READING: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: Sometimes I fail to cling to the most basic truths that should help me to live a faithful life. It’s not that I deny those truths. It’s not even that I sometimes completely forget the truths. I have them in my mind — I just don’t turn to them and apply them as quickly as I should.
One such basic truth is found in 2 Peter 1:3-4: “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.”
Hear what Peter told us. God has already given us everything we need to live a godly life. He has called us to Him, filled us with His Spirit, given us His Word filled with His promises, and placed us among believers who are to encourage one another to do well. Through His glory and goodness revealed in salvation, He provides us what we need to model godliness. We can, in fact, live in victory in a world around us that is corrupt.
We often think about this kind of victory occurring only in eternity—that is, after God has called us to heaven. Nevertheless, the Scriptures remind us that our being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29) is a present-tense activity as well. We can live victoriously today because God has given us all we need today.
Thus, on this Christmas Day, let’s live in the power God has given us. Because He has given us all we need for salvation, we must strive in His grace to make victorious choices: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-6). Give God your best today.
ACTION STEPS: Temptation never takes a holiday. So, whenever you face temptation today, remember this basic truth: you have all you need to win the battle. God’s already given it to you.
PRAYER: “God, thank You first today for coming to earth, living my life, dying my death, and breaking the power of death. Thank You for giving me all I need not only to die well, but also to live well. Give me victory today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 John 1-5