The opening of 2 Peter finishes that sentence off and is a help to those who God has blessed or promoted in some way or has a level of authority today.
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1 v 1-2)
If God has elevated you or brought success into your life ….
- Never forget your story of grace. “Simon Peter” was his original name and a nickname given by Jesus for the reason of moving him into his destiny. He was born Simon and that man needed Jesus to transform his life. Never forget your roots especially if where you are today is a whole lot better than where you came from. Never forget when you had nothing and when you were nothing before Jesus changed everything for you.
- Never over inflate your credential. “…a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” reveals that he was fully aware of his previous proud impetuosity. He had learned humility and he taught this trait in his first letter commanding us to clothe ourselves with humility because God opposes the proud. He is an apostle, a man of authority, having witnessed the resurrection, but he is Christ’s servant who knows the importance of washing feet.
- Never view the Christian faith through inequality. “To those who … have received a faith as precious as ours” is a reminder that all believers share the same faith. There are no followers of Jesus who are non-Christians. Peter had first-hand experience with the family of Cornelius (Acts 10) of God giving the same saving faith to non-Jews as the Jewish followers of Jesus.
- Never dethrone Jesus in your life. “…through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” is a tremendous verse to use the next time the JW is at your door! We bear the hallmarks of Jesus in our lives; His teachings; His story and the truth that He is God. There is no room for idols.
- Never stop knowing God more. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” is a call to pursue Him so that we can be like Him so that these 2 most protective of gifts, grace and peace, keep us from falling away.
Missions Paul 