The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Epic"
The Apostle Peter communicates one of the most resoundingly epic declarations of God's presence and power revealed to believers through the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath 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, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature" (II Peter 1:2-4).
First, Peter asks for a multiplied experience of grace and peace. He desired his brethren to know God's freely given favor in the Lord Jesus according to an abundantly increased measure, along with the peace that always companies grace. The Apostle Paul echoes…
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).
We do well to pray for each other regarding such growth in the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus. Indeed, grace rightly known and accessed results in a life rightly lived and displayed to others. "Let us have grace, that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28). Thereby, peace fills our hearts and floods our sphere of influence as through us, the Prince of peace reveals His presence and working in all things. Paul opens all his epistles with such a salutation. We do well to join our brother in praying for one another in terms an epically multiplied experience of a Christ-graced heart and its fruit of peace.
Peter's "epic declaration" furthermore proclaims that God has given to us "all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." In our relationship with God - "life" - and the fruits thereof - "godliness" - the Apostle affirms that believers already possess everything required to lead us in faith and faithfulness. The only need we have is to know the One who is Himself our abundance of strength and supply in all things. In every aspect of life where we sense need, God Himself serves as our supply in all things. We access such grace by the faith that affirms with the Psalmist, "Thou art my portion, o Lord" (Psalm 119:57). And an epically vast portion it is! "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
Finally, we partake of our Lord's very nature by "exceeding great and precious promises." God comes with His bestowals of grace and peace - "all your need… by Christ Jesus." Our Heavenly Father does not merely dispense provision from afar, as it were. He rather provides in a personal proximity nearer than our next breath. We don't see this, and the experience thereof involves a matter of faith. However, our Lord's epic grace, along with the peace that ensues, comes to us not only by His hand, but also with His heart. Our calling involves embracing the promises that serve as wide open doors into the provision our Father lavishly bestows according to His love, understanding, wisdom, and righteousness. "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (II Corinthians 1:20).
Epic. Eternally, infinitely, gloriously, abundantly epic is the salvation of the Lord Jesus, primarily because He is Himself the very essence of our redemption. "I am thy salvation" (Psalm 35:3). Peter and Paul well knew this, and called us all to overcome any appearance to the contrary by believing the promises that are themselves "exceeding great and precious." Whatever our condition, circumstance, or situation, "all things that pertain to life and godliness" teem within our spirits through the Spirit of Christ. Paul closes our consideration with perhaps the greatest and most epic Scriptural declaration of such grace and truth…
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.
(Psalm 5:7)
6712
No comments:
Post a Comment