Thursday, October 25, 2012

October 26, 2012

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."  II Peter 1:3-7
 
In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group."

The 55 degree (Fahrenheit) water threatened to kill them slowly by hypothermia, so according to one news report "When one would get cold, the other eight would huddle around the person and warm that person, and when another person got cold, the favor was returned."

"Everybody had strong moments," miner Harry B. Mayhugh told reporters after being released from Somerset Hospital in Somerset. "But any certain time maybe one guy got down, and then the rest pulled together. And then that guy would get back up, and maybe someone else would feel a little weaker, but it was a team effort. That’s the only way it could have been."


They faced incredibly hostile conditions together—and they all came out alive together.
 
What a picture of the body of Christ!

When Peter instructs the believers to "add to faith.....brotherly affection and to brotherly affection, love" he has somethng just like this in mind.
 
I have paraphrased this admonition like this, "Love them to life!"
 
How does that happen?
 
Let me share three important truths I see:
 
Get It! - Vv. 3-4
 
Get it? Get what?
 
Get "EVERYTHING"! That is what Peter says we get when we enter into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ - "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

You or I do not have it in us to love God. It is our nature to love ourselves. So, if we are to love God and "love each other to life" we must get it (love) from God!

Do you have it?

Have you allowed Him to love you to life?

You get "it" when you get Him!