2 Peter 1: Confirm Your Calling

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 1.

Augustine reportedly summarized Christian salvation and growth this way: “Without God, I cannot. Without me, God will not.”

Peter demonstrates this dynamic cooperation as he outlines Christian maturity in 2 Peter 1. Apart from God’s divine power, divine promises, divine call, divine election, we could not possibly grow to maturity by our own efforts no matter how diligent. Some, through the centuries, have taken this notion too far. They have claimed this means our efforts do not matter. They have claimed we actually don’t make any efforts ourselves, but only have effort to the degree God has chosen and predestined us to exert effort. This notion, however, flies in the face of Peter’s letter and his instruction to be diligent in our own effort.

Peter considers the foundation of God’s power, promises, call, election settled. His concern is for Christians to exert their effort. Twice he exhorts his audience to exercise personal effort. He begins his discussion of mature growth by claiming we must bring to bear all diligent effort to add the mature Christian qualities to our faith. Then he concludes this list by claiming we must give all diligent effort to make our calling and election firm, sure, certain.

Peter does not mean our calling and election depends on us. He does not mean we are to earn our way into the kingdom. If so, then it would be based on our power. But it is not. It is based on God’s power. Yet, he tells us to exert our power.

No doubt, this seems like double talk and becomes confusing. Allow me to share an illustration to clear up the point. Consider the Israelites standing at the edge of the Promised Land after they had been delivered from Egyptian bondage. By their own effort, they could not conquer the Promised Land. They didn’t have the skill, the acumen, the strength, the power. Yet, God told them to go take the land. They could take it, not because they had the ability, but because God has the power and God was with them. The question for them was not if they believed they were strong enough to take the land, but did they believe God was strong enough to take the land using them. Sadly, the first generation didn’t try and fail. Rather, they failed to take the land because they failed to act on God’s promises and power. The second generation did not succeed because they exerted perfect effort. They failed in multiple ways. They succeeded because they made the effort God directed.

Israel’s initial failure and later success helps us see the question we must ask ourselves as we hear Peter’s double exhortation to make every effort. Not do we believe we are strong enough to mature? Not do we believe we have the capacity to make our calling and election certain? But do we believe God has the power to grow us, establish us, and confirm us? If we believe God is strong enough, then we will make the effort because we know our effort is not alone but is anchored in God, multiplied by God, made effective through God.

God richly provided an entrance for ancient Israel into the Promised Land not because they were strong enough, but because He was. But He did so only when they believed His promises enough to make the effort to take the land. In like manner, we will only grow to maturity and partake of the divine nature when we believe God is so powerful that He can mature us as we make the effort to conquer sin and corrupt desire in our own lives. That belief, that faith, that trust, that allegiance is not demonstrated in words and statements. It is demonstrated in action and effort. Often flawed and faltering action. Often failed and fumbling efforts. But we keep making our effort, weak though they may be, not because we think we’ll finally accomplish something, but because we know God will accomplish something through us when we make the effort.

Will you make the effort? What quality will you diligently work on today? How will you work on it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Peter 1.

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PATHS:
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Mark 14: Prayer–Divinely Empowered Weapon

Today’s reading is Mark 14.

The Weapons of Our Warfare

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Paul wrote:

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete (ESV).

As citizens of Christ’s kingdom, our weapons are not fleshly. We don’t use military means or political powers to accomplish God’s work in our lives or the world. That, however, doesn’t mean we are weaponless. No. We have heavenly weapons. We wield weapons of heavenly, divine power to destroy the strongholds in our own minds, hearts, and lives.

Regrettably, Paul doesn’t give us a list of those weapons in this passage. No doubt, the Word, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) is a divinely empowered weapon. But Paul goes on in that litany of God’s armor to immediately talk about prayer. In fact, once we are armored in God’s armor, the next thing He tells us to do is not go out and fight, but get down on our knees and pray (Ephesians 6:18-20). Certainly, prayer is another divinely empowered weapon.

Peter Sleeps While Jesus Wields Prayer

In Mark 14, we see the divinely-empowered weapon of prayer used at full strength. We notice it in the contrast between Jesus and Peter.

Both Peter and Jesus were committed to die. In John 12:20, Jesus had declared even though His soul was troubled as the hour was coming on Him, He would not ask to be saved from it. Rather, He would ask for God to be glorified. In Mark 14:31, Peter had likewise committed himself to death. “If I must die with you,” he told Jesus, “I will not deny you.” Both had made their commitment.

