URC Daily Devotion 23rd August 2021

2 Peter 1: 1 – 15
 

Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you.  I think it right, as long as I am in this body,  to refresh your memory,  since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.  And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Reflection

Maybe you have already found this passage helpful for reflection on your life with God.  It might give fresh help again, for living the life of Christ today.  Indeed Peter says, ‘I intend to keep on reminding you of these things.’
 
The first time I studied this passage, years ago, using the Good News Bible, I gained a visual image of a staircase through verses 5-8.  Peter was addressing people who had been given faith (v.1): ‘Do your best’ (with God’s grace and power, v.2-3) ‘to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge.’ 
 
At the time, I was working with fairly new Christians who talked a lot about turning to belief and good ways, and were attending training to increase their knowledge of God’s word and Christian life.  ‘To your knowledge add self-control’ in the face of temptation; ‘add endurance’ when facing opposition, or lack of resources; ‘add godliness’ emulating our Lord and role-model.  And nearing the top of this progression, ‘add Christian affection’ for those around, and ‘add love’ to become really active and effective in your knowledge of Christ.
 
Now, in NRSV, the instruction to ‘support with’ (v.5) rather than ‘add to’ suggests strengthening the foundations and buttresses, rather than climbing a staircase to enter the kingdom (v.11).  So what image does the original Greek convey?  A Greek lexicon says the word means supply or provide, with a root meaning to lead or defray the cost of a dance!  So can we picture our Christian life as a developing dance guided by the divine choreographer and impresario?
 
Peter addresses this to a company of people, not just to us as individuals.  So the intricacy of steps and intensity of emotions would develop with interaction between the dancers together becoming participants in the divine nature (v.4).
  
Prayer
 
Lord Jesus,
live in us, and help us to live in you;
lead us all, wherever we may be.
Equip us with your grace and peace
to learn from each other’s faith, goodness and knowledge,
to support each other’s development of
self-control, endurance and godliness,
to share mutual affection across all cultures in the church,
and to love the world as you do.