Todays Scripture-2 Peter 1:3 (1-11 below)
v3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness…”
Clare’s 90 year old dad always says, “Each generation has been blessed to face the problems of that generation.” We believe dad is right. If you are reading this blog, you are so blessed with the use of technology. Chances are you have a roof over your head, running water and food chilling in the refrigerator. God has given us everything needed. We are so blessed. The nation we live in is so very blessed and we have God-sized problems which desperately need God’s blessing and our cooperation.
Abraham Lincoln made a speech made in 1863 that worth hearing today. Lincoln said, “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”
Maybe Lincoln’s words are true today and we are intoxicated with our unbroken success. What if my dad is right? Imagine what would happen if we all shared our blessings to answer the problems of this generation. Imagine using our blessings to end the slavery of an estimated 27 million around the world. Envision our abundance addressing hunger, violence and poverty for the sake of our children. Friends, we have “everything needed.”
So today as we read the scripture, ponder Lincoln’s words, let’s use the 3G practice to pray for the nation and our world.
Give up – saying anything but “thank you God!” today and/or this Lenten season.
Give in – to the leading of God in how to share your abundance and pray for our nation to do the same.
Give out – from the abundance you have received.
Today’s Scripture Reading – 2 Peter 1:1 (NRSV)
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.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.
A few ways to share our blessings-
Volunteer and tithe at your local church
Volunteer to end human slavery
Give or volunteer to Bread of Life Food Pantry