Wednesday... Now let us catch hold of this today.
The Psalmist writer of Psalm 74 had some discouraging words to say. He asks in verses 10-11 (NLT), "How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them."
He does go on to say in verse 12, "You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth." And that is a good reminder. But the Old Testament had a different slant to how God worked.
Now look at 2 Peter in the New Testament. The people who Peter was writing to also had gone through some difficult times. He says in verses 1b, "I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior." Jesus had come to earth to make a difference in how God works.
He goes on in verse 2, "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."
Now this is great to see. Verse 3 (AMP) says, "For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."
He then says in 4-8 (NLT), "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. In view of all of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
He goes on in verses 10 & 11 (AMP), "Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you."
And that is God's way of handling the difficulties and the corruption of this world in which we now live. So start the process by inviting His Son to live in and through you. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning
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