THE CHRISTIAN GRACES (2 PETER 1:1-11 KJV)
I was grown before I ever knew what arugula was. My daughter had to teach me what quinoa was and how to pronounce it! There’s hardly a recipe book or women’s magazine now that I can actually understand. Agave, cacao, shitake, bento box, chorizo, asiago…
No, I really haven’t kept up with foods of today. But my consolation is that I raised two kids and a husband on my traditional pot roast, Ragu spaghetti, and Hawaiian chicken, and I don’t remember anyone dying in my kitchen! In fact, they are all flourishing!
What I have focused on and worked hard to keep up with are the spiritual foods that I and my family have needed. God’s word has been the main entrée. Everything else is a side dish. While Jewish mothers are known for their chicken soup and its physical healing power, this Christian mother knows the Bible is the best food for spiritual healing power.
Respect was a constant dish served at my house on every plate. I expected it and I gave it. My children saw me serve their daddy with it, they enjoyed eating heartily of it when I listened to them and acknowledged them, and it was offered to God on a regular basis.
The most common aroma in our house was laughter. Kind words were the norm, though like every other normal family, we had to on occasion swallow some harsh words. Truth was served regularly, and it was expected to be eaten and shared gladly. Love was a continuous meal, sprinkled with discipline and tall drinks of never-ceasing prayer. Obedience was always on the menu. Now let’s look at a specific recipe from God Himself.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?
What standard are you using to measure yourself? Where are you going to find God’s recipe?
YOU MUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
2 Corinthians 13:5 Double underline SELF-EXAMINATION is required.
Luke 8:15 Circle honest and good, then underline heard, keep, and fruit. Proper self-examination results in fruit.
YOU MUST NOT MEASURE YOURSELF BY OTHERS
2 Corinthians 10:12 Double underline dare not. Then circle wise. We women are bad about this. We compare ourselves to each other often. The apostle Paul says dare not! The one talent woman will always feel disappointed and the ten talent woman may become prideful. It’s always easier to look down the pew and judge someone else. “A flower doesn’t think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”
YOU MUST NOT MEASURE YOURSELF BY THE WORLD
I John 2:15 Draw a heart around love each time, then underline not each time. I John 5:19 Underline world and wickedness. We need to turn away from the standards of the world: looks, age, so-called enlightened philosophies, celebrities, politicians, and so on. Why should we care what the world thinks?
YOU MUST NOT MEASURE YOURSELF BY YOUR PAST OR BY THE SINS GOD HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN
Philippians 3:13-14 focus on this part, “forgetting those things which are behind I press toward the mark for the prize.” What are we to forget? Underline those things which are behind. What do I press toward? Box around “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We must not measure ourselves by how far we have fallen but by how far God has raised us up!
SO WHAT DO WE MEASURE OURSELVES BY?
WE MUST MEASURE OURSELVES BY THE RIGHT STANDARD, THE ONLY TRUE STANDARD, GOD’S STANDARD—HIS WORD.
Ephesians 4:13 When all of the Bible was completed, everyone could have unity through the knowledge of Christ. The word perfect means complete or mature. Circle that. We can be complete through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
John 12:48 What a serious verse this is! Underline the verbs: Rejecteth, receiveth, judgeth. We make a choice whether to reject or receive the words of Christ, knowing they will judge us in the last day. His words are our standard.
In His Word Jesus gives us a series of qualities or virtues with which to equip ourselves. These graces should inspire us to bend every effort for with them we will begin and end the abundant life (put a star by John 10:10). The abundant life depends both on God’s grace toward us and our efforts toward Him and our fellowman.
Now let’s look specifically at the recipe that God gives us through the apostle Peter.
2 Peter 1:1-11
:1 -Peter uses the word servant first before apostle. Star both for they are both important positions. Peter is writing to fellow Christians, those who have obeyed the gospel and enjoy the same precious faith. Double underline precious.
:2 -Peter’s salutation wishes God’s favor and His peace upon them, reminding them where that grace and peace comes from. Underline “through the knowledge of God and Jesus.”
:3 –this is such an important verse. God is omnipotent (all-powerful), and He is able, and has given us ALL (circle that) things, that’s everything we need that has to do with life and godliness. You will soon find out what godliness actually means.
How has He given us all things? “Through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue”- we have all we need through the knowledge of Jesus. Put a box around “knowledge of Him.” What does this tell you then about Bible study? If it is only through the knowledge of Jesus that we have what we need spiritually in life, then shouldn’t we be treating Bible study like a soldier on a mission?!
:4 -What does this knowledge give us? Underline great and precious promises. Notice how precious faith has precious promises. My little grandson always prays “Help us be more like Jesus every day.” He is praying to be a partaker of the divine nature. Squiggly line under that phrase. It carries with it the idea of having fellowship with, being a companion of.
(to be continued)