But then we follow them to Gethsemane. Jesus’s distress has increased. He is sorrowful even unto death. How does He address the distress? Prayer. Three times He goes to pray. While the record of the prayer can be read in about 3 seconds, He claims to have prayed for about an hour. In other words, though He used many different words and various statements, His hour’s prayer could be summed up in a couple sentences:

Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
–Mark 14:36 (ESV)

Wait! I thought Jesus wasn’t going to ask to be delivered from this hour? What’s going on? Recognizing this prayer is actually the summary of an hour of praying (which is then repeated two more times), we should see this as more than a quick flash of prayer tossed up by Jesus to check a box in preparation for the crucifixion. This is a struggle in prayer. This is a struggle to move from “Remove this cup” to “Not my will, but yours.” Through prayer, Jesus is strengthened to let the Scriptures be fulfilled. We see Jesus employing the divinely-empowered weapon of prayer in order to tear down any strongholds of distress tempting Him to disobey and strengthening to obey His Father.

But what is Peter doing while Jesus prays? Sleeping. Jesus even encourages Peter. “Peter, you need to pray. Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak.” Perhaps Jesus means Peter has a spirit willing to pray, but his flesh is too weak to stay awake. But, more likely Jesus is referencing Peter’s earlier commitment. Peter’s spirit is willing to die with Jesus, but his flesh is weak and will betray him into sin when the test occurs. Unless he prays, he will not have the needed bodily strength to overcome the temptation. But Peter sleeps again. And again.

Jesus Succeeds while Peter Fails

Jesus passes the test in Gethsemane. Instead of striking down the mob, He declares, “Let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” That is, let the mob take Him prisoner because it is the Father’s will. Then He gets to the trial and though it is a farce, they can’t even get their drummed-up, false witnesses to agree well enough to fake a proper reason for conviction. If Jesus just keeps His mouth shut, the trial is going His way. Maybe it’s a sign. Maybe the Father is letting Him out of the crucifixion after all. But when the high priest demands Jesus identify Himself, Jesus does:

I am [the Christ], and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
–Mark 14:62 (ESV)

Jesus faces the test. Someone demands He identify Himself. But this identity will send Him to the cross. What will He do? He has already demonstrated the distress. Will He bear up? Will He succeed? Yes! Jesus victoriously declares His identity and seals His fate. He will go to the cross.

Peter, however, follows behind at a distance and makes it to the courtyard of the house where this farcical trial occurs. While Jesus faces the high priest himself, Peter is confronted by a servant girl of the high priest. Though she has no power and no social standing, she accuses Peter of being a disciple of Jesus. Here is the test. He could die with Jesus. He could follow in His King’s footsteps and declare His identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ. What does he do? He folds like a bad poker hand. He denies being a disciple. Then a little later, he does it again. Then again. As he slept three times instead of praying, he denied three times instead of confessing. Peter failed.

Don’t Miss the Real Difference

Why did Jesus succeed and Peter fail? It may not be your first guess. We are tempted to say because Jesus was divine and Peter was only human. But Mark has demonstrated a different difference.

Jesus prayed. Peter slept.

Both men had a willing spirit. Both men were in the flesh. And flesh is weak. One man, knowing the weakness took up arms against the flesh and prepared for battle. One man prayed. One man succeeded.

Don’t forget how prayer has been important throughout Mark. In Mark 1:35, Jesus made sure to get up early to pray when He was too busy to pray during the day. In Mark 6:46-47, after feeding the 5000, Jesus spends the evening in prayer on the mountaintop (perhaps this was in preparation for the test He would face the next day seen in John 6). When the disciples are unable to cast out the demon from the mute boy in Mark 9, Jesus explains their failure was due to lack of prayer (Mark 9:29).

Let me ask you a soul-searching question. Do you find yourself failing again and again? Do your days end in defeat on the battlefield against Satan? Are you praying? Are you praying intensely? Do you do much more than tossing up laser prayers throughout the day? Do you make prayer purposeful and intense?

Prayer is so much more than just talking to God. Prayer is a battle in itself. It takes work. It takes time. But it is so worth it. It is, after all, a divinely-empowered weapon which will destroy the strongholds in our hearts, minds, and lives which ensnare us to sin. Even Jesus needed this weapon to succeed. If He needed it, what hope do we think we have without it?

Have you prayed today? Why not do so right now.

And, instead of praying for the things you want and wishing God would give them, why not try praying for what God wants. Then watch as, over time, God transforms you into the kind of person who has a mind set on God’s things and starts using you to accomplish His things.

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Mark 15.

PODCAST!!!

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PATHS:
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What do you want to share with others from Mark 14?

