Everything We Need
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 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, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” -2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I find a lot of encouragement in the opening lines of 2 Peter. As I think about all of the expectations and responsibilities I have as a husband, father, minister, and disciple of Jesus, it’s reassuring to be reminded that God has given me everything I need to fulfill those responsibilities with excellence:
• He’s given me his Spirit, a constant guide who brings power, wisdom, and conviction.
• He’s given me his Word, the one and only source of absolute truth in this life.
• He’s given me a physical family that loves, supports, and brings out the best in me.
• He’s given me a church community that inspires, encourages, and equips me.
• He’s given me mentors who can speak difficult truths into my life with grace and peace.
• He’s given me opportunities to grow through adversity and trust Him in the hard times.
• And most importantly, he’s given me Jesus — through whom I have forgiveness, new life, and the power to be
victorious in my Christian walk.
And he’s given all of the same things to you, too.
We just need to make sure we discipline ourselves to trust in God as our source of power, rather than ourselves. After all, as Peter reminds us, it is God’s divine power — not our human abilities — that enables us to live a godly life and participate in the divine nature. God’s power has the power to transform your life, so that day by day, your life becomes a better reflection of the life Jesus lived while he was alive: glorying God, loving others, and training his disciples to make disciples. At the same time, God’s power is at work beneath the surface of our visible lives to conform our hearts, minds, and attitudes to the heart and character of Jesus.
This type of transformation isn’t just behavior modification — it’s a deeply rooted transformation that helps us become more like Jesus, inside and out. That kind of inside-out transformation isn’t possible through willpower, grit, or human effort alone. It requires the exact thing Peter highlights in his letter — the power of God that is at work in the lives of his children.
God has given you everything you need to live a godly life and cultivate a Christlike heart — and he’s given it to you through the power of the Spirit. Today, I want to encourage you to spend some time with God that is focused on thanking him for the amazing gifts he’s given us and asking him to focus your thoughts on one way you can become a better reflection of Jesus.
Blessings,
Bryan Fojtasek
