Participate in the Divine

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 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. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
 
HAVE you ever considered that as a Christian you participate in the divine nature? This is a remarkable gift, isn’t it? The Triune God has not only welcomed you into his presence, he has welcomed you into his essence. The day you said, “I believe.” your basic nature changed. You resigned your membership in the world’s profane opposition to God. Your faith has revealed God’s grace and peace.
   Grace is God’s undeserved favor. Peace is the reconciliation between God and mankind through Jesus. Each of us must understand that regardless of what is happening in our personal lives, God’s grace and peace are above all. Evil, disease and even death cannot disturb or remove God’s divine nature from your soul. Your participation is sure and constant. How well, then, will you participate in God’s divine nature?
   Your involvement in God’s nature is to become more as God. You will become more personally connected to God when you have the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Perhaps one reason you are reading this is to learn of God, the Father, and of Jesus our Lord. Jesus has told everything you need to know about a life that participates with him. You may have heard some false or true things about Jesus before God saved you. Once you received God’s divine nature, did you begin to seek more knowledge of Jesus? The best way to fully participate in an occupation or in a sport is to have full knowledge of that activity, isn’t it? It is the same with Jesus. To participate well in his divine nature, get to know Jesus.
   But maybe you feel incapable of participating in God’s divine nature. After all, you come from a sin nature that focused on the negative: “God is not interested in me.” “God is always judging me.” But note, you can be confident God’s divine power gives you all you need for life and godliness. The power of God is the Spirit, who hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). He empowered a simple man Bezalel with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts, to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze (Exodus 31:3-4), so he could build God’s house in the Exodus desert. The Spirit is the divine power who transformed Gideon from a scared farmer into a mighty warrior. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet (calling Israel to arms.) (Judges 6:34) God chose these two ordinary men and many others in Scripture, including the prophets and apostles, to participate in divine power. When God acted, they acted through knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. How sinful and mistaken Peter once was. But the divine power gave Peter all he needed to fully participate in the divine to advance the kingdom of God.
   It is the same for you. Regardless of your role in the kingdom of God, it is essential you know how precious it is to participate in the divine. You get to be with God to grow into an abiding love relationship with him. This is his wonderful will for your life. Enjoy him.