Life and godliness...

2 Peter 1:3-8
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. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I love what these 5 verses have to say to us… Through the power of God we have everything we need for life and godliness! We don’t have to manufacture anything, or try to figure it out on our own, it’s his to give, and he will give it!
Of course tied with that promise is our coming to “know him,” but that’s to our benefit even if it wasn’t tied to this particular promise – just check out John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

It’s pretty obvious that knowing God is definitely good for life – now and eternal.
There is so much more to this passage than that though…
Verse 4 tells me how to participate in the divine nature of God himself.
And verses 5 – 7 tell me the characteristics I need to allow God to develope in my life, and there is a promise that comes with these as well…
Verse 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Delivered from being Ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… wouldn’t it be great if we would allow Him to get us there??!!