Together in Christ: 'Everything We Need!' — 2 Peter 1:3-4

Monday, October 21, 2024

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We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
— 2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

Key Thought

The apostle Paul made a similar point to Peter's words in today's verse when he wrote:

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? [1]

God has adopted us into His family. [2] Our Savior is the Creator of the universe, and His word holds the fabric of our universe together. [3] The Holy Spirit lives inside us and is at work in us enabling us to become and do more than we can imagine. [4] We have God — Father, Son, and Spirit — at work in us. We have everything we need "for life and godliness" [5] so that with God's great promises, we can share in His "divine nature and escape the world's corruption."

Satan uses our human, fleshly desires to war against our souls and try to lead us astray. [6] He wants to deceive us and make us doubt God's loving intentions for us and God's power at work within us. [7] But because of our relationship with God, we can refuse to believe the devil's lies. We can stand up against the destructive intentions of Satan for us. [8] No matter how discouraged, disappointed, and defeated we can sometimes feel, we must remember that we are children of the King of Glory and the rightful heirs to God's glorious inheritance. [9]

Dear brother and precious sister, let's believe God's truth as we rely on God's power and promises rather than believing the lies the evil one puts in our hearts and the doubts he puts in our heads. We don't have to accept these lies even when we think about them. We can "capture [all] rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ." [10] and speak the truth to our wavering hearts and conflicted thoughts: We are children of the living and triumphant God, and He has chosen us to share in His glory! [11]

[1] Romans 8:31-32.
[2] John 1:12-14, 3:3-7; Romans 8:15.
[3] Colossians 1:15-17.
[4] Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 3:14-16, 20-21.
[5] 2 Peter 1:3 NRSV.
[6] Romans 8:5-9; Galatians 5:16-23 NIV.
[7] Satan is a liar and murderer, and has been since the beginning with Adam and Eve, leading them to doubt the goodness of God's intentions for them — Genesis 3:1-7; John 8:44.
[8] Titus 2:12; 1 John 4:4.
[9] Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:27-29, 4:7; Ephesians 1:11-18.
[10] 2 Corinthians 10:5.
[11] Colossians 3:1-4.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, thank You for the overwhelmingly gracious gifts You have poured into our lives. We are Your children, and You are our Abba Father. Your Spirit lives in us and is at work in us. You have united our lives with Jesus so that our future is tied to His glorious future. But, dear Father, we need Your help and a deeper sense of Your tangible presence. Satan is at work to deceive us and undermine our confidence in our relationship with You. So we submit our hearts to You, O God, so Satan will flee. [A] We draw near to You with thanksgiving because we know all You have done to bring us into Your family as beloved children. We choose to believe You, not Satan's lies or the world's criticisms. Thank You, God, for bringing us into Your family. We offer You our lives as our praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.

[A] This prayer thought and the next one come right out of the promises of James 4:7-8.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 John 4:1-12
  • Ephesians 6:10-18

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Illustration

Illustration of 2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT — By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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