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2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Encouraging Words

The nature of God is something that we will never be able to acquire or achieve. If we could, then there would be no difference between Him and us. However, through His grace and mercy, we may become partakers or participants, in His divine nature and power. As His adopted children we receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. We can live in the presence of His light, His power, His glory, and grow in the image of His Son. We are truly blessed.

1 Peter 5:8-10

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Personal Challenge

We are informed throughout the scriptures, both old and new, that the devil is constantly trying to trip us up in our walk with our God. It is so easy for us to choose to sin and to proclaim the saying that Flip Wilson made famous, “the devil made me do it?” But this is never the truth. the devil cannot make us do anything. He and his minions may orchestrate all forms of temptations for us, but it is our own free will that chooses to act on those temptations or reject them. In order to reject them, we must be sober and vigilant in our walk with the Lord. We must be able to resist the enemy by being steadfast in our faith and relying on our God to give us the strength to resist. We do this because we know that we have been called to His eternal glory. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Personal Challenge

contrary to what the world teaches us, humbling ourselves before God does not make us weak or unimportant. If we humble ourselves before God we make room in our lives for the blessings that He wants to bestow upon us. By doing this we can offload all of our cares and concerns to Him so that He can care for us. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.”

Personal challenge

It is one thing to encounter resistance from those around us, but I don’t think I want to encounter resistance from God. However, every time I step out to do something with an attitude of pride, resistance from God is what I will encounter. That resistance, if received properly, can be a part of my theosis because it will continue to conform me into the image of Jesus. However, if I choose to do things with a humble spirit, God will give me the grace that I need to do His work. We learn humility through our submission to others, to God first, to those who are over us, and even to one another, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Peter 4:10-11

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Personal challenge

We have each been blessed by one or more gifts from God in our spiritual lives. These gifts are not for us to keep or hide under a rock, but to give away to those around us by using them so that God may be glorified. Once more, our, salvation is not about us, it is about Him. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 4:7-9

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Personal challenge

Sometimes other people are just a pain in the neck and it feels like it would be better just to write them off. I am sure that other people have the same feelings about me at times. These are the times for us to have fervent love for one another. If we love Jesus, then we are to love one another and be hospitable to them, no matter what the circumstances. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love lifeAnd see good days,Let him refrain his tongue from evil,And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good;Let him seek peace and pursue it.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,And His ears are open to their prayers;But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Personal challenge

We live in a world and a time that is filled with anger and contention. Our part in this world is to be peacemakers in all that we do so that by our actions the Word of God is shared with everyone. This is no small task, but the rewards are eternal. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Personal challenge

This passage, and the one before it is often misunderstood and misused. Wives are told to submit to their husbands, and husbands are told to honor their wives. Here is what my Orthodox Study Bible says about this:

3:1-7 A stunning call to contentment in Christian marriage, whether we live in the first century or the twenty-first. The dignity and modesty of a woman—and her good conduct—have the power to call her husband to faith and devotion. Husbands are not to take advantage of this superior conduct on the part of their wives, but are to reciprocate, indeed to give honor. Peter’s image of marriage is one of sacramental union, not merely of legal contract. Contrary to the inheritance customs of the time, husband and wife are heirs together of the grace of life (v. 7). Failure to live with understanding with one’s spouse even affects one’s relationship with God (see Eph 5:22–33).

We view marriage as a sacrament in the church because, through it, two people become one. Husbands and wives are peers and partners at the same time. This is the personal challenge, to always put my wife and her needs before mine and continually give her the honor she deserves. Glory be to God!