2 Peter 1

1:1 - Peter begins by expressing that Jesus is both God and our Savior. Some people want to make Jesus nothing more than a good teacher, but the Bible doesn't allow for that. All through out Jesus is considered God.

1:2 - Grace and peace come through the knowledge of god and of Jesus. It is funny to me how we pray to God for grace and peace and then wait as if something is going to happen magically to us. Peter says that we receive grace and peace as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus. So, if I want more peace and more grace I need to seek God more.

1:3 - God has given us EVERYTHING we need to live this life the way He wants us to...and we receive it through knowing Him better. Peter seems to be on a theme that says you can have all this from God, but it does require you to make an honest effort and get to know God better. The problem with many people's faith is they are waiting for God to magically do what they are responsible to do.

1:5-8 - Faith---Goodness---Knowledge---Self-control---Perseverance---Godliness---Mutual affection---Love....For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a way to make sure your life produces what it should. Use these as measuring tools.

1:9 - To lack these things means you are nearsighted, blind and you have forgotten. As we would say it, "You are outside your mind."

1:10 - Peter says three times in the first chapter (5, 10, 15) make every effort. This goes back to the theme mentioned in the comments on verse 3. Peter is trying to help us see it not only takes an effort on our part, but a sincere and sacrificial effort.

1:11 - rich welcome - I want that!!! (Not to mention my dad's name was Richard, so a Rich welcome would be pretty cool for me.)

1:12 - How firmly established is your faith? Check out Matthew 7:24-27. Is your life and faith founded on the Rock or just remodeled on the Rock? If it isn't founded there it won't last. I know that many times in my life I have tried to add Jesus in instead of letting Him deconstruct my life, faith, beliefs, habits and start over from scratch.

1:16 - Peter was an eyewitness to the things he is writing about. He walked with Jesus and was even there when God revealed who Jesus truly was on the mountain (Matthew 17).

1:19-21 - Prophecy (and all Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16) is from God.

Love you each, Michael