His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and goodness...that you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love...
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive....
But if anyone does not have them he is nearsighted and blind and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins...2 Peter 1:3-9
All the times I have read this passage -- and now this thought jumps out at me: To lead holy lives we must constantly remember that we have been cleansed of all our sin -- I'm doing that this week - reflecting, not on my own failures and weaknesses, but on His perfect atonement -- remembering, not where I am, but where I came from - not wallowing in it - but glorifying in it!
That's how we 'participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world'!
The key to acquiring those godly qualities listed, in increasing measure, is to remember where we came from and the price our Redeemer paid!
So those times I recognize that I am not growing in those areas of holy living, then I must stop and ponder: He has given us everything we need to live
the life He wants us to live. He brought us from where we were for that purpose.
It's all about the cross. That's where I came from and where He found me.
Participating in the 'divine nature' - just how amazing is that?
Near the cross, O Lamb of God
Bring its scenes before me
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
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