Basic HTML Version
“Partakers of the Divine Nature”, February 22
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4
.
“Partakers of the divine nature.” Is this possible? Of ourselves we can
do no good thing. How, then, can we be partakers of the divine nature?
By coming to Christ just as we are, needy, helpless, dependent. He died
to make it possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature. He took
humanity upon Himself that He might reach humanity. With the golden
chain of His matchless love He has bound us to the throne of God. We
are to have power to overcome as He overcame.
To all He gives the invitation: “Come unto me.... Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls ...” (
Matthew 11:28-30
).
We have a part to act in this work. Let none think that men and
women are going to be taken to heaven without engaging in the struggle
here below. We have a battle to fight, a victory to gain. God says to us,
“Work out your own salvation.” How? “With fear and trembling. For it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure”
(
Philippians 2:12, 13
). God works, and man works.... Thus only can we
be partakers of the divine nature.
Here is the consistency of true religion. We are to be “labourers
together with God,” working in harmony with Him. “Ye are God’s hus-
bandry, ye are God’s building” (
1 Corinthians 3:9
). This figure represents
human character, which is to be wrought upon point by point. Each day
God works on His building to perfect the structure, that it may become
a holy temple for Him. Man is to cooperate with God, striving in His
strength to make himself what God designs him to be, building his life
with pure, noble deeds....
God asks us to live only one day at a time. You need not look a week
or a month ahead.
Today
do your best. Today speak and act in a way that
will honor God. The promise is, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”
(
Deuteronomy 33:25
).
[60]
59