Bible Studies
Add To Your Life
A recent AIG commercial presented a black choir singing This Little Light of Mine. During their rousing rendition, +3 faith appears on the television screen. The announcer says, ÒHaving faith can add three years to your life. So live longer, retire stronger. Never outlive your money.Ó Two other ads starring children are in the series, too. As babies laugh, we learn that laughter can add eight years to our lives. Add laughter to faith, and thatÕs eleven years total. I canÕt wait! I could learn to live much longer if they keep adding spots.
In the opening words of his second letter, the apostle Peter identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. It was a far cry from the days when the disciples argued over who would be greatest in the kingdom of God. ItÕs a far cry from our day, too, as millions of MySpace missives of magnificence boast about our own Facebook value. However, we are to be servants of Christ, for we are now slaves of righteousness. Writing to Christians, Peter explains that we received our faith through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He views our faith as the same precious faith that he received, and if you remember, Paul wrote that our faith came as a gift by the grace of God. It is His space in our lives that adds magnificence, for it is His divine power that gives us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue. It is the power of God, flowing through the Gospel that makes us partakers of the divine nature. Only then, because we are implanted with a new nature, do we have the power to escape our continual lust for our own glory and the treasures of this finite world.
In his second letter, Peter advocates addition, as well, and he uses fast addition to give us a long-term picture of grace and peace, which can be multiplied to us through knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. Christ said that in this world we would have trouble. ThatÕs because the world hates Christ. Because they hate Christ, they hate us, and for Him we are to suffer.
However, the main trouble for us in this life comes from our own sinful nature, which continues to desire that which moves us away from God. That is why Peter begins his addictive adulation encouraging us to seek after the good things of God. He wants us to work hard to add those positive qualities and enjoy Christ and Christian living. When we live like Christians, we are persuaded that our election, our calling, and our everlasting life with Christ are sure. We are to seek the positive. As we do, God will subtract those negative habits from us. Peter goes on to remind us that as we focus on Christ and walk in His ways, we become productive members of the body. Grounded in truth, we are to give a full measure of GodÕs love to others. So, sing within, and let that mighty light shine for His glory!
Mountain Time Moment
I, like Paul, became a servant of this gospel by the gift of GodÕs grace
given me through the working of His power.
Ephesians 3:7 NIV/LV
Complete article with verse links in blue at:
http://home.comcast.net/~flgrace/Ephesians307.pdf
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