“Christians are a light to the world only to the degree that they stand out as different from the world. The world does not thirst for a religious imitation of its often-outraged self.”
Scott Sauls
Today’s Passage
4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
11for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:4–11 (NASB95)
Background
Quotes are summarized from Wikipedia. Passage summaries are from Biblehub.com by Jay Smith, with permission. Scripture comes from LOGOS software under license.
Quote-Scott Sauls is an American Christian pastor and writer. Born as Christopher Scott Sauls in April 1968, he is primarily known for his work as a pastor and religious writer. Scott has been influenced by prominent figures such as Timothy J. Keller, C. S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, and Martin Luther King Jr., among others.
Scott Sauls serves as the senior pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Prior to this, he was the senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. His pastoral and writing career has been significantly influenced by notable religious and cultural figures, shaping his approach to ministry and community engagement.
Scott Sauls has authored several books and articles focusing on Christian living, theology, and pastoral leadership. His works aim to inspire and guide readers in their spiritual journeys and community involvement.
Passage-The book of 2 Peter is an Apostolic Letter. The author is Peter who wrote it about 63-64 A.D. Its purpose was to warn against the increasing number of false teachers attacking the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I. He claimed, “We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty” (1:16), and that men who were, “Moved by the Holy Spirit” wrote all of the teachings of Scripture (1:21). They were dealing with the beginning of what we now know as “Gnosticism” a philosophical principal that was hurting the churches.
Opening Statement
If the light we shed looks like the lights of the World that surround us, it will be lost and blend in with the things of the World. If we claim we want to follow God’s path, we have to remove and reduce the things of the World that get in the way of seeing God’s path clearly.
Ask: When Peter says in verse 9, “for he who lacks these qualities is blind or short sighted…” What qualities is he referring to?
Point: He is referring to the list of qualities from the previous verses. Please re-read verses 5-8 from Today’s Passage:
5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5–8 (NASB95)
Ask: What qualities is Peter listing in those verses and why are they listed in that way?
Point: Diligence, faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. It is a progression of one to the other growing in strength and difficulty.
Ask: What are we to do with that progression of qualities to avoid being “blind or short-sighted”?
Point: Verse 10 of Today’s Passage answers that question. Please re-read verse 10 of Today’s passage:
10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:10 (NASB95)
Ask: How does Today’s Passage help us avoid the cares and worry of the World choking out the Word of God in our lives?
Point: The path begins with diligence and its application in our lives.
Ask: There are a lot of things we could be “diligent” about in our lives. Which one or ones is Peter talking about?
Point: The answer is in Today’s passage at the opening and the next step in the path Peter laid out. Please read the following:
1Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3seeing 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.
4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1–8 (NASB95)
Ask: Is there a key to our diligence found in that passage?
Point: Yes, in verse 8 where it says, “if these qualities are yours and are increasing.”
Ask: Where then should we first apply this diligence that relates to the next step, which is our faith?
Point: To prayer, Study, and obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Please read the following:
15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”
2 Timothy 2:15–19 (NASB95)
Ask: Verse 4 of Today’s Passage says we will be partakers of the “promises of God” if we live through the true knowledge of Him. What are those promises?
Point: Please read the following:
16Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
18“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:16–18 (NASB95)
Ask: Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be a son or daughter of God as our Father?
Point: It is a very good thing. Please read the following:
1See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:1–3 (NASB95)
Ask: So, if we begin with diligence to follow His path, how do we make sure we stay on His path as much as possible?
Point: By keeping our eyes on the end goal, which is love as God shows it. Please read the following:
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6–8 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
The secret to plucking the thorns and avoiding the lusts of the World choking out the Word of God is keeping the focus on Jesus. That’s a very general statement with little in the way of specifics. The specifics center on keeping the focus on the Bible, which is the Word of God. If we can center our focus and remain diligent in reading the Bible, we keep God’s Word at the center of all we do. From that point forward, we have to let the Holy Spirit guide us where God wants us to go and accept His direction. We cannot ensure we are staying on God’s path if we aren’t following God.
Tasks for the Week
Task 1 Pray. Seek God’s wisdom and leadership toward finding a path to diligent study of His Word.
Task 2 In addition to whatever the Holy Spirit brings to you from our prayers, find at least one devotion plan to add in scripture reading daily.
Task 3 If you do not own a copy of the Bible, purchase one. If you do own a copy, or after you’ve bought one, select a place to keep it where you can see it every day to remind you to read it, daily.
Task 4 Consider journalling as often as you can remember to do it, if you do not already do so.
Task 5 If you keep a journal, review the most recent entries and consider taking some kind of action to reinforce or continue what the Holy Spirit previously revealed.
Definitions
All definitions come from Dictionary.com
All Greek entries are from James Strong as listed in the LOGOS software attributed as WORDSearch 2020
Diligent
[dil-i-juhnt]
adjective
1. Constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.
a diligent student.
Synonyms: sedulous, assiduous, industrious
2. Done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking.
a diligent search of the files.
Synonyms: unremitting, tireless, indefatigable