 Peter Makes A Point
Five times in the first chapter of 2 Peter, we find a form of the word knowledge. Five times! That alone should at least grab our attention. More than likely, Peter’s letter was a response to the “secret knowledge cults” and the Gnostic heresies of his day. For them, knowledge wasn’t available to all, but only to those who had “the inward spark” of divinity and who attended the secret and sacred initiation rites. Public Knowledge Knowledge for Christians, however, is public knowledge. Specifically, it is knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ, which is eternal life (John 17:3). It is in Christ that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (Col. 2:3). This is how we gain grace and peace. Peter writes, Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2) It is by God, through God, and for God that we are given everything we need for life and godliness. Our access to this comes through knowing him (v. 3). Peter encourages us to add knowledge to our faith (v. 5). Furthermore, he beckons us to seek godly qualities in increasing measure because they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But Not Just Any Knowledge What all of this means is, knowledge matters. But not just any knowledge. It is true Paul cautions us about knowledge which puffs us up with pride. But that’s only if we value knowledge as an end in itself. Instead, knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us eternal life, grace and peace, and affects the way we live. In short, knowing God influences every sphere of life. It is in and through the revealed Word of God that true, life-giving, life-transforming knowledge resides. Let us rejoice that our Lord has not left us alone to grope in the dark but has given us the light of knowledge – the light of his Word – which impacts every sphere of a godly man's life. This is surely why Peter closes his letter with these words, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18) Walking Points · Based on this devotional, what does it mean to know God? · What are three ways in which the knowledge Peter speaks of make a difference in your daily life? · What are three ways you can grow in that knowledge? · Are you presently meeting with other Christian men to study God's Word and pray together? If not, prayerfully consider two or three other men you might begin meeting with to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. · Pray about that today and contact them tomorrow. Get started before this time next week. Prayer All-knowing God, I give thanks to you for not leaving me to grope in the dark alone, stumbling through life, not knowing you or the way to go. Instead, you have shed your Light in and through your Son and holy Scripture. You have breathed life into my heart and given me eyes to see and ears to hear. You have invited me to know you, which is eternal life. And, you encourage me to continue growing in the grace and knowledge of my Savior and Lord. All this reminds me how gracious you are and how blessed I am. I deserve none of this goodness, yet you freely give it. Thank you Father for your self-disclosure, that I might increasingly know you better, love you more, and follow you more faithfully. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. This Week’s Prayer Guide [You can use this prayer guide in your own personal prayer time. However, I encourage you to use it with a group of Christian men. Each week you should spend time praising God for who he is, confessing your sin to him (be specific) as well as expressing gratitude to him for his gracious forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to thank God for the many ways he has poured out his goodness in your life. Then, focus on the following areas of supplication, which will change from week to week.] Petitions – prayers for yourself · Give me greater love for those who are hard to love. · Help me to be compassionate and kind to those in need, even when it’s inconvenient. · Pour out upon me your courage and boldness to love those who do not know you and to share with them your Gospel, in word and deed. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Intercession – prayers for others · My family · My family and friends who do not have a saving relationship with Christ · For those in my other spheres of influence who do not know Christ · For evangelists around our city, country, and world who risk much in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are lost · Other needs
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 Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:29 – Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, We Need the Book of Proverbs Throughout Proverbs, we have some wonderful words of wisdom from Solomon to his sons. It’s too bad Solomon didn’t always practice what he preached. But isn’t that true of all of us? We know the better course; we take the lesser. I don’t know about you, but I desperately want knowledge, discernment, insight, understanding, discipline, and wisdom. I pray for those things often. It was his desire to impart those very things to his sons which moved Solomon to share his words with them and the rest of us. The verses of Proverbs 1:1-6 express this, Proverbs 1:1-6 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: [2] for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; [3] for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; [4] for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young– [5] let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance– [6] for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Who wouldn’t want all Solomon offers in these verses? God, through