Mark 12: David Foretold a Divine Messiah

Today’s reading is Mark 12.

Jesus was questioned right and left. Some questioned with pure motives, some with nefarious. No doubt, some with mixed motives. But Jesus finally asks a question of His own.

He quotes Psalm 110:1:

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet” (ESV)

And he asks a question: “How can the scribes say that Christ is the son of David? … David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?”

No one argues whether this psalm is about the Christ. This psalm, no doubt, continues the messianic theme started in Psalm 2. This king is the son of God, to whom God will give full dominion, crushing all His enemies.

But here’s the thing. The Messiah is going to be the son of David. If David is the father, his offspring would not be his lord. But David calls him “my Lord.” David calls him that by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. How can the Messiah be both David’s son and also David’s Lord?

The account doesn’t give us anyone’s response to the specific question. In fact, according to Matthew’s account of the gospel, “no one was able to answer him a word” (Matthew 22:46). But what is the answer to Jesus’s question?

The answer is quite simply that according to the flesh, the Messiah would descend from David. But the Messiah would be more than flesh. He would be the Lord. He would be divine. He would be God in the flesh.

Grasp Jesus’s point. The Messiah is more than a special man. The Messiah will be God in the flesh. He will be the son of David and the son of God. He will be more than a great king, He will be The Great King. The Jews rejected Jesus because He claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed to be God. In their minds, the Messiah would never make such a seemingly blasphemous claim. However, according to David, that is exactly what the real and true Messiah must claim. He is not only David’s son, but also David’s Lord.

That is precisely whom Jesus claimed to be. That is precisely who Jesus is.

Despite not being able to answer Jesus’s point, the people would still reject Him. In fact, Mark gives us a hint of what is coming. He says “And the great throng heard him gladly.” That seems positive. But don’t forget what happened to the last person heard gladly in this book. That last person was Jesus’s cousin John.

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 12.

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PATHS:
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How does Mark 12 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 135: We Become What We Worship

Some Things Must Be Repeated

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 135:15-18 (ESV)

This section is almost a word for word copy of Psalm 115:4-8. And I am well aware we made pretty much this same point when we discussed Psalm 115. But some things simply need to be repeated.

We become what we worship. No exceptions. Nobody worships an idol and becomes like YHWH. Nobody worships YHWH and becomes like an idol.

If we trust in useless idols and false gods, we will become useless and false. If we trust in the living, working, making, doing God, we will become living, working, making, doing image-bearers of Him.

But if we refuse to follow the only living God, the consequences are actually so much worse than simply being useless and false. Think about the description of those idols. Unseeing eyes. Unhearing ears. Unbreathing mouths. Have you ever seen a person like that? I have. In a casket. The idols are dead. Those who trust in them become dead.

Granted, few people in our modern west bow to lifeless statues. But when we worship money, sex, fame, popularity, education, family, and even self, our idols are actually just as useless, false, and lifeless. Life only comes from one place–the living God. Of course, the issue over which we must take extreme care can be seen in that tragic story of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10. Ostensibly, they worshiped the Living God. They were in the tabernacle of the Living God. They were offering sacrifices to the Living God. They were offering on the altar of the Living God. But they ended up dead. Why? Because despite all outward appearances, their willingness to offer fire of their own choosing instead of God’s choosing demonstrates who they were truly worshiping–themselves. Let us not deceive ourselves. Let us, with fearless, thorough honesty, seek after the one, true, Living God.

Let us worship Him. And watch Him make us like Him.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 135.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
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How does Psalm 135 prompt or improve your hope in God?

John 10: “You Are Gods”

Today’s reading is John 10.

Once again, the Jews pick up stones to kill Jesus. This time, instead of just slipping away from them, He asks a question. “For which good work are you going to stone me?” Pretty sure I wouldn’t have taken the time to ask such a question, but that’s our King: guts galore. The people declare they are going to stone Him for making Himself out to be God. Of course, let’s pause to notice once again those who declare Jesus never claimed to be God are simply wrong. The Jews hear Jesus claiming deity. And Jesus doesn’t respond by saying, “No, no, no! You all misunderstood me.”

Instead, He asks about Psalm 82:6. Which in the Septuagint, often quoted by Jesus, reads:

I said, “You are gods,
and all are children of the Most High” (LES2)

Opinions abound on whom the psalmist calls “gods.” However, Jesus gives us clarity. He says, “If he called them gods to whom the word of God came…” (John 10:35, ESV). The Word of God came to Israel. Psalm 82 spoke of the judgment God was going to bring upon Israel because they allowed partiality against the weak, needy, fatherless. They did not love their neighbors as themselves and would be judged for it.

