a rich passage—complicated yet simple.  God, in His power, glory, and goodness, provided a way for me to ESCAPE the corruption in the world. 

Escape.  The word implies captivity.  Evil desires imprison us.  Sometimes, we’re the one doing the hurting.  Sometimes, we’re the one who’s hurt—either directly or because someone we care about has been hurt.  It’s an easy thing for us to focus on the hurt we feel.  Unfortunately, it’s just as easy for us to excuse the hurt we cause.  Either way, the consequences of those evil desires play havoc with our lives and with our world.

Yet, God doesn’t leave us in that helpless and hopeless state.  Rather than dwelling on the sentiments expressed in the previous paragraph, I go back to the one before that.  GOD, IN HIS POWER, GLORY, AND GOODNESS, PROVIDED A WAY FOR ME TO ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD!  As I know Him more and more, as I respond to His call, and as I receive and witness the fulfillment of His promises, I "participate in [His} divine nature and escape the corruption in the world”.  My own evil desires are replaced with the desire to be like Him, and the pain I experience as a result of the evil desires of others is covered with His healing oil. 

I wish I could tell you that I only have to do that once, but that would be a lie.  Just as a physical injury takes time to heal, these spiritual and emotional injuries usually take time.  Just as I repeatedly bandage a physical injury until it heals, I must repeatedly apply the 2 Peter 1:3-4 bandage to these wounds. 

We can hold on to the hope of His eternal kingdom, a kingdom of love and peace.  But while we’re still on this earth, He doesn’t leave us in despair.  As Daniel in the lion’s den, we can have hope and peace, even as Satan roars around us.  All this happens as we look past the circumstances and focus on HIM.

When I do that, the burden eases; and I am at peace.

Do You Trust Me?

COMMENTS

I’ve been away from my computer for a while.  The last five days have been beautiful and distressing.  My son is getting married on Saturday to a wonderful girl that we love.  Beautiful.  But my grandson is seriously ill and hospitalized, suffering from complications of a recent surgery.  Distressing.  I’ve never had a situation where I had to deal with such contradictory emotions all at the same time.

NOTES

As I rejoice in my son’s wedding that’s just three days away, I feel so happy.  I want the week to hold nothing but joy for this incredible couple.  At the same time, my heart breaks for the wonderful boy that’s laying in that hospital bed in such pain.  This week has taught me that our God is truly amazing and that we, His creation, are amazing as well.  I never would have thought that such joy and sadness could coexist.  But they can.

As I lay in bed last night, I prayed for both.  It was easy to pray for my son, his fiancé, and the wedding.  That’s a happy occasion with a bright outlook for the future.  My struggle came as I prayed for my grandson.  What the future holds there is not clear at this point, and we have lots of questions and concerns.

As I prayed and prayed, I slowly realized that my struggle was a battle of wills—my will versus the Father’s will.  I have a predetermined outcome that is the only one acceptable to me:  complete healing for my grandson in a very short time frame.  I was stressed and anxious.  The Spirit’s voice came to me, quietly at first then louder.  He asked, “Do you trust Me enough to give this situation to Me?  Will you put him into My hands, not knowing what My will is for your grandson?”  To be honest, I didn’t want to do it.  I lay there knowing that in this circumstance I truly want my own way.  Typically, I want my own way; but this is different.  This is more than wanting some new toy or even an improved relationship with someone.  This is my grandson, a beautiful, lovable, gifted, God-fearing young man.  And I WANT MY WAY!

My Lord is patient and loving, kind and persistent.  He held me and gently reminded me that He loves CJ even more than I do, more than even his parents do.  He revealed that my insistence on my own way is actually rebellion against Him.  It’s sin.  How can longing for healing for one I love be sin?  It’s sin because I’m putting that healing above my desire for God’s will.

As I continued communing with my God, I finally surrendered to Him.  He knows my heart’s desire for CJ; and He’s pleased when I choose (by an act of my will) to give CJ to Him, trusting that He alone knows what’s best.  That’s when the anxiety left; and for the first time in days, I found peace.

Is that a one-time battle?  No, I have to make the choice to surrender several times every day.  But at least I now know what the real battle is.  Knowing that, I can stand against Satan and look to my Heavenly Father for the strength to do what He asks.  This is the prayer He has given me for those moments of struggle:

“Heavenly Father, give the doctors wisdom and discernment to know how to treat CJ, but help me not to rest in the wisdom of man.  Father, be with CJ and heal him completely and quickly; but help me not to give control to my flesh and its desires.  Lord, help me to trust you, the Good, Gracious, and Loving Creator, who loves each of us and knows what’s best for CJ, for his mom and dad, for me, and for all who love him.  This can only be accomplished by Your strength.  To You be all glory and honor and praise!  Amen.”