October 29th - Reflection

2 Peter 1:1-11 (NRSV)
Participants of the divine nature

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Reflection
Reminds me of a building plan. A plan that is the basis for everything needed for life. The base that radiates throughout the entire structure is the divine power of Jesus.

Love-the crown of life
Mutual Affection-Fruit of new birth in Christ
Endurance-hold fast to Christ
Self-control-result of knowing Jesus has saved us
Knowledge-only through Jesus can we be saved
Goodness-Result of faith in God
God's promises-Faith at work in life
Knowledge of the call-Close relationship with Jesus
TheDivine Power of Jesus-Grace of God's Love through Jesus
So it seems that God moves with us through a cycle that develops into a service of love to all people. A service, not as a means to achieve reward, but rather a service that is a result of the reward that Jesus has already won for us.
Since it starts with the Divine Power of Jesus and his grace, those further along the plan are of no "higher" rank than those anywhere else in the plan. God chooses us and develops each one as he sees fit. We are needed in his Kingdom, active and in relationship with Jesus along each step of the journey to that crown of life, the Love active in this world, to and for all people.

"For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." -- John 3:16-17

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, develop me into the man you wish for me to be. --- Amen