Solomon, tells us how to get such things. He writes, Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The Key to Knowledge and Wisdom There is no separation of spiritual, volitional, emotional, intellectual, or moral categories in the Bible. They are all interrelated and interdependent. To have the attributes on Solomon’s list (or at least, to move toward acquiring them), one must fear the Lord. People often bend over backwards to point out that such “fear” simply means “reverence.” And, of course, there’s some truth in that. But fear also means fear. For example, when Isaiah stood before the throne of God in Isaiah 6, he immediately knew how sinful he was. He shrieked in terror and was beside himself with the overwhelming feelings of dread and unworthiness. That sounds like fear. Or, how about when Jesus calmed the sea and the disciples wanted him to depart because they felt the weight of their radical shamefulness. There’s something to that understanding of fear we shouldn’t immediately dismiss, simply because it makes us uncomfortable. But, of course, fear means more than that. A Covenantal Relationship “Fear,” in our Scripture, also means covenantal submission to the Lordship of God. We show we properly fear God when we submit, reverentially, to who he is, and to what he has commanded us to do. We aren’t instructed to merely give him lip service. Our obedience must have hands and feet to it as well. To know God is to know him covenantally and relationally. It is to know about him (his character, attributes, decrees, commands, etc.), and to humbly, gratefully, and joyfully live our lives in response to him. We can know we are approaching what it means to properly fear God when we are living in such a way. And this, according to our text, is the beginning of knowledge. There are some who do not desire such knowledge nor do they fear God. They are spiritually, intellectually, morally, and emotionally numb to the things of God. The Bible calls them fools. Such people don’t desire God or his ways. And, sadly, Proverbs reminds us that to such people God responds, “thy will be done.” Read Proverbs I love the book of Proverbs. Like Solomon, I want to pass such wisdom on to my children. In Proverbs we find treasure contained therein that our children desperately need to be taught in this day and age. The average prime time television program will run in complete antithesis to the pearls of wisdom Solomon communicates to his sons. Our children need to ingest this wisdom long before they become adults. But for those who were not introduced to this wisdom as children, it’s still not too late to dive in. Have you read Proverbs lately? You may be interested to know there are 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. Doctor’s Prescription: A Proverb a day will help keep sin away. Of course, it will also help you live a wise and godly life. I would encourage you to read more than Proverbs, but you can’t go wrong by adding it to your spiritual diet. Walking Points
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the Book of Proverbs. It truly is a treasure chest of your wisdom. But more than that, it teaches me to seek you and be dependent upon you. It reveals to me that I must be in covenant with you to get all from the Proverbs that you intend. I truly cannot begin my journey to great knowledge, wisdom, and depth of insight without you. Please give me the humility to be a lifelong learner of your wisdom and not a fool who thinks he has nothing else to learn. In Christ’s holy name I pray. Amen. This Week’s Prayer Guide [You can use this prayer guide in your own personal prayer time. However, I encourage you to use it with a group of Christian men. Each week you should spend time praising God for who he is, confessing your sin to him (be specific) as well as expressing gratitude to him for his gracious forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to thank God for the many ways he has poured out his goodness in your life. Then, focus on the following areas of supplication, which will change from week to week.] Petitions – prayers for yourself · Give me greater knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word. · Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me. · Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life. · This week’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Intercession – prayers for others · My family · My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries · Those struggling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs · Other needs  Autopilot
Have you ever caught yourself cruising through life, somewhere between autopilot and sleeping at the wheel? “Wise” would not be a word we would use to describe ourselves during those lapses of intentional living. The Apostle Paul addresses this very thing in Ephesians 5. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul dealt with how those who claim to love and follow Christ ought to live. He wrote, Ephesians 4:1 – …I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children Ephesians 5:8, 10 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… [10] and find out what pleases the Lord. (Emphases Added) On Purpose Living Paul taught clearly in those verses that there’s nothing casual or accidental about living the Christian life. It takes purpose, commitment, and intentionality. In light of those verses, let’s take a deeper look at how Paul described this lifestyle in Ephesians 5. In verse 15, Paul wrote, Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, How are you doing on that count? Does that verse describe how you live on any given day? Perhaps it does portray many areas of your life. But how about your faith? Are you “very careful” in how you walk with Christ? I’ve discovered something about myself. I’ve noticed when I “don’t have time” to spend in prayer or in reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word in the morning, I’m usually not very “careful” in how I live throughout the rest of the day. