Word@Work 2Pet7 - 2 Peter 1:9
Published: Tue, 08/18/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
DEFECTIVE VISION
2 Peter 1:9 But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. (NIV)
Myopia (short-sightedness) is the inability to focus the eye on distant objects. Peter uses it as an illustration of those Christians who have received so much from God (grace, peace, faith, promises and power), and yet are unwilling to put everything into their relationship with Jesus (cf 2 Pet 1:1-7). So Peter prescribes a spiritual work-out of: practicing goodness, getting to know God, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. Then he describes the reason why some believers refuse to work-out for Christ's sake.
They simply do not see the point of exerting themselves, or changing their lifestyle. That is because they cannot see beyond the end of their fingers, and all that they might grasp. The problem is not that they cannot see the future (although they cannot), but that they cannot see the past. They have forgotten all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for them in the past. They are like children grabbing precious gifts and treating them like trivial toys, soon losing interest. Anybody who fails to be deeply impressed by the sacrifice of Jesus, as the substitutionary punishment for our sins, has no basis for growing in relationship with God.
They may have once gladly heard and received the gospel. But when they forget the enormity of their sins and the greatness of their salvation, there is no motivation for active lifestyle change. And so that part of God's kingdom has a pitifully small spiritual productivity. Alas such Christians are everywhere: they can hardly be called followers of Jesus, because they make no real effort to do so. Yes, they go to church where they find an convenient social group. But put them in the workplace, and they are indistinguishable from well mannered unbelievers. They cannot see any reason to be different, because they have forgotten the sight of the blooded Jesus dying in agony on that cross for them. What terrible spiritual unproductiveness. It is high time to see the Christian life through Peter's apostolic lens; and decide to repent and change.
Prayer: Holy God. Please forgive me when I presume upon Your kindness and forget the enormous cost of my salvation to Jesus. Forgive me when I have taken your blessings carelessly and not wanted to honour You with my whole heart and lifestyle. Please help me, through the lens of Peter's letter and other parts of the Bible, to see my sin upon that cross. Help me to work-out spiritually each day so that my character will develop to reflect that of Jesus Christ. For His Name's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Myopia (short-sightedness) is the inability to focus the eye on distant objects. Peter uses it as an illustration of those Christians who have received so much from God (grace, peace, faith, promises and power), and yet are unwilling to put everything into their relationship with Jesus (cf 2 Pet 1:1-7). So Peter prescribes a spiritual work-out of: practicing goodness, getting to know God, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. Then he describes the reason why some believers refuse to work-out for Christ's sake.
They simply do not see the point of exerting themselves, or changing their lifestyle. That is because they cannot see beyond the end of their fingers, and all that they might grasp. The problem is not that they cannot see the future (although they cannot), but that they cannot see the past. They have forgotten all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for them in the past. They are like children grabbing precious gifts and treating them like trivial toys, soon losing interest. Anybody who fails to be deeply impressed by the sacrifice of Jesus, as the substitutionary punishment for our sins, has no basis for growing in relationship with God.
They may have once gladly heard and received the gospel. But when they forget the enormity of their sins and the greatness of their salvation, there is no motivation for active lifestyle change. And so that part of God's kingdom has a pitifully small spiritual productivity. Alas such Christians are everywhere: they can hardly be called followers of Jesus, because they make no real effort to do so. Yes, they go to church where they find an convenient social group. But put them in the workplace, and they are indistinguishable from well mannered unbelievers. They cannot see any reason to be different, because they have forgotten the sight of the blooded Jesus dying in agony on that cross for them. What terrible spiritual unproductiveness. It is high time to see the Christian life through Peter's apostolic lens; and decide to repent and change.
Prayer: Holy God. Please forgive me when I presume upon Your kindness and forget the enormous cost of my salvation to Jesus. Forgive me when I have taken your blessings carelessly and not wanted to honour You with my whole heart and lifestyle. Please help me, through the lens of Peter's letter and other parts of the Bible, to see my sin upon that cross. Help me to work-out spiritually each day so that my character will develop to reflect that of Jesus Christ. For His Name's sake. Amen.
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