Wilderness Wanderings

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The texts come from Matthew 6:1-4, from the New International Version of the Bible. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

DIVE IN QUESTIONS

1. What stands out to you from hearing these verses? Is God offering an invitation or a challenge to you through those words? Take time to pray about it.

2. Jesus sometimes tells us to let our light shine before others and sometimes to do our acts of righteousness secretly. How can we know the difference?

3. We've moved from the "what" to do of righteous living now to the question of "why" we do it. What are the different motivations that people might have for "performing" their righteousness vs. doing it "secretly?"

4. Does Jesus tell us to stop seeking other rewards for giving and generosity? What might he be saying about our desire for rewards? What rewards ought we to desire?

5. How might you live this out this week in the ways that you give of whatever you have (time, help, money, etc.)?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness… (2 Peter 1:5-6)

Today's word is "godliness," and it takes us right back to yesterday's word of "perseverance." In particular, it takes us back to the later section of this letter that Pastor Michael quoted yesterday, where Peter writes: "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11b-12a).

We have a hope in Christ that keeps our eyes fixed on him, looking forward to his coming again when he will set all things right and make all things new. In anticipation of that day, we are called to persevere—to hang on to our hope and faith through all the trials, sufferings, and everyday burdens of life. That was what we talked about yesterday.

But now Peter says we must do more than just hang on and endure until Jesus returns—we must also live. Not just surviving by living out a life that sources the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and work mind you, but living a life that seeks to embody the faith and hope we claim in Christ. We "ought to live holy and godly lives as [we] look forward," ever straining to become who God has made us to be.

For this, Peter uses the word "godliness." It's a word that refers to good deeds that arise from the root of faith and the motivation of love. It's a word that also refers to spiritual disciplines like prayer and worship. It also refers to a respect for the Creational boundaries and proportions that God has set for our creaturely lives in relationship to self, to others, and to him. Most simply—it is a word that suggest we ought to become like Christ, our God.

To become godly is to really live out that whole "What Would Jesus Do" line. It is to respect the boundaries and fittingness of life and interactions, as Jesus did. It is to tend our relationship with God through practices of prayer, as Jesus did. It is to do good in this world, as Jesus did. To do all this, not only "as" Jesus did, but "because" Jesus did. We seek to become godly as an all-of-life act of devotion to him. Or, as Paul puts it in Romans 12, it is offering our "bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is," he says, "your true and proper worship."

Seeking to live a godly life is not something that we do from guilt nor something that we attempt to conjure up out of nothing by sheer force of will. No, as Peter already told us in verse 3: God's "divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life," and he has done so "through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

It is God's desire and design that we should become like Christ. He is the one who called us to be godly. He is the one who provides, through the Spirit, all that we need to do it. He is the one who brings this Christlike godliness to life within us when we join with him. Finally, he is the one who gives us the hope to lead us on and to assure us that all of this will finally be accomplished: on that day when Christ comes again.

Until then, let us "live holy and godly lives as [we] look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance (2 Peter 1:5,6).

Following Jesus is not a good carrier move. Refusing to be involved in shady practices can cost us promotions. When we refuse to gossip around the proverbial water cooler, colleagues do not warm up to us. Refraining from excessive drinking can lead to defriending. Sometimes we are ostracised for mentioning our faith in Jesus.

Following Jesus is costly. We make financial donations to the church and to other charities. Rather than sleeping in on Sunday's we gather with our Christian family to worship God. The leadership is always looking for more volunteers; we begrudgingly offer our time and talent. Then there are the neighbours we'd really like to ignore, but they know we are Christians. Sometimes we hear the tune of "They will know we are Christians by our love" being hummed from the other side of the fence. Our decidedly unchristian neighbour is reminding us of our commitment.

Following Jesus is profoundly frustrating. So often, we fail to live up to the calling we have received. We've lost count of the times we have renewed our faith and commitment to Jesus. We see ourselves as repeat offenders. We bought unnecessary clothes again. We got angry at our children again. We looked the other way again when someone else was being bullied. Again, we snoozed the alarm and had no time for devotions. Again, we choose not to reach out to a hurting friend.

