Plea for Grace September 28, 2022

2 Peter 1:1-4 ESV - 
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Peter knows his death is imminent (see 1:13, 14) and he writes to other suffering believers to encourage them to remain strong in the face of trial. He is in his last days on earth and his concern is for others . . .

This struck me as I read/thought about/prayed through this morning — “to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours” — do I really believe that the same Holy Spirit indwells me who indwells Paul and Peter and John and Philip and Timothy? The same Holy Spirit indwells me as indwells Elisabeth Elliot and Corrie ten Boom and Helen Roseveare and Fanny Crosby and Charles Spurgeon and Andrew Murray and George Mueller? Just as God does not ‘outsource’ my care, He also does not give out a watered down version of faith to less famous or less quality believers. My faith is not a result of my works or my notoriety but is by the righteousness of Christ Jesus and through his death, burial and resurrection.

Because my salvation is granted to me by Jesus’ payment of my sin-debt and the Holy Spirit indwells me because I am in Christ — it’s based on Christ’s power that grants me all things that pertain to life and godliness . . .reading this should not make me feel weighed down by a burden of rules and regulations I can’t live up to. I should not feel like I need to hide in a corner because I will never be good enough . . .

The good news is that I am not good enough and never will be. I will never keep all of God’s law perfectly. I am not God. I desperately need a Savior, and God provided His own Son. Hallelujah!

Father, thank You for saving me. Thank You for giving the Holy Spirit so I can actually live as You want me to live. Thank You for Your Word to teach me Your ways and encourage and comfort me with Your great and precious promises.

Pray for the Persecuted Church–OpenDoorsUSA

Day3: Pray for the ministry among women and youth in Ethiopia.
Ask God to raise up more women and young people to
strengthen the church

Daily Wisdom
Psalm 130-134
Proverbs 28