2 Peter Chapter 1 verses 2 – 3 (NIV)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 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.
2 Peter Chapter 1: verses 5-7 (NIV)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
DANIEL CHAPTER 2 – VERSES 46-49 (NIV)
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honour and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
Daniel Chapter 3 verses 1-2 (NIV)
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
Well, this was a first today! The New Testament reading is always before the Old Testament one in Nicky Gumbel’s “Bible In One Year” reading plan. The verses in 2 Peter jumped out at me, so I assumed these would form the basis for today’s thoughts. But then these versions in Daniel jumped out with equal importance. At first, I thought they were for two separate portions, but as I pondered them, I realised they can be linked together, honestly.
Peter reminds us in the New Testament portion that God has given us all that we need to live a full and Godly life, especially the grace and peace that comes through knowing Jesus. But our relationship with God is intended as a two-way one. We are expected to work out our salvation with dear and trembling. (Philippians Chapter 2: verse 12). Peter tells his readers how to do that – by making an effort to cultivate the qualities that will be the evidence that we are actively living a Christian life. Many of these are fruits of the Holy Spirit, but Peter explains that we need to make an effort to let them grow in our lives. It’s not enough to sit back and let God do everything without any co-operation from us. After all, what sort of relationship is that?
But how does this tie in with the Old Testament reading in Daniel? King Nebuchadnezzar had seen a miraculous move of God through Daniel’s obedience. He recognised that only God could have revealed the meaning of the dream the king had had, and then reveal both the dream and its interpretation to Daniel. He acknowledges God’s sovereignty and power. But sadly, he doesn’t grow or learn from that experience. Very soon after, we read that he sets up an idol and demands that the people worship that. He clearly had made no effort to find out more about the God who had answered his request, and fell back into doing his own thing. God had done all that Nebuchadnezzar had requested, but aside from the initial experience, the king had done nothing to change his lifestyle.
Being a Christian is not all about having amazing experiences, although they have their place and I have had my share. Its about standing on what Jesus has done for us, believing what God has told us, and making an effort to live a life that glorifies God for all that He has done for us. Its not all about a one-off encounter. Let’s therefore be careful not to get caught up looking for the next spiritual experience. Rather let us prove to God that we are serious in our intentions to follow Him, and sometimes that means we need to work at it.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that You want a relationship that is two-way. Help me to make an effort to grow even more, even at this stage in my Christian walk, so that it can be a fruitful one that reflects the work of Christ in me, the hope of glory. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.