Jesus did not promise an easy road when calling his disciples. He warns us to count the cost before signing up (Luke 14:25ff). He claimed to have no place to lay his head (Luke 9:53), so we shouldn't expect one either. Several times the apostles list the suffering they are enduring for the sake of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:23ff). What is it that kept them going? How did they persevere? They knew where they were going.

We persevere because we know where we are going. "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God…in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:11, 13). We persevere in anticipation of hearing the blessed words from Jesus own lips, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

In the meantime, we remember the value of suffering: it refines our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7); it perfects our hope (1 Peter 1:8-9, 21); it weans us from sin (1 Peter 4:1-3); it deepens our intimacy with Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-13) and it trains us in holiness (1 Peter 4:16-19).

Of course, suffering might do the exact opposite. It might corrode our faith, shatter our hope, estrange us from Jesus, provoke us to rebellion, plunge us into sin. The question is: do we believe we are on the right path? It's a matter of faith. "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Suffering can teach us hope. To hope for something that this world cannot offer. To look forward to a future that is too glorious for our imaginations to imagine. And hope inspires us to persevere.

So, as you journey on:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control… (2 Peter 1:5-6a)

Self-Control is one of the few virtues in Peter's list that lines up with Paul's Fruit of the Spirit. It is undoubtably a good gift of God, but it can be a double-edged sword. Much like our discussion of "knowledge" yesterday, the danger is that self-control can "puff up" our pride and self-righteousness rather than "build up" others in love. If this is the case, then we've gone wrong somewhere. This list of virtues demands a grounding in faith that moves toward love, not self-righteousness.

There is a self-control which is the achievement of our own control and there is a self-control that arises from surrender to God's control. When self-control is our own achievement, we might find ourselves looking down on lesser Christians or people in society who can't seem to get it together. Having learned to master our own desires and impulses, we can grow impatient and grace-less with those who continue to stumble. We view ourselves as "strong Christians" who have figured out the discipline of a moral and productive life—a vantage point from which others look weak and in need of improvement. This prideful sense of control can spread from control of self to a desire to either control others, or to remove them from the well-controlled space of our church or community.

As Paul reminds us, self-control is not an achievement. It is a gift of the Spirit. A fruit born in the Christian life that is produced in us by the Spirit. The list that Peter gives brings even more definition. The self-control he speaks of arises from the ground of faith in Jesus who has given us every good gift, calling, and promise. This kind of self-control that submits to the gifts and Lordship of Christ culminates in a life of love. Self-control as a gift of God that rests on faith and arrives at love cannot be the sort that produces pride or a controlling or diminishing attitude toward others.

Now, the word for "self-control" that Peter uses does speak of a sort of lordship or dominion over something. In the Greek philosophers of the day—including Aristotle—this virtue of self-mastery was one of the most important. Yet, it only shows up rarely in the New Testament. The reasons? There is only one "Lord" who holds "dominion" over our lives, and it isn't us. Self-control as a Christian virtue is not an exercise of our own lordship over our lives, it is a submission of our lives to the Lordship and mastery of Christ.

Furthermore, whereas in the Greek philosophers self-control often entailed a rejection of the material creation and all desire for it—the Christian exercise of self-control is different. The Lord of our lives asks not that we reject his Creation or the desires he created us with, but instead that we submit these desires and our use of the Creation to him.

Self-control then, is submission to the Lordship of Christ. It is a steadfast keeping of the Creational boundaries he, the King, has given such that we can fully enjoy, work, and play as creatures within his Creation and enable others to do the same. This kind of self-control is self-surrendering, self-giving, and as an act of love for God, his Creation, and our fellow image-bearers—it is also an act that continually points back—not to our own control or achievements—but to the gracious rule and gifts of the true King: Jesus Christ, Master of our lives.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).

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 a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness… For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge… For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:2,3,5,8).

