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. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

This set of verses picks up right where we left off yesterday. Gifts, gifts, and more gifts. We are totally overrun by God’s gifts in these opening verses.

We are given “everything we need for a godly life.” We are given a calling sheerly based upon Jesus’ own “glory and goodness.” We are given his “very great and precious promises” which springs us free from the corruption of our evil desires and permits us to participate with God himself instead in this journey of being conformed to Christ.

Pastor Michael alluded to it yesterday, but it’s worth underscoring a couple times here again. Nothing in our world works this way that God works. In the world we live in—nothing is for free. Everything comes at a cost, and so every interaction implies a transaction. We give of our work only so that our employer or customers will give of their money in return. When we give of our money, we always expect a return—a product, a service, or something similar. Even our generosity goes this way—we give in order to help someone. If those we help do not respond to our help with gratitude and/or a changed life that gives us a sense of “impact,” we tend to re-evaluate the nature of our giving.

So when it comes to faith—we expect God to operate the same way. This can manifest in a couple different ways. Firstly—it can show up in our guilt. If we find that our own response to God is lacking, we feel sheepish or even ashamed to come back to his presence asking again for forgiveness. We assume God will treat us like everyone else does, or like we tend to treat others. When we don’t shape up, we assume God will ship us out. We cannot be worthy or deserving of such continual gifts of grace and forgiveness as he intends to offer.

It’s true: we aren’t worthy nor deserving. God gives us these gifts not because of who we are, but because of who he is. He has called us “by his own glory and goodness,” not our own.

It can happen the other way too, though. If we find that we aren’t being terribly “impacted” by church, by worship, or by the community of church people—we can quickly assume that we must not be “getting much out of it.” In other words, we’re paying more time, attention, and obedience than we’re being paid back in rewards.

In this case, we’ve lost sight of the larger movements of God’s economy. Our own narrow sense of microeconomics has missed the macroeconomic reality of God’s “everything.” This is indeed the danger of our modern world. It’s flat. No “divine power,” “nature,” or “givens” remain visible to our perception, and therefore also not to our ledgers. That, and the lifetime of growing into a “godly life” takes place over such a long time frame such that it seems immaterial to our day to day lives.

Only with time and the wisdom that comes from the hardships and sorrows of broken promises, failed callings, and corrupt desires do we begin to discover that the gifts of God that lead us onward toward a life that smells like Jesus is the most material asset we might ever hold. Wouldn’t you know it—whether it takes us a long time or a little to clue in to the value of this asset—the cost is just the same. Free. Its’ free. A gift of God that was always ours for the receiving. No time like the present. Are you in?

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).