March 30, 2025

Peter & Privilege & Peace (1-2)

Power & Promises & Participation (3-4)

Progress & Productive & Provided (5-11)

Progress & Productive & Provided (5-11)

We progress in spiritual produce as we practice what has been provided for us

2 Peter 1:1-11

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We progress in spiritual produce as we practice what has been provided for us.

Progress: 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Hebrews 12:1b-2a …and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…

Productive: 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. …and all peoples on earth will bet blessed through you.”

Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991), ”What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”

Provided: 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12-12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Dane Ortlund, How Does God Change Us?

“It may feel impossible to you to do that. That’s good. It IS impossible. You’ll never get there until you first try living for Christ out of your own strength and discover just how fearful and cautious and spiritually impotent you are on your own steam. It’s then, as you give up on yourself and throw your hands up in the air, that your heart is most fertile for the supernaturalizing power of the Holy Spirit.”

Progress & Productive & Provided ~ Reflect & Remember

Nancy Guthrie, Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids

“Give me the grace to lead the way in having an ambition to serve others out of love for you.”

David Mathis, Habits of Grace, “We have God’s Body”

Dane Ortlund, How Does God Change Us?

“THE FINAL CONCLUSION, the deepest secret, to growing in Christ is this: look to Him. Set your gaze upon Him. Abide in Him, hour by hour. Draw strength from His love…”

Corrie Ten Boom, “In the midst of your struggle, when you feel like you are in the deepest valley and the storm is raging, remember that God’s love is deeper still. There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Recognize & Repent - Hear God’s Voice

Receive & Rest - Have God’s Ear