K: Knowledge

In his second letter, Peter begins by saying: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. And he ends with: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In between the two, knowledge comes up several more times. What point do you think Peter is trying to make?

Recently in a bible study I’m doing by Beth Moore, she writes about the disconnect that sometimes, often, happens between brain (what we know) and heart (what we feel). I understand this and struggle with it more often than I care to admit. I think Peter knew it, too. Think about Peter: he knew there was something about Jesus when he was drug to him by his brother Andrew; he makes the strong confession of who Jesus is; he knows Jesus has incredible power and can make him walk on the water, too; and he witnesses the amazing vision on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter even declares that there’s nowhere else to go but to Jesus. Then Jesus is arrested. Peter panics and throws everything he knows right out the window. He draws his sword. He vehemently denies Jesus. He cowers behind a locked door with the other confused disciples. Finally, he goes back to fishing. Why? Because it’s what he knows most surely and he feels like his heart has betrayed him.

I am so glad that Jesus chose to work with Peter, to call Peter his friend, and come back and restore him after he messed up. I love the scene of Peter’s restoration on the shore after Jesus’ resurrection. I believe that something was sealed in Peter’s heart and mind in that encounter. Peter realized in a new way that he thought he knew Jesus, but that it was just the beginning! Peter was being invited to new depths of knowledge—and so are we!

Think about it: we are to grow in grace and knowledge. This is intentional. I have been married to an amazing man for over 30 years. I continue to learn from him and about him and he about me. I imagine in the next 30 years there will still be things to learn! What I know about him and from him has helped us weather some of life’s toughest storms and tests. I honestly don’t think we could have withstood some of them if they had come early on in our relationship. Like Peter and the other disciples, it might have just been easier to go back to what we knew before. What I am saying is that it took work and intentionality to build our relationship and get us to where we are today and where we will be
tomorrow. And our relationship with God deserves no less attention or intention.

So I’m wondering today, do you know Him better today than you did yesterday, than last week? What are you doing to grow your relationship with Him? The good news is that whatever you will commit to that process he will bless and multiply. He wants to be known! He wants you to be so solid in what you know about Him that when the tough times come, and your feelings are frayed and giving way to the storm, you will have something clear and sure to hold onto!