Returning to the list of virtues, we come to knowledge, which looms large in the opening words of the letter. These opening 8 verses reveal that knowledge has little value in and of itself but is tied to other things. When we consider Job's three friends, and even Job himself—all thinking they had knowledge of the ways of God—we recognize that knowledge can be dangerous. When God finally speaks, he askes the four friends, "What do you know?" The answer: 'Not much'. Paul warns us that knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). So, let's be careful.

What should be say about knowledge? First, it is a conduit. The grace and peace of God enter our lives through knowledge. They are gifts God gives, but they require knowledge to be opened. Secondly, knowledge produces godly lives helping us to be 'effective and productive' followers of Jesus Christ. It assists in bringing fullness of life—a deep, abiding commitment to the ways of God. While useless if unattached, knowledge brings incredible spiritual beauty to the world when well connected.

Thirdly, Peter is writing about 'knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord', 'knowledge of him who called us' and 'knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ'. He is concerned with knowledge of a person, gained through long personal intimate relationship. Of course, such knowledge includes facts. In our relationship with a close family member, we know their birthday, significant events that impacted their lives, their favourite colour, and important people they have lost. Yet, it is much more.

The more we get to know someone the more there is yet to know. Even spouses still surprise each other after 50 years of marriage. One of the joys of being in a good intimate relationship is that the closer we are to someone the more we want to know them and bring delight into their lives.

In verses 2,3, and 8, Peter uses a Greek work that suggests 'full of knowledge'. But in verse 5, he uses a different word which suggests the gathering of information. We are to put ourselves to the task of getting to know God so that we can be full of knowledge, thereby receiving his grace and peace and living effective Christian lives. This is a slow piece-meal, lifelong process.

How do we gain this knowledge? The Belgic Confession says that God reveals himself "by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe" and more "clearly in Scripture". Jesus said that true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth and that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is with them. Worship and Christian fellowship are spaces where intimate knowledge, governed by Scripture, is often experienced.

Jesus tells us that we are to love God with all our being, including our minds. Knowledge is not the goal. Love is. Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up. "Whoever loves God is known by God" (2 Corinthians 8:3).

So, as you journey on:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

At this start of this new week, an overview to get us back into 2 Peter. We started into the list of virtues that Peter gives last Friday with goodness, but before we go further, perhaps it's helpful to see the whole and the reasons given for "adding" these things "to your faith."

This list Peter makes can seem rather random. Could there be more items in this list? Probably. Do each flow directly from the others? Not quite as tightly perhaps as in Romans 5:3-5.

The point is not to have a complete, logical check-list to mark off so that we know if we're winning the game or not though. The point is to illustrate that being "cleansed from [one's] past sins" in Baptism and belief ought to mean something in our lives! Knowing Jesus yields a transformed life. And if it doesn't—what do you really know? If your faith isn't starting to add up to a life of virtue, you must have forgotten all the "everything you need" that God gave you back in those first few verses of the letter!

There is, in fact, not much special about this list. Similar virtues can be found all over the ancient world in such virtue lists—both in pagan and Christian writings. What sets this list off is the context and the reasons. Pastor Michael alluded to some of it last week already. In essence, Peter says: cultivate common virtue just like the rest of the society around you. But do it for a different reason! Do it because of "your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!" He doesn't specifically say it that way—but his list does. In Peter's list, there are two elements that are not common to the virtue lists of the ancient world: Faith and love.

Faith is where the list begins. Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which this new life of virtue is built. And not just faith in Jesus—but faith in the Jesus who has given us "everything we need" and who has "called us" and "given us… promises" (v. 3-4). Christians enter into the practice of virtue with faith reasons and faith resources that no one else in society has.

Love is where the list ends—unconditional, agape love. God's own love in Jesus. Every one of these otherwise generic virtues is built on a foundation of faith and culminates in Christlike love.

If these are the two slices of bread between which Peter's virtue sandwich is made—faith and love—then everything in the middle likewise changes its flavour. That brings us back to goodness. It's not just generic goodness anymore—it's goodness as seen through the eyes of faith that strains toward love. So we look at God's own goodness and glory (v. 3), just as Pastor Michael did Friday, to understand our own pursuit of it.

