“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” – 2 Peter 1:2
Scripture reading: Hosea 4:1-6
When we send a card or an email, we sometimes write “best wishes” or “all the best” on the bottom. Regardless of how sincere we might be, however, there is not really anything we can do to bring that about. Peter desired that believers enjoy the grace and peace of God, in abundance. Grace is God’s undeserved favour, and peace is the absence of conflict, turmoil and doubt, and the presence of unity, harmony and confidence. But this was not Peter’s equivalent of our “best wishes.” For Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ. His words were written with the inspiration and authority of the Holy Spirit. Thus, his words contained the power to convey grace and peace to believers. How? “in [or through or by] the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” In other words, the Holy Spirit uses our study of the Word of God to work grace and peace in us and through us.
The importance of correct knowledge is a central theme of Peter’s letter. False teachers were a problem in Peter’s day, and the Scriptures tell us that there will always be false teachers. What we need then is correct knowledge. We need it as an anchor for faith, as ‘glasses’ that help us recognize error, and as a guide for life. We get this knowledge only by Word and Spirit.
Suggestions for prayer
Confess any failures to pursue growth in knowledge. Thank the Lord for His abundant grace and peace to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. Ask that you may grow in this knowledge.
Rev. Andre Holtslag is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana (2007). At the present time he serves the Reformed Church of Avondale, which is in the city of Auckland, New Zealand, and is one of the Reformed Churches in New Zealand (RCNZ). Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
