Many Sunday afternoons find me hashing and rehashing my sermon given that morning (one of the great values in having a Sunday night service where I put myself before the church in a format that lets them question something from the AM service that was unclear). Most often I am disappointed in me, but encouraged knowing that God takes the foolishness of preaching – especially mine – and uses it for good to His glory! Thank you, Lord, for bailing me out and fixing me. I am humbled.
Sunday, after a brief review of Mark 8 and some points from II Peter 3:1-14, we looked a little more at 3:15-18 where we were challenged to “grow in grace and knowledge.” I think the growing in grace has to do with being more and more aware of God’s daily blessings, protections, and directing. Realizing His involvement should cause more adoration, humility, and desire to live pleasing to Him. We are not orphans and we are not lost on His radar but very much in focus and being used by Him and for Him. In some cases, when sinning and indifferent, we are odious to Him, but not lost to Him. Grow in Grace!
Then comes the charge to grow in knowledge, 3:18! For help here we went to the first chapter of II Peter where we find the idea in verses 2, 3, and 5. Before getting to those ideas we pulled some ideas out of 1:1, Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Simon Peter. His birth name was Simon, meaning hearer or listener, the son of Jonah. I don’t accuse Simon of not listening but of jumping to conclusions and charging ahead without pondering or counsel. Jesus, upon Peter’s declaring that Jesus was the Christ, called Simon, Peter which means rock. So Simon became known as Peter. I talked about a gravestone which has a name and dates and likely a verse, statement, or picture. What else is etched on that stone is something that marked the person. Simon had the word, Peter. Joseph of Cyprus was an encourager so he was tagged as Barnabas. His stone would most likely say “Barnabas.” So what will those around you want on your gravestone? What marks you that will possibly be remembered for many years after your departure?
- Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle. Today we hear so much about self-esteem so we are forever giving participation trophies and high-fives to any and all for their psychic is very frail and we don’t want to scar them and create a monster. But in only handing out accolades, we are scarring them! We are not being truthful. Notice what Peter says about himself. First, I’m a low man, a bond servant or bound servant, a nobody. And then he declares that he is very special and powerful – an apostle! He is little – He is much. He is a nobody – he is somebody. He is a servant – He is a leader. We need to understand, as do our children, that there is a side to us that needs to be submissive and a servant, while there are aspects that need glorified. Self-esteem comes from having a balanced view of one’s self.
- who have obtained The idea here is that we stumbled into this gift. We did not go seeking it and we did not earn it; rather, it was put before us. Somebody sought us and handed us this precious thing. It speaks of our lostness, wrong focus and direction, and ineptness. We were graciously handed something of great value: a faith that embraced Jesus as Savior and Lord and in doing so gifted us with salvation. Glory!
- To those who have obtained…with us. As a believer we belong to a family of others who likewise are saints by faith. Our new life is a group life. We belong and we are to contribute, receive, and enjoy. We are not in the group because of heritage, wealth, IQ, degrees, power, athletic ability, musical talent, gender, age or nationality. We are all in on the same terms and none is better than another – not even an apostle!
- by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. And on what basis was this gift made available? The righteousness of Jesus! Jesus, who is God and the Promised One of the Old Testament – the Christ; lived a sinless life, died for the sins of others buying their redemption, and then graciously handed out the one thing men needed in order to be saved – faith. All glory to Him both now and forever! Hallelujah!!
a PK Musing 
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