“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:2-3
Anyone who has trusted Jesus for salvation is also a beneficiary of His grace and peace, along with everything else we need to live in godliness. Why then do so many believers feel powerless to live the Christian life the Bible describes? We often fail to realize all that we’ve been given through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
God provides everything we need to do what He expects of us. This is not something we can earn but is generously given as an act of grace. Since it is granted by divine power we know that its source is God, and is therefore intrinsic to His nature. God’s power always works to achieve God’s purpose. So, living in His power each day enables us to accomplish His purposes.
An effective Christian life is impossible without this divine infusion. Notice, however, that what He grants is limited to “everything pertaining” to a life of godliness. We rarely associate limits with the word everything, but we don’t need extra energy to achieve our own agenda. On the other hand, we need every ounce of strength God provides to achieve His purposes. This doesn’t mean we don’t get tired but that we don’t get tired of God and His work.
Why do many believers feel powerless to live this way? Well, we sometimes confuse knowing Jesus with knowledge of Jesus. This kind of spiritual strength and energy is the result of an ongoing, intimate relationship with the Lord. It’s by growing in our experiential knowledge of Him that we learn to live in His power. We have to take hold of the spiritual resources God has graciously and generously given.
Paul prayed for believers to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience (Colossians 1:9-11).
Peter and Paul bring us to the same point—to live in such a way that God’s power in our lives is the only explanation. Are you living each day in the power of Jesus Christ? He has graciously provided everything you need to live a godly life and to accomplish His purposes. How will you put forth the effort this week to grow in your personal relationship with the Lord?