“Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”—2 Peter 1:4, NIV
Precious? A rough, hard-edged fisherman like Peter using the word precious?
In his later years, Peter was different from the young, impetuous Peter who fervently declared to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for Your sake” (John 13:37), not fully understanding that commitment.
Now, a more mature Peter, who had suffered for his Lord, could identify with his fellow believers.
He didn’t just say, “Yeah, I understand. Life is hard and that’s the way it is.” No, he gave them hope. He encouraged them—even in grief, hardship, and persecution—to focus their thoughts on the “very great and precious promises” of God.
These “great and precious promises” are not just platitudes, nice sayings, or bumper sticker material. By meditating on these promises, burying them in your heart, praying over them, and living through them, we can actually experience and participate in God’s divine nature.
Bible commentator Herbert Lockyer took the time to count the promises of God in the Bible. There are 7,487!
Peter knew the value of God’s promises: they are true, we can count on them; they are treasures in our lives. They are nothing less than “precious.”
If we do not take these promises and apply them to our lives, then we are spiritually poor, when we could be oh so rich in God’s economy!
The promises in God’s Word apply to all of life’s situations. Believing His promises will help us turn our hearts and minds toward what is true, noble, honest, lovely, pure, good —the things God wants our minds focused on (read Philippians 4:8). What He knows is healthy for the mind, body and soul.
I would like to leave you with a few of the promises of God that have been important to me, but I encourage you to study and explore the Bible to find more.
These are not just helpful hints. They are the very words of life that will break down the walls of your prisons, lift you out of despair and give you the hope, strength and courage to carry on.
Here are just a few:
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” —Isaiah 26:3
“For I am the Lord who heals you.”—Exodus 15:26
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19