But what is Jesus’s point? How does this transfer into a defense of His claim to be the Son of God? Jesus is not merely making a play on the quote’s context, which includes the notion of being children of God. Rather, if God can call all Israelites His children, what should they have expected the Messiah to say of Himself when He arrived? If all Israelites are children of God, would we not expect the Messiah, the ultimate Israelite, to be the ultimate child of God? Would we not expect Him to come in and proclaim Himself God’s Son? Keep in mind, Psalm 2 calls Him that:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.”

Psalm 2:7 (ESV)

Jesus is not saying to the crowds, “Hey, guys, I’m not saying I’m divine, I’m just saying what these verses said.” Jesus is saying, “Hey, guys, have you considered what these verses really mean about the Messiah? What did you expect the true Messiah to come in and say? Who did you expect the true Messiah to actually be?”

Jesus caps off the argument with this: “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:37-38, ESV). This really drives it home, doesn’t it? Jesus is doing what only someone from God could do. More than that, Jesus is doing what only God can do. Jesus is claiming to be what only God promised to be. He is the New Moses. He is the New David. He is the One Shepherd. He is the Messiah. He is the LORD.

Praise the Lord! That’s our King!

Tomorrow’s reading is John 10.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
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How does John 10 prompt or improve your hope in God?

John 5: Honor the Father by Honoring the Son

Today’s reading is John 5.

The Jews got upset at Jesus because He was performing miracles on the Sabbath and even seemed to be encouraging others to work on the Sabbath. So, Jesus said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” And this really flew all over the Jews. They moved from persecuting Him to seeking to kill Him because He “was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18, ESV).

Wait. Did you catch that? Some today tell us Jesus never claimed to be divine. However, the Jews in John 5 wanted to kill Him because when He got done talking, they thought He claimed to be divine. Why didn’t He just tell them, “No, no, no, you’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t mean I am divine. I didn’t mean I’m God. There’s no need to kill Me.” I don’t know about you, that’s what I would have said if folks started threatening to kill me for claiming to be divine. But Jesus didn’t. Why not? Because He did claim divinity.

In fact, after John states this desire to kill Jesus had been provoked, Jesus doubles down on the Father and Son talk. Jesus is the Son. He is the Son of Man. He is the Son of God. Because He is the Son of Man, He has the authority to judge. Because He is the Son of God, He has the power to call the dead to life. He’s the Son, so He can do nothing on His own and must abide by the authority of the Father. However, He is the Son so He has the authority of the Father.

Here is the key. Do you want to honor the Father? Honor His Son. Look, don’t tell me you love me and then tell me you want nothing to do with my kids. If you don’t love my kids, you don’t love me. I don’t care what you say. Jesus makes the same point. If we honor the Father, then we’ll honor His Son. If we don’t honor the Son, no matter what we are doing, we aren’t honoring the Father.

Certainly, we could stop here and will have made the most important point. But, perhaps we should also note where Jesus ends up in John 5:43-44. The Jews were busy receiving glory from one another. Because of that, they didn’t honor Jesus. But that also meant they were not seeking the honor or glory that comes from the Father. Do you see the point? If we want to honor the Father, we need to honor the Son. AND if we want the Father to honor us, we need to honor His Son.

How are you doing at that?

Tomorrow’s reading is John 5.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 5 prompt or improve your hope in God?

The Christ, the Son of the Living God

Today’s reading is Matthew 16.

Honestly, there is not much to elaborate in today’s post. If you’ve been reading these posts throughout Matthew and if you’ve been listening to Text Talk, you’ve heard us say again and again that Matthew is telling a story. His main point is in answer to this one question: Who is Jesus?

Some have said He’s an insane man. Some have said He is possessed by the prince of demons. Others have said He is a resurrected John the Baptist. Still others claim He is one of the prophets brought back to life. A major point in all of this is that something has to be said. Jesus has been too amazing to dismiss. He has had too much impact to ignore. We have to figure out some response to the question: Who is Jesus?

Peter gives the response Matthew is driving home: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Because He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus would establish and build His church. The apostles would be given the keys to heaven’s kingdom, opening and closing the proper doors so folks can enter Christ’s kingdom.

Praise the Lord!

Who do you think Jesus is? Can we help you answer that question? If so, leave a comment below.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 16.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What would you say to someone who buys the Pharisees’ story about Jesus that He is in league with and possessed by a demon?
3. What would you say to someone who says Jesus is just a good teacher or just a wise sage?
4. Why do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?