2 Peter 1:2: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
What is missing in your life today? You may not have a hard time coming up with a list of material things you would need or want. What about what is missing in your spirit? One of the best moments in a follower of Jesus Christ’s life is the transforming from that of a flesh-driven mindset to a spirit-driven mindset. Upon your confession of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you became a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That new creation is a spirit-driven being. If you are a spirit-driven being, then the answer(s) to the question to what is missing in your life should be spirit related. A flesh-driven mindset looks for the things of this world. A spirit-driven mindset looks for things that are not of this world.
Today’s verse offers two things that should be found on your list – grace and peace. Could you use a little more grace in your life? Would you like to be released from the condemnation that floods our society? Would you like the shackles of the shame of your past sins and mistakes to be unlocked and thrown into the bottom of the deepest ocean? For the spirit-driven being, grace should be close to the top of the list of your desires. Life in this world is full of burdens that, in our original design, we were never meant to carry. These burdens are the consequences of sin – not just your sin but all the sin that ravages humanity.
While the burdens will likely not disappear at the arrival of grace, its presence will provide you a strength to let you choose a different way to respond to them. That illness; that poverty; that broken relationship may not get better. However, your willingness to receive the gift of grace that is given to each follower of Jesus Christ can dramatically diminish their grip and weight on you. 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast all your care upon Jesus, for He cares for you. If you read through the gospels, every situation, with the exception of those who did not believe in Him, got measurably better when He entered the scene. Because He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), His presence is constantly with you via the Holy Spirit that dwells in you. That is the grace of God.
He never asks you to do something that He hasn’t already done Himself. When it comes to suffering, He is well acquainted with it. Yet, your salvation was made possible through His suffering. This truth introduces the possibility of purpose in suffering. From Romans 3:4-5, we see the potential purpose in suffering and tribulations – they can produce perseverance; perseverance can build character; and character can bring hope. Do you see the grace that is possible in this progression? You start with sufferings and tribulations, but you end in hope. This progression is not easy and can be very lonely and painful. However, without the grace of God’s presence in the midst of your suffering, where is the hope?
The second thing that should be on your wishlist is peace. Grace is a predecessor to peace. The grace of God brings the peace of God. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The peace that Jesus offers is two-fold. First, you have peace with God the Father through your faith in His only begotten Son’s finished sacrificial work on the cross. All of your past, present, and future sins are forgiven. Knowing that peace with God releases a peace from God – even in the midst of circumstances that are anything but peaceful.
Today’s verse tells us that this grace and peace can be multiplied, built up, and become abundant through the knowledge of God. This makes sense – the more you know someone, the more you will come to understand and trust them. How do you know God? You will find it in His love letter to you – the Bible. Because God is infinite, He is not fully knowable, but He reveals more than enough of His character in His Holy Word to provide you the truth that this knowledge brings you His grace and His peace. If that’s what your missing, it’s readily available. Pick up your Bible and come to know your God who loves you.