Today's Daily Lesson comes from 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 1 through 11:
3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
There is a line in today's Lesson about becoming "participants of the divine nature."
The divine nature is one of mutuality and connection. In Christianity we describe that as Triune. It is in and of itself open, and self-giving, and other-affirming. It is relational rather than transactional. It gives and receives, but never takes. It is a nature begun in hope, kept in faith, and bound in love.
C.S. Lewis once wrote of the love within the divine nature when he spoke of "Need-love" and "Gift-love" He said:
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty. Gift-love longs to serve, or even suffer for, God . . . Need-love says of a woman 'I cannot live without her' Gift-love longs to give her happiness , comfort, protection -- if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him."
We all need love. And we also need to give love. And the love we give is an appreciative love -- a self-less love and relinquishing love -- which means it is one of relinquishment, and affirmation, and the knowledge that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
This is the love of God. And when we love like God we participate in the divine nature.
And the nature of the divine love never, ever ends.
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we will read the book of 1 John.
Ryon Price is the Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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