“To those who have obtained a faith of EQUAL STANDING with ours, Grace and peace be MULTIPLIED to you in the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and of Jesus our Lord…” (2 Peter 1:1-2) “Equal standing” with Peter Amanda? Think about that. Peter was an Apostle. Jesus had handpicked him as a disciple. He was the first to confess Jesus to be the Christ. He saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain. He was the first Apostle to see the resurrected Jesus. He preached the first evangelistic sermon at Pentecost. He boldly confronted the Sanhedrin when they questioned him about healing the lame man. He was the first to preach to the Gentiles. Sick people used to line the streets where Peter walked, hoping that his shadow might fall on them and heal them. Peter actually wrote wonderful Scripture. And we ordinary Christians have obtained a faith of EQUAL STANDING with Peter’s? ABSOLUTELY YES! There is NOTHING ORDINARY about the faith we’ve received. It has been given to us as a GIFT from the Lord Jesus, the same Lord who gave Peter his faith.
So Peter says to us “GRACE and PEACE be MULTIPLIED to you…” Then he explains this to us about GRACE Amanda, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who WORKS IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-13) We can say that God’s GRACE gives us the DESIRE (to will) and the POWER (to do) to accomplish God’s purpose, which is MULTIPLIED in our lives.
“DON’T WORRY about anything; instead, PRAY about everything…Then you will experience GOD’S PEACE, which EXCEEDS ANYTHING we can understand. His peace will GUARD your HEARTS and MINDS as you LIVE in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7) Which is MULTIPLIED in our lives as well Amanda.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham