As Peter addresses the
church in this final letter, he knows they have received the like
precious faith that he has through the righteousness of God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ. In chapter one and verse two he greets his
readers with a typical greeting of that day. We read:
Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our
Lord,
The
verse begins, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you...”
The word “grace”
is the Greek word “charis” which means “that which
affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace
of speech”. It also implies “good will, loving-kindness, and
favor”. The second word Peter employs is “peace” which
is the Greek word “eriene” which means “peace between
individuals, i.e. harmony and concord”. This typical greeting
between those who were in the church was meant to bless the hearers
or readers of it, and the fact that Peter desired that these
characteristics be “multiplied” to his readers meant an extra
special blessing was shared with them.
The
verse goes on to say, “...through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord,”. Though the blessings of “grace and
peace” are wonderful blessings to be multiplied to his readers,
Peter gives the way these are obtained... ”through the knowledge
of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”. By gaining knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord we grow in our ability to be gracious, and our
sense of peace is realized no matter what circumstances are around
us.
When we
study the Bible we gain knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we work through each chapter and verse we find that they relate to
our lives, and when circumstances arise that are difficult we are
immediately reminded of the words of God. In the book of Romans in
chapter 10 and verse seventeen we read:
So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The idea
portrayed within this verse is that we are to be hearing, and
hearing, and hearing, and hearing the word of God. When we practice
this Biblical constancy, we grow in our knowledge of Him, and when we
learn of God, we learn of His Son Jesus as well. The result is that
we continue to have grace and peace multiplied to us. As we ponder
Peter's warm greeting to his readers, perhaps we will be inspired to
grow in our knowledge of God and Our Lord Jesus Christ as we study
His words day by day.
Next
time we will discover what God has given to us, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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