Abundance

 "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

— 2 Peter 1:1-3

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

It's interesting that in Peter's second letter, he introduces himself as "Simon Peter." It's as if he is reminding himself who he once was. He calls himself first a servant of Jesus Christ, then as an apostle. Servanthood comes first. I am nothing if not first a servant of You, Lord Jesus. He's writing to those who have received and now share this precious faith in "our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Peter believed as did Thomas when he said to You, "My Lord and my God!"

The two most precious virtues of the Christian life—grace and peace—are ours in abundance. Peter repeats exactly what he said in 1 Peter 1:2. We need the reminder. What we need most we actually have in abundance. Grace and peace comes through knowing God and Jesus as Lord. Not head knowledge, but real heart knowledge. For it is by Your divine power at work in my life that has given me everything I need to live a godly life. What I have in abundance comes through knowing You, believing You, and following Your call on my life. It is by Your own glory and goodness that I have all that I need in abundance.

Lord Jesus, today may I rest in knowing that I have all that I need in abundance through You. The world says otherwise. The world seeks to take my peace and cause division between me and others. The world seeks to discount Your grace by causing division between me and You. The world makes me strive for what I think I need when I already have it in abundance and I don't need to strive. May I find this abundance today by pursuing You and You alone!

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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