February 24: MULTIPLICATION
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4
Beloved, even now—amid the fallen (and falling further) state of this world—we are meant by our gracious God to be partakers of the divine nature. One of the ways to partake is through the development of godly habits. To cultivate the habit of thankfulness towards Him has the equal and opposite reaction of crowding out ingratitude. Thank Him right now for His blessings; and be sure to include the difficult circumstances that are in your life. There are certainly occurrences that break our hearts, but why shouldn’t our hearts be broken? His great heart breaks over every lost soul who is blinded to the need of repentance and forgiveness. And why shouldn’t our circumstances be difficult? Consider all that the Son of God suffered in order to show us the heart of the Father! Aren’t we to be a tool in God’s hand for the revelation of His heart to others?
It is the devil who teaches that a life of ease is our goal. But the God of Heaven is keenly interested in the development of our characters. In exercising our God-given will to honestly survey our life and in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), we will come to see that it is in the challenges to our faith that the most valuable lessons are gained. But be aware that this happens only in looking to the Source of life and goodness, whose goal is to make us ready for the everlasting kingdom. Failure to do this leads to bitterness and ultimate ruin.
Let us thank Him today for the spiritual principle of multiplication. If grace and peace are multiplied to each of us as our knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord increases, we are enabled to overcome our sluggishness to recognize our own role as part of His plan. He calls others by glory and virtue to Himself. As the recipients of His endless mercies, let us learn to be refreshment to one another while propagating the truth of His exceedingly great and precious promises in a hurting world. The glorious hope of Heaven makes bearable every hardship and disappointment.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8