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. When I’m not being careful in my walk with Christ, I become a sitting duck for the devil to devour. It becomes much easier for me to fall prey to the temptations in my life. That doesn’t mean God has abandoned me. Yet it does indicate I’m not prepared for what the day may bring. It’s as though I’m choosing not to wear the full armor of God. I would never say that was my motivation, but that’s the result. The word “careful” in our text means “accurate and exact.” It carries the idea of closely examining or investigating something. In this case, Paul is talking about our “walk” with Christ or living the Christian life. Learn from Poor Pilgrim My favorite book, outside of the Bible, is Pilgrim’s Progress. The first part of the story tells us about a man who discovered his great need for Christ and how he came to faith. However, most of the book focuses on the pilgrim’s pursuit to live the Christian life after he came to Christ. Chapter after chapter reveals to us through the pilgrim’s journey what happens when he’s not being “careful in how he lives.” We watch helplessly as he makes mistakes, takes wrong roads, listens to bad advice, and often ends up in gut-wrenching predicaments. Brothers, we shouldn’t laugh at the poor pilgrim because his experience is ours. Through the smallness of our daily surrenders to sin and temptation, we too veer off the road, on one side or the other, and end up miles from where we should be. When we do such things, we reveal we’re not “being careful in how we live.” Where We Find Wisdom Paul next provides substance to what “being careful” as Christians looks like. At the end of Ephesians 5:15 he writes, Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, This verse is tied to verse 17, which says, Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. If you want to be wise, you need to understand what the Lord’s will is, and then do it. Paul’s exhortation to “be careful” by being wise and not foolish is not an ivory tower academic or intellectual exercise. The word “wisdom” in Scripture means “skill for living.” We discover and acquire this skill as we understand what the Lord’s will is and, in his power, obey it. If you don’t know what pleases or displeases God, then it is awfully hard to please God. God isn’t glorified by our ignorance and foolishness. We show we’re wise when we understand what God’s will is. And once we understand it, we then must do it. Listen to God Romans 12:2 explains how we can learn that. Observe these words, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. A good question here would be: How do we renew our minds? One key way is to regularly read, study, and meditate upon God’s Word. So often in prayer we want to do all the talking. We essentially say things like, “Dear God, here’s my list of things I need you to give me or fix for me. Amen.” That’s often what our prayers sound like. There is certainly a place for bringing God our needs. Of course there is. But a transformed life and renewed mind happen as we listen to God. And we listen to God as we interact with his Word, whether it’s in private devotions, worship on the Lord’s Day, or in a Bible study with a smaller group of believers. I’m able to pray much more effectively when I know what God’s will is, when I know what pleases him and brings glory to his name. Living wisely, the way Paul has in mind, takes place once we consider what God has said on a particular subject and then act on it. That’s what it means to “be careful” and to “live wisely.” We’re called to be very careful in how we live. We’re called to be wise and not unwise. And we become wise as we understand what the Lord’s will is and then do it. Walking Points · What are the areas of your life in which you’re living most carefully? · What are you doing in those areas that help you live wisely? · What are the areas of your life in which you are living least carefully? · What seems to be the main obstacle that is keeping you from living more faithfully in those areas? · Are you living carefully, wisely, and intentionally in the area of your faith? · What are two things you could do to help you grow wiser and more careful as a Christian? Come up with a plan and ask two friends to hold you accountable to it. Prayer All-wise God, the world looks at your wisdom and calls it foolishness. It looks at what you call foolishness and declares it wisdom. What an upside-down world we live in. I am grateful you have graciously spoken to us and given us light in such a dark world. Thank you for giving us all the treasures of knowledge in and through your Son, Jesus Christ. Please direct and empower me by your Spirit to regularly renew my mind so I may know your good, perfect, and pleasing will. And I pray, O Lord, that you enable me to obey your will so that my life will become aligned with your Kingdom. In the name of the One who is wisdom incarnate. Amen. This Week’s Prayer Guide [You can use this prayer guide in your own personal prayer time. However, I encourage you to use it with a group of Christian men. Each week you should spend time praising God for who he is, confessing your sin to him (be specific) as well as expressing gratitude to him for his gracious forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to thank God for the many ways he has poured out his goodness in your life. Then, focus on the following areas of supplication, which will change from week to week.] Petitions – prayers for yourself · Help me to grow in wisdom and become who you created and redeemed me to be. · Renew my mind and enable me to cultivate a godly perspective and attitude regarding the various spheres and circumstances of my life. