Philemon; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; 1 Tim.; Titus

“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” – II Peter 1:3, 4 (emphasis added)


“You have what it takes!” It’s a powerful message encapsulated in a simple and concise statement. It’s a message that elicits confidence from a place of personal affirmation and validation. It is a seed of the truth that we are deeply and absolutely loved and accepted; that nothing we say or do could ever change that love. Once that truth is firmly rooted in our belief system it has the ability to radically alter the trajectory of our lives. It propels us into a life of purpose. So the question remains, if we truly are partakers in the very nature of God and possess everything needed to live a life that pleases God, why do we find it so difficult live from that place of truth?

For the answer, I look at the story of the one who penned this revelation. Peter was a hardened fisherman; a self-made man. He was boisterous and confident. He was loyal and passionate. In spite of that, Peter experienced a soul-crushing failure at one of the most defining moments of his life. He betrayed his friend and Messiah when he denied his association with Jesus. I can only imagine the video collage that endlessly rolled through his mind’s eye; the “I should have’s” and “I wish I had’s” that haunted his every waking moment. His regret and self-doubt must have been debilitating. He was a broken and defeated.

How did Peter overcome? When Peter encountered his risen Savior on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (John 21), everything changed. Jesus lifted Peter out of the mire of his regret when He restored him to relationship. Jesus then went a step further, rescuing Peter from the pit of self-doubt, when He commissioned him back into ministry. I believe that Jesus expressed to Peter, “You have what it takes!” In that moment Peter received affirmation and validation. A seed of truth took root in Peter’s belief system and changed his life. It was that personal revelation that Peter later confidently declared to us.

We are deeply and absolutely loved and accepted. Nothing could ever change that truth. The voice of regret and self-doubt no longer has a hold. Be empowered by the voice of your heavenly Father as He speaks to you that “You have what it takes!”

Today's Blogger: Greg Ross

Tomorrow's Text: Grace Day