What Have We Not Been Given?

“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. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

--2 Peter 1:3-4

Have you ever felt like you just don’t have what it takes to live the kind of Christian life the Bible describes? Maybe if God had put you into a better home situation with two parents really committed to Him and to each other. Or maybe if he’d given your family a little more money and stability, you could have been more focused on living for Him. Or maybe if he’d made you smarter -- able to read and memorize and pray without falling asleep.

If God had given you everything all those really spiritual people have, you might be a “better Christian.”

Well, you and I both know that doesn’t sound quite right, but I think we all feel that way sometimes. We think of our lives as a puzzle, and we’re waiting for a few more pieces to fall into place before we really get serious about investing ourselves in walking with God. After I get out of school . . . After I get out of this relationship . . . After I get married and have kids . . . Then I’ll probably have what it takes to really go after living like Jesus.

You might have read the passage above before, but has it ever jumped out and really slapped you in the face. It should. At first, it should sting a little bit. Then -- once it wakes you up -- it should explode your whole idea about what it means to be a Christian.

Let’s listen to it again:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness . . .”

Did it slap you? I hope it slapped you. It slaps me almost every time I read it. I tend to spend a lot of prayers asking for God’s strength, peace, courage, wisdom, etc. Nothing wrong with that. But I have this unspoken idea that I’m missing something I need to live the way He wants me to right now. In this moment.

Slap. I have everything I need for life and godliness right now. I’m not missing anything I need to handle whatever life throws my way today -- and in a Christlike way. I’m not short of anything it takes to live in “godliness.” It’s all right here. Right now. No waiting.

If you’re in Christ, you’ve got it all, too.

So why do we still blow it sometimes? Why do we still struggle? That comes later. Right now, you and I have to agree with God that we never fail for lack of power. We never drop the ball because of a bad throw from God. The puzzle is complete. All the pieces are here.

Why?

“. . . through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Peter says it’s all about knowing God through Jesus. If you’ve trusted in Jesus, you do know God. You don’t need to get more “knowing” of Him. You know Him. And when you came to know Him, He gave you everything you need to live for Him because of Jesus’ own glory and goodness. To suggest to God I’m missing something to do what He asks would be to say that Jesus isn’t glorious enough. That He isn’t good enough.

How do we know, though, for sure, for reals, that we’re complete in Jesus? Because He promised.

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises . . .”

You can find some examples of those promises in Peter’s first letter: 1 Peter 1:3-5, 9, 13. Big picture: You’re in the family of God now. All the way. He’s not letting you go. You’ll be home with Him forever. And He’s not stingy with His kids.

Here’s what He’s given you the power to do right now. Today. No waiting.

“. . . you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Ouch. Ouch. The slapping. The explosions. You mean I can live like and for God today -- and walk away from my desire to do wrong? Right now? Ouch. That idea is almost too big to fit in my head because I know myself so well.

But He promised. We can live that way. No matter who our parents are or how much money we have or how lousy this day or month or school year has gone. Nothing is missing. The car is gassed up. The engine is tuned. We’re strapped in and ready to roll.

The next question is: Where will we go with all this power? How are you going to use it today? Read the rest of this chapter (and the next devo) for a peek at the map.

And if you’d like a folky audio reminder of God’s total and absolute provision for us in every new and difficult moment, I dig a song by the now defunct duo called Harrod and Funck. You’ll find it on iTunes by searching for Harrod Funck Lion Song. It eventually asks, “What have we not been given? What have we not been shown?” Good questions.