2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
2 Peter 1:4
John 5:36-47
“For all the promises of God
in him are yea,
and in him Amen.”
EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES
God has given us not only “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3), but also His precious Word “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Pet 1:4). Praise God that He has preserved every “jot” and “tittle” of His inspired Word (Matt 5:18). The Apostle Peter bore witness to God’s commitment to preserve His Word for us: “The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet 1:24b-25). In our verse for meditation today, Peter said that all promises “are given unto us.” Peter used the perfect tense of the verb to imply God’s permanent bestowal of all His promises. Because God preserves His inspired Word through the ages till the end of times, we can be absolutely sure that we have all His exceedingly great and precious promises today.
The promises in the Bible are “exceeding great and precious.” Several reasons can be seen from the verse why the biblical promises are referred to as “exceeding great and precious.” First, they are God’s promises, and therefore His divine attributes are inherent in His promises. They are pure, true and faithful. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…” (2 Cor 1:20). Many things that men promise may never be given, but all of God’s promises will be fulfilled.
Second, the promises of God are timeless. Believers of every age and generation can say that the biblical promises “are given unto us.” Their relevance and efficiency shall not wane with time. With time, circumstances may change, but the promises of God are sufficient to help us to meet new challenges, needs and troubles.
Third, as the first word of verse 4 “whereby” suggests, the promises are given to lead us to “glory and virtue” that are mentioned in the preceding verse (2 Pet 1:3). This purpose is further explained at the end of the verse: “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
THOUGHT: Forsake worldliness, embrace God’s promises.
PRAYER: Lord, remind me that Thy promises are mine to enjoy.