The Greatest of These

Scripture:

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Devotional:

Through Christ we have redemption.  We are set apart from the world.  Because of this we are to leave our sinful nature or our old lives behind.  As we leave the old behind, we strive to be more Christ-like.  Our goal in this life is to become as Jesus was and to be perfect.  Now of course we cannot ever be perfect.  Jesus is the only man to have lived a perfect sinless life.  So, what is the point?  Through the blood shed on the cross we have been atoned for.  Our debt to sin has been paid and the perfect righteousness of Christ is covering us.

We are a part of the body of Christ. His divine nature is part of who we become.  While we cannot become sinless, we can continue to grow in the likeness of Christ.  How do we do this?  I am glad you asked.  We allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.  We allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and be part of who we are.  We read the scriptures.  Most of all we pray.  We can hold regular conversations with God.  We should be seeking His council in every aspect of our lives.  We need to surround ourselves with like minded people, other believers.  As hard as it might be, we need to forgive wrongs done to us.  We need to show kindness to EVERYONE.  We do not have the right or luxury to pick and choose whom we are to love, be kind to, and forgive.  Nobody said it will always be easy.  But we do need to accept anyone and to show love and kindness to them.  Jesus came to seek the lost.  He lived among the sinners and societies downcast. 

Jesus never preached about burning down buildings or showing hate to those who appose him.  Just because someone chooses a sinful lifestyle, or lives and does things that are sinful and wrong does not give us permission to treat them badly or unjustly.  We still need to love on them.  Show them the love of Christ. 

There have been times when people burn down clinics because of abortion.  We see hateful comments and actions because someone chooses to have relations with others of the same sex.  Women are looked down upon because they live a life of a prostitute.  If you recall Jesus forgave a prostitute.  He was around those that blatantly lived a sinful lifestyle.   He forgave, even the thief on the cross.  In fact Jesus asked God to forgive the very people that were responsible nailing Him to the cross.

We are not to live lives of hate, fear, or selfishness.  We are to love those around us as Jesus loved them.  We have nothing to fear.  Christ gave everything, shouldn’t we?  You will never change someone else’s life or heart.  But the Holy Spirit can.  You just might be the one to introduce the Holy Spirit to another person. How can you if you show hate and cruelty?  You can’t.  It is through love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love”