Sunday, March 7, 2010

2 Peter 1

4 comments:

Unknown said...

From my intro to 2nd Peter;

"Peter's first letter was a warning about trials from without (persecution). His second caution is a warning about trials from within (heresy). In this the last letter we have from him, he urges Christians to be careful. Avoid shortsidedness. Be on guard. And most importantly, be vigilant against personal complacency which will lead to a lazy faith."

This is something that I am hyper sensitive to. Sometimes I wonder if one can be TOO on guard. Too vigilant. Too preoccupied with a fear of growing complacent.

Sometimes I would really just like to chill out a bit and enjoy the ride, if you know what I mean. Maybe I will mellow with age :) or maybe I will just grow accustomed to living with these passions that rattle around inside this head and heart o' mine.

Unknown said...

"With these gifts you can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires." verse 4

Talk about a knock you off your feet concept.

My devotional notes for this chapter really made me want to cheer.

"Add to your faith... supplement it. flesh it out. Being a Christian doesn't mean believnig and then just sitting around. Now that you have faith in God's part, make every effort- that's your part.

That's disciplines.

That's regular holy habits.

That's pacing yourself for the cross country run to your future.

Says Henri Nouwen, "A spiritural life without discipline is impossible." Tighten your belt. Get tough on yourself. GO FOR IT."

Jude said...

Prairie Chick, I can resonate with finding the balance between too on guard, too vigilant and too complacent, too comfortable.

v3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
It amazes me that he has given me everything I need for life and godliness, that if I seek him, he will show me the path, guide me, strengthen me from his deep well. I am reminded of the time in "Pilgrim's Progress" when Christian and Hopeful are in the castle of Giant Despair and there is no way out. Then they turn to God, praise him, begin to trust him and read from the scrolls that they received when they committed their lives to the Owner (God) and then found a key hidden in the seal on the scroll. It had been there all along. Just as Jesus is with us each step but at times we do not seek him for the path we should take or the answer to our dilemna.

Denise said...

"Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away. Peter lists several of faith's actions: learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God's will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don't finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsiblity to learn and to grow."