ADDING THIS AND THAT

I would like to unpack what Father is has been showing me in 2 Peter 1, but before I do, I want to put the verses in question here to consider for a bit before I do. They will be from 2 different translations, the second of which I will be basing this discussion on, since I believe it to be more accurately portraying Peter's mind on this matter:

seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
(2Pe 1:3-10 WEB (R))

And then the translation I will be considering...

So has all of His divine power, that tends to life and devoutness, been presented to us through the recognition of Him Who calls us to His own glory and virtue;" through which have been presented to us the precious and greatest promises, that through these you may become participants of the divine nature, fleeing from the corruption which is in the world by lust." Now for this same thing also, employing all diligence, in your faith supply virture, yet in virtue knowledge, yet in knowledge self-control, yet in self-control endurance, yet in endurance devoutness, yet in devoutness brotherly fondness, yet in brotherly fondness love." For your possessing these and increasing is constituting you not idle nor yet unfruitful in the recognition of our Lord, Jesus Christ." For he in whom these are not present is blind, closing his eyes, getting oblivious of the cleansing from the penalties of his sins of old." Wherefore, rather, brethren, endeavor through ideal acts to confirm your calling and choice; for, doing these things you should under no circumstances be tripping at any time. "
(2Pe 1:3-10 CLV)

Notice some of the subtle differences in the choice of words, and see what Father may show you regarding how, in particular, verses 5-7 are very easily read from a fleshly mindset which leads to unneeded introspection, comparison, and a desire to attain to something we think we are lacking in because we don't measure up.

Before we get to verses 5-7, I want us to see the foundation upon which those verses rest, found in verse 3.

all of His divine power...to life and devoutness...presented to us...

What do you think about this statement? Everything needed for the qualities in verses 5-7 has been presented to us. Peter sums up those qualities by using the words 'life' and 'devoutness.' The temptation at this point will either be to deny this because of looking at yourself and seeing how you fall short in one or more of the qualities, or to start thinking of all the different formulas you can conjure up to make this presented power 'work' these qualities out in your life.

Peter is neither giving us reason for introspection, nor is he giving us a formula to appropriate. The key, as I see it, that puts this whole thing in the proper perspective is...

the recognition of Him...

Do you recognize Him? A proper view is what Peter has in mind. What is it that we recognize of Him? It is the recognition of the reality that we have already been presented everything needed for life and devoutness! We do not have to search for it. It is ours here and now! But if that is true, then why do so many of us struggle with seeing this life and devoutness in our own life? Does our not seeing those things mean that they are not in us? That we do not have the power?

I will attempt to demonstrate from Peter's train of thought that his power and life and devoutness is always there within us. What we perceive and thus exhibit outwardly will depend on whether we recognize that truth or not. In other words, your actions are a byproduct of what you are convinced of, or, as Peter put it, who you recognize and what about him you recognize as true.

This concept of recognition is further enhanced by it's antithesis, found in verse 9:

For he in whom these are not present is blind, closing his eyes, getting oblivious of the cleansing from the penalties of his sins of old."

This is not speaking about our literal eyes, but the eyes of our understanding. To close your eyes is to be blind on purpose. What is there is still there, but with the eyes closed you can no longer see it. You no longer recognize it. You get to be oblivious, meaning you walk around unaware of what is going on around you. I am speaking not of what you perceive going on, but the reality of it.

Remember what that reality is? It is the reality that we already have everything we need for live and devoutness. Another reality relating to this that needs to be recognized is that part of what we have been given is a clean conscience. Peter implies this when he says that we have been cleansed from the penalties of our past sins. He also says earlier that this resulted in us fleeing from the corruption in the world.

Now imagine if you and I truly believed these realities, utterly convinced of them. We then will naturally walk out of that reality. Our body will obey what we are currently convinced of. So we (and others with spiritual vision) will be able to rightly see faith, virture, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devoutness, brotherly fondness, and love. The only reason Peter gives for these things not being present is not because they are not there at all (remember what we have been given) but because we have for that time closed our eyes and blinded ourselves from seeing what is reality, thus becoming oblivious to that reality.

If someone gave me a car and I close my eyes to that for whatever reason and keep walking everywhere I go, that car is not present to me, but that does not mean I do not have a car. The reality is that I do possess that car. It just means I do not believe it and so I live as though it were not present.

I know that seems like a silly illustration, for who would deny what has plainly been given them. I agree, so why can't we take our Father at his word as to what he has given us? It is high time for us to awaken out of our slumber. Open those closed eyes. We can believe what he says, for he is trustworthy.

Ron