Discover His heart: “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.”
Tom and I are celebrating our 47th wedding anniversary this week, and yes, we did get married when we were twelve. I thank God every day for the love that we share and the blessing that Tom is in my life. There was a time back in our early years of dating, however, when I couldn’t foresee this long and happy union because Tom just wasn’t perfect, and this was troubling to me. I had a friend offer wise counsel when she advised, “God created woman to be a helpmate. If you’re looking for the perfect man, he doesn’t need one.” Husband and wife, working as a team, bringing their strengths to the union – great advice! But it took a little admonition from the Lord to finally straighten me out.
@ 2 Peter 1
One particular day back then I was talking to God about Tom and his imperfection. I didn’t think that I had accomplished perfection in my own life, but for some reason, I felt I needed it in the one I loved. Thankfully, because God is so merciful, He chose not to smite me on the spot but instead sent me to 2 Peter 1:3-7: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life… And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature…In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”
After reading these words, God suggested that I contact Him again regarding any criticism of Tom after I had achieved all these godly attributes in my own life. Ouch! Well, needless to say, we’ve never had that conversation. I took God’s correction to heart that day and have done my best to remember that we all are a work in progress. Every day the Holy Spirit is working on developing His divine nature in my life and in Tom’s life as well.
Faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, love for everyone – I’ve got my work cut out for me, and there’s little time to be criticizing someone else. As far as reaching perfection on this earth, chances are…well, there are no chances. Only One has lived a perfect life, and He died for it.
Moving Forward: Living this day as a work in progress, seeking to share in His divine nature and looking forward to a perfect eternity in heaven.
Tomorrow @ Deuteronomy 16-19
Phyllis Benigas 