Tuesday, August 19, 2014

"Provision, Knowledge, Promise"


     "His divine power that given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:3-4).

    Provision, knowledge, and promises - our Heavenly Father provides, then reveals Himself as the provider and the provision, and finally declares His faithfulness in applying His supply to all who trust Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Before commanding Adam and Eve to fulfill their earthly responsibilities, the Lord assured them of the provision that made possible the implementation of His mandates: "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat" (Genesis 1:29).  In the same manner, every command of Scripture directed to believers follows the "exceeding great and precious promises" that call us to trust not in our own abilities, but to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).  

    The calling to access God's enabling and strength presupposes our own recognition and sense of weakness.  No honest human heart can stand before the unscalable mountain of God's standard of faithfulness and believe itself capable of independently making the ascent.  "Without Me, ye can do nothing" declared the Lord Jesus (John 15:5).  Our Heavenly Father must provide strength for the journey if we are to have expectation of traversing the path of righteousness.  He also must reveal Himself to us as the hope of our hearts and of our hands.  "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30).  Upon this basis of supply and illumination, He then promises to lead and enable us to fulfill His will.  "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

    Our calling involves exposing ourselves to the light that reveals God's provision and promises in order that we may believe.  "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).  We cannot believe promises of which we are not aware, nor can access provision apart from the faith that receives the benefits of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).  Thus, a Bible consistently opened, read, pondered, and remembered makes possible the confidence whereby we avail ourselves of "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).  Provision for every contingency of "life and godliness" has been made.  The One who supplied is perfectly faithful.  His promises are true.  These truths provide the basis by which "exceeding great and precious promises" enable the "glory and virtue" we must seek and expect through "the knowledge of Him."

"We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end, that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
(Hebrews 6:11-12)

Weekly Memory Verse
    "Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
(I John 3:2)

No comments: