第一章

^3神以他神聖的能力，因著我們確實認識那位用自己的榮耀和美善呼召我們的，把一切有關生命和敬虔的事，都賜給了我們。⁴ 藉著這些，他把又寶貴又極大的應許賜給了我們，好叫你們既然逃脫世上因私慾而來的敗壞，就可以分享神的本性。⁵ 正因這緣故，你們要多多努力：有了信心，又要增添美德；有了美德，又要增添知識；⁶ 有了知識，又要增添節制；有了節制，又要增添忍耐；有了忍耐，又要增添敬虔；⁷ 有了敬虔，又要增添弟兄的愛；有了弟兄的愛，還要增添神聖的愛。⁸ 因為你們有了這幾樣，並且繼續增長，就必叫你們在確實認識我們的主耶穌基督上，不至於閒懶不結果子。⁹ 人若沒有這幾樣，就是近視，簡直是瞎眼的，忘記他過去的罪已經得了潔淨。

 

默想：

1. 現代中文譯本第3節的翻譯為：「上帝的神能已經把我們過敬虔生活所需的一切給了我們；這恩賜是藉著認識那位呼召我們來分享他自己的榮耀和善德的上帝而得的。」。彼得教導我們說道：接受福音認識基督後，神就將自己神聖的性情放在我們裡面，並使我們經歷神的能力，能夠「逃脫世上因私慾而來的敗壞」（4節），來過敬虔的生活。
2. 接著彼得提醒我們「要多多努力」，來過基督徒的生活，也就是由基本的信心開始，我們需要繼續培養下面的品格 ：美德，屬靈知識，節制，忍耐，敬虔，弟兄的愛，神聖的愛（愛眾人的心）。當我們不斷在這些方面繼續成長時，我們就不會「閒懶」也不會「不結果子」。
3. 花些時間思想每一個品格，再想想那些我做的不錯，那些我需要改進。
4. 向神承認我需要祂的指引與幫助。求神幫助我在最需要改進的幾方面來成長。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

Chapter1

³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

 

Meditation

1. Through believing the promise of the gospel, God implants his own divine nature in us, and we experience His spiritual power.  In knowing Christ, we have everything we need to “escape the corruption in the world” that is caused by “evil desires” (v4).  And God has given us His power to live godly lives.
2. Peter than reminded us to make every effort to live a Christian life (v5) means we begin with faith and we go on to develop the other Christian virtues: Good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, generous love.  These qualities “in increasing measure” will help us from being “ineffective and unproductive” (v8).
3. Take time to ponder each character trait.  Then think about those I am doing well in.  Think about those I need to grow in.
4. Admit my need for God’s guidance and help in my growth in him.  Ask him to help me grow in those areas where I recognize I need the most improvement.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.