“God gave us his very great and precious promises so that through them we may share in his divine nature—(become like Jesus) and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2Pet.1:4)
Heavenly Father, this is a heart-centering, theology-correcting, Jesus-focusing verse. Three things stand out to me.
First: Thank you for giving us your “great and precious promises.” Your promises represent things you planned in eternity, keep without exception, and implement with Swiss-timing. Indeed, your promises aren’t blank checks we fill in and cash for ourselves. They are the perfection of your plan executed in the fullness of time by the riches of your grace all for your glory. In this glorious sense, your promises claim us; we don’t claim them. Hallelujah, this affirmation is SO freeing.
Second: Thank you for clarifying why you gave us so many promises in the Bible. By your promises you transform us; we don’t program you. To “share in your divine nature” isn’t to become little creators and sovereigns over people and situations. It’s to become like Jesus. We are made in Jesus’ image and one Day will be fully like him (1Jn.3:1-3)—only because you will finish your work in us (Phil.1:6). Hallelujah! Until that Day, your promises help us “escape corruption”; not accumulate possessions.
Third: Your promises direct our gaze away from ourselves to Jesus. For Jesus is the emphatic “Yes!” to every promise you ever made (2 Cor.1:20). He is the point, basis, guarantee, and goal of all your promises. This means we will never over-love Jesus, over-do astonishment of him, or reach over-preoccupation with Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, there’s no such thing as “balance.” May it be, Father, may it be increasingly so. So Very Amen.