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Intercession – prayers for others · My family, immediate and extended · Those struggling with sin, illness, or relational difficulties · Other needs  Colossians 2:6-7 - So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Off to a Great Start We start off so well. With great gratitude and enthusiasm we bow before the throne of our King. Upon placing our trust in Christ alone – “receiving” him – we take on the world in his name. But motivation and inspiration can wane. That which does not become habit and done out of joyful and obedient self-discipline will not last for the long haul. That is why church history is littered with travelers who fell by the wayside on the narrow road to the celestial city. Jesus taught that the seed of God’s Word sometimes falls on shallow soil and does not take the necessary root it needs to live and grow (Matthew 13:1-23). Continue In Him Thus, Paul exhorts us to “continue to live in him.” This is much more than simple encouragement to attend church and have your quiet time, both of which are good. He is indeed saying followers of Christ are to persevere in such means of grace. But even more than that, Paul is declaring that our very power source is the Lord himself. He is our power, foundation, anchor, and compass - our all in all. The Lord Jesus Christ must not be sprinkled on our lives to simply add a little flavor to an already okay meal. Instead, he is to be our life. To claim we are in Christ means we died with him in his crucifixion and are raised with him in his resurrection. The life we now live we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us (Galatians 2:20). Root, Shoot, and Fruit I love the language Paul uses to undergird his thesis. He adds that we are to be “rooted and built up in him.” In John 15:1-8, we discover Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from him, he tells us, we can do nothing. If we would bear fruit, we must remain connected to Christ. He must be our root, for it is only then he will bear fruit in and through us. If we as branches ever become detached from our vine, we become useless. Our Chief Cornerstone Changing our imagery, Jesus is our chief cornerstone and we are to be built up in him. He is our only sure foundation. All else is shifting sand. If we are not built up in him, we will crumble during the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27). What does it mean to be “built up” in Christ? Paul helps us here. He says it means to be strengthened in the faith we were taught. When those in the early church first came to faith in Christ, they sat at the feet of the Apostles and learned from them (Acts 2:42). Today we have their authoritative teaching in Holy Scripture. We are built up and strengthened in Christ when we meet him in his Word and listen to his instruction. More than that, we must obey what we hear (Matthew 7:24-27). And so be encouraged. You have the greatest resource at God’s disposal to enable you to bear much, good, and lasting fruit in your life, Christ Jesus our Lord and the power of his Spirit. Without him you cannot do anything. With him, all things are possible. Walking Points · I have provided Scripture references throughout this devotion. Look up these texts and meditate upon them as you reflect on the following questions. · What is the hardest part for you when it comes to persevering with Christ? · Does it encourage you to know God has provided his greatest resource to help you live your life well? · What are three ways you can deepen your roots in Christ? · Share your answers with a friend and start “deepening your roots” today. Prayer Merciful God, I praise you for your goodness. You have graciously revealed yourself in and through holy Scripture and I am thankful. Through your Word you have made us wise for salvation and given us what we need to train us in righteousness. It is there we meet with you and hear your voice, learn your ways and wisdom, and grow in grace and knowledge. But only when we are rooted and built up in your Word. Father, protect me from laziness, lack of focus, intentionality, and self-discipline. Please give me the gifts and graces I need to abide in you and for your Word to abide in me, that I might truly know you better, love you more, and follow you more faithfully. For it’s in your Son’s name I pray. Amen. This Week’s Prayer Guide [You can use this prayer guide in your own personal prayer time. However, I encourage you to use it with a group of Christian men. Each week you should spend time praising God for who he is, confessing your sin to him (be specific) as well as expressing gratitude to him for his gracious forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to thank God for the many ways he has poured out his goodness in your life. Then, focus on the following areas of supplication, which will change from week to week.] Petition – prayers for yourself · Help me to mature in my faith and to increasingly please God by my thoughts, words, and deeds. · Particular struggles in various relationships · My activities for this day · Other needs Intercession – prayers for others · My Family · My local church · My denomination · Para-church ministries, particularly Christian education and discipleship · Evangelistic ministries · Other needs |
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