“For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire and become sharers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 AMP

There are many promises and possibilities in the Word of God. Our verse today gives us a hope that we can be more than overcomers in this world! Like many of those promises, we see a conditional requirement, a key you might say to acquiring those promises. Look at the second part of verse 3, “…through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. “… through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” The key to every promise and blessing is a personal knowledge of Him! Many believe that doing something or giving something or belonging to a certain denomination will be enough. Sadly, they experience disappointment in their spiritual life because they do not know Him! Confronting the religious crowd of the day, Jesus spoke these words.

“You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; 40and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:39-40 AMP

Religious organizations today require all sorts of things or actions to be made right with God. The truth is that there is nothing you can do to “make” yourself right with Him. It is only by accepting His sacrifice for you. The whole reason that He went to the cross was to restore the relationship with you that was broken by sin! Jesus didn’t die for a denomination…He died for you! The story of the return of the prodigal son clearly speaks of the Father’s heart waiting for the day that he returned home. So it is today! God is waiting longingly and patiently for you to come home! Once we are home, the Father not only instructs us in the right way but gives us the power to walk in the ways of new life! For those struggling with addictions and sin, this verse tell you that once we settle our account and begin our relationship with God, “you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire and become sharers of the divine nature.” It doesn’t say that we will not be tempted by those desires but rather we escape the hold those desires have had on our lives.

Let me ask you today, “Are you willing to go to Him today?” The Scripture is clear,

“But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach– 9because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous–being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].” Romans 10:9-11 AMP

Let me encourage you to start your new life today! The Father is waiting with arms open wide. The Scripture tells us that,

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].” 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP