The Best Christmas Present

Lyn and I follow a daily devotional plan that takes us through the whole Bible every year. This morning took us to 2 Peter. What marvelous riches for meditation! “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (1:3). What a great verse to begin the Christmas season with. I already have everything I need for the things that matter most.

First, Everything I need for life. All the advertisements try to stir in me a feeling that I don’t have quite enough for real living. I could be happier if I just had their product. The devil constantly whispers in our ears that we need a little more of this or that – money, or food, or sex, or time, or the latest game, or relationship, or even time with our grandkids. All of them may be good things, invented by God for our good, but none of them contain life. Once we come to the realization that Christ alone is our life, then we realize that we already have more than enough! Life does not come through our knowledge about Christ, but in knowing Him. The better I know Him, the more I appreciate and enjoy the life He gives; but the newest convert has full access to the same life.

Second, everything I need for godliness. When Christ becomes our life, then godliness becomes our highest goal. He has already provided for that! Godliness is not reserved for monks locked in a monastery, or missionaries, or pastors studying the Bible all day. I want to be more and more like Christ. I realize that there’s a long road ahead of me in this quest, but I can also look back and see He’s brought me a mighty long way already. While there are hindrances along the way, there are no roadblocks. Of course it will be a challenge. How else could we call it faith? But Christ marks the pathway, Christ gives us strength, Christ gives us the tools (the Bible, a church family, Christian music, good books…), Christ gives us the discipline (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, love), and Christ picks us up when we fall and puts our feet back on the path.

Why? “So that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires” (1:4). Me? Lowly, feeble all-to-human me, participate in Christ’s divine nature? Think of it! Sure, who hasn’t daydreamed of having divine power, to be able to “fix” various situations; but divine nature… having His character, His desires, His purity, His peace and equanimity, His ability to love, His insight and grasp of truth… along with the power to always do right.

And escape corruption. No more Second Law of Thermodynamics for us. Everywhere in this world we see decay. Breakdowns, rust, termites, mold, and rot are everywhere. By the time we reach adulthood our health has already peaked, and our bodies have started to wear out. It’s only a matter of time. Christ is the only escape. God’s eternal hope is for us to have eternity with Him. That is why in the beginning of time He planted the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Had it not been for evil desires leading to rebellion, Adam and Eve would be there today, still eating from that tree.

Talk about the best Christmas present ever! His divine power has already given me everything I need for life and godliness, through my knowledge of Him who called me by His own glory and goodness. Thank You Jesus!