2 Peter 1:3 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.

In either English or Japanese this sentence gets pretty complicated, but the thing that stands out to me is that we are given everything we need through knowledge of Christ. Since it’s given to us, it isn’t something we have to work to earn, but that doesn’t mean we are to be passive. Verse 5 speaks of “make every effort.” Christian faith isn’t for people who give up easily! However, the effort we are to exert is in knowing Christ better. Recently I quoted Paul’s famous declaration about knowing Christ in Philippians 3:10-11. Peter is using different terminology, but he as much as Paul says that knowing Christ is vitally important. The better we know Christ, the better we demonstrate His character. Peter gives a list of character traits in verses 5 and 6, but Paul listed them as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. We cannot really manifest the character of Christ without both knowing Him and being filled with His Spirit. We will never manifest them perfectly on this earth, but the point is to keep growing in them, as Peter says in verse 8. God gives us everything we need – indeed He has already given it to us – but we are responsible for our stewardship of what He has provided. We are called to keep pressing in and keep growing!

This is a lesson I’m still learning myself, even as I seek to teach it to others. We are all prone to give up on ourselves when we have failures, but understanding that we are all still growing should help insulate us from that. I deal with people all the time who are so disappointed in themselves that they want to give up. I must not dump on them, even when admonishment is called for, but rather come alongside them, encouraging and giving direction. At the same time, I am not to give up on anyone. Sometimes I have to back off, and do my ministry exclusively through prayer. However, any time I pray, I need to hold myself available as an instrument for the answering of that prayer. I must not refuse to interact with anyone, if God wants to use me to draw them to Himself.

Father, You know the various people who came to mind as I was writing just now. I do pray for each one, that they would realize all that You have provided and press in to take hold of it, just as Paul did. (Philippians 3:12) I pray also that I would not teach others and then fall short myself. May I continually press in for more of Christ, more of Your Spirit, so that I may more effectively proclaim and demonstrate Your grace and love to the world around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!