With our pumps primed for the transformation springing from the Baptized life of faith in Jesus, we're ready to return to the list. Tomorrow.

As you journey on today, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text of Matthew 5:33-48. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

1. How does the Ascension of Jesus impact our appreciation of this text?

2. How do you easily white-wash Jesus' command, "do not swear an oath at all?" What can you do to move closer to keeping it? Does it bother you when the state insists you swear an oath? Should it?

3. What is the first surprise in Jesus comments about 'no revenge'? What is the second surprise? What should we do if our response to evil does not produce good results? Why does Jesus tell us not to seek vengeance?

4. Who are your enemies? Why does Jesus tell us that in loving our enemies we will be children of the Father? Reflect on this regarding your own Christian experience.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness… (2 Peter 1:5a).

We are saved by grace through faith. Full stop. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 for the most pointed Biblical word on that. But grace does more than save, it also sanctifies. And sanctification requires our partnership. That is the way of God's economy. We have been given everything we need for it. Not that we will become perfect in this life, but we will make progress, that is, if we put effort into it.

As Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit, so Peter writes about these virtues. It is worth noting that the goal of these virtues is love, which is the most eminent Christian virtue binding the others together. Love is not primarily a feeling, even though it surely includes that. It always includes action, as in "this is love…God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Paul wrote, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6). This is Peter's version.

This is our goal: love. Of course, we shouldn't say that we can wait until the end to love. These virtues work to strengthen our ability to love. Here, Peter begins with 'goodness'. What does this word mean and why is it first?

Our English word 'good' or 'goodness' is used to translate two different Greek words. The one word describes good actions like feeding the hungry and helping an elderly neighbour mow their grass. The other Greek word describes who a person is. Jesus had this to say, "No one is good—except God alone" (Mark 10:18). This is the word Peter uses here.

God's goodness has context. In Exodus 33, Moses asks God to reveal his glory. After some back and forth, God says, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you" (19). So, God's goodness is connected to his glory. In his reflections on this story, Paul writes that we "are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This, I think, is why Peter begins here. That we participate in the divine nature, that we become like God, that our character becomes good like his.

Let me offer some suggestions to add goodness to faith. First, worship God. Greg Beale wrote "What people revere, they resemble, either for ruin or for restoration". We might also say, we worship what we love; so, love God and become like him. The challenge is that for many of us, worship is passive. We sit and receive what the leaders have to offer. How will you actively worship God?

Second, examine. The dictionary defines this: "to look at or consider a person carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them". Christians have long practiced self-examine for the discovery of sinful habits and tendencies. The practice has been used to kill off the 'earthly nature' (Colossians 3:5). Of course, this is done under the guidance of God (Psalm 139:23-24). This is time consuming.

And speaking of God's guidance, a third bit of advice in our effort towards goodness: follow the Holy Spirit. Jesus named the Spirit, our counsellor, our guide. Paul said we are to walk in step with him. The Spirit will guide us away from our earthly nature, towards the goodness of God. That is the Spirit's job: "to transform us into God's image with ever-increasing glory". Will we follow? All the gifts are here. Let's use them.

So, as you journey on:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 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 1:3-4)

This set of verses picks up right where we left off yesterday. Gifts, gifts, and more gifts. We are totally overrun by God's gifts in these opening verses.

We are given "everything we need for a godly life." We are given a calling sheerly based upon Jesus' own "glory and goodness." We are given his "very great and precious promises" which springs us free from the corruption of our evil desires and permits us to participate with God himself instead in this journey of being conformed to Christ.

Pastor Michael alluded to it yesterday, but it's worth underscoring a couple times here again. Nothing in our world works this way that God works. In the world we live in—nothing is for free. Everything comes at a cost, and so every interaction implies a transaction. We give of our work only so that our employer or customers will give of their money in return. When we give of our money, we always expect a return—a product, a service, or something similar. Even our generosity goes this way—we give in order to help someone. If those we help do not respond to our help with gratitude and/or a changed life that gives us a sense of "impact," we tend to re-evaluate the nature of our giving.

