I’ve heard that one of the nice things about being a grandparent is enjoying all the fun aspects of the grandchildren, but not having to hang around for the messy parts, like changing diapers, 2:00 a.m. feedings and disciplining. Most likely, I’m just a couple years away from finding out for myself.
If you’re a parent, you know it’s hard work. It’s not a project that can be tackled on a Saturday morning like cleaning the garage. It doesn’t work to think we can teach our children kindness or patience or hard work in just a month or two. Training and shaping our children is a long-term process.
To my knowledge, God never refers to Himself as our grandfather. He’s our Father. He doesn’t leave the tough parts of raising us to someone else. And He doesn’t try to zap us with all the character qualities we’ll need in just a few days. He sees our training as a long-term process.
2 Peter 1:2-3 says:
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
His 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.”
Grace and peace are ours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Need more of God’s grace and peace? It can be yours in abundance as you get to know God better. As you know Him better, you will experience more of Him. You will become more like Him. You will take on His character qualities.
Hebrews 11:6 says “that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” As we seek Him and know Him better, we experience more and more of His grace and peace. Is there a better reward than that? Think of it this way–regardless of what you have or don’t have, what you gain or lose–you can experience grace and peace through knowing God.
It gets even better.
His divine power has (past tense) given us everything we need for life and godliness. How? Through our knowledge of Him. As we get to know Him better, we experience more and more of who He is and what He has done for us. We get in on the very life of Christ being lived in us.
God doesn’t see our training as a one-time project like cleaning out the garage. He’s not a grandfather who takes us out for ice cream and offers a few words of advice. He’s our Father and training us is a long-term process.
And the key to it all? It’s seeking and knowing Him…and in turn, we experience more of Him and His character. We know by experience His grace and peace. We find in Him everything we need for life and godliness.
What do you need? Grace to endure? Peace to replace your worry and fear? Is it wisdom or strength or patience? A job? A friend? A miracle?
You’ll find it all in Him. Take the time to seek Him and know Him. He will reward you.