So when it comes to faith—we expect God to operate the same way. This can manifest in a couple different ways. Firstly—it can show up in our guilt. If we find that our own response to God is lacking, we feel sheepish or even ashamed to come back to his presence asking again for forgiveness. We assume God will treat us like everyone else does, or like we tend to treat others. When we don't shape up, we assume God will ship us out. We cannot be worthy or deserving of such continual gifts of grace and forgiveness as he intends to offer.

It's true: we aren't worthy nor deserving. God gives us these gifts not because of who we are, but because of who he is. He has called us "by his own glory and goodness," not our own.

It can happen the other way too, though. If we find that we aren't being terribly "impacted" by church, by worship, or by the community of church people—we can quickly assume that we must not be "getting much out of it." In other words, we're paying more time, attention, and obedience than we're being paid back in rewards.

In this case, we've lost sight of the larger movements of God's economy. Our own narrow sense of microeconomics has missed the macroeconomic reality of God's "everything." This is indeed the danger of our modern world. It's flat. No "divine power," "nature," or "givens" remain visible to our perception, and therefore also not to our ledgers. That, and the lifetime of growing into a "godly life" takes place over such a long time frame such that it seems immaterial to our day to day lives.

Only with time and the wisdom that comes from the hardships and sorrows of broken promises, failed callings, and corrupt desires do we begin to discover that the gifts of God that lead us onward toward a life that smells like Jesus is the most material asset we might ever hold. Wouldn't you know it—whether it takes us a long time or a little to clue in to the value of this asset—the cost is just the same. Free. Its' free. A gift of God that was always ours for the receiving. No time like the present. Are you in?

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:1-2).

Today, we begin a journey through 2 Peter, in part, because someone recently asked a question about 1:5. Wilderness Wanderings seems like a good venue to explore the answer. However, after the opening paragraph this letter gets into some wild and confusing content. That is another good reason to spend some time here. So, let's buckle in.

Peter takes his cues from Jesus. In our sermon on the Mount preaching series, we have been emphasizing that before Jesus lays down any kingdom commands, he offers his kingdom blessings. He equips before he calls. Peter does the same here. Beginning in verse 5, he calls on Christians to be actively involved in developing their faith. But before that, he rolls out the gifts of God which enable Christian maturation.

The first gift is faith. Pay attention to how faith is acquired: it is received. We emphasize 'accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour'; 'committing ourselves to God'; 'ensuring that Christians have the true teachings.' All these things have a place within the Christian community. They are not wrong. But in the end, faith is a gift of God. Often, despite our objections we discover that we do actually believe.

This is good news for all of us who struggle with doubt and with a lack of sanctification. In Hebrews 12, we are instructed to fix "our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith" (2). Peter will challenge us to set our shoulders to the task of Christian growth, but only after reminding us that Jesus shoulders the bulk of the work. So have confidence.

Secondly, Jesus said that our Heavenly Father is eager to give his Spirit to his children (Luke 11:13). Behind that declaration are these words, "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams" (Isaiah 44:3-4).

Peter is drawing on this imagery when he writes, 'Grace and peace be your in abundance'. Our God is not stingy with his gifts. He does not have limited resources. He does not balance his budget. He has unlimited resources and is eager to give them away. Jesus is busy building a community that swims in his grace, his underserving favour and mercy. "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This is love: that God forgives before we ask for it. As imitators of God, we must learn the eagerness to forgive.

The Bible opens with a garden of abundance sparkling with harmony between God, the humans, and the rest of God's creation. There was no abuse, no desire for power. Everything could flourish as God intended. God gives the gifts for his new community in Christ to move towards such wonderful shalom.

But we must know God. How he has revealed himself in scripture, coupled with the personal experience his grace, of his presence in the darkness, of his provision in our need. This is knowledge that shapes our love for him, leads us to worship, to stand silent before the mystery of his love. Such knowledge is not hidden. It is here. As we grow in this knowledge grace and peace abounds in his community.

So, as you journey on:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).