May 25 Sharing in God’s Nature
May 25
Sharing in God’s Nature
“He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
—2 Peter 1:4
Just as the great and precious promise of the Old Testament was the Seed of the woman, the Messiah, so the great promise of the New Testament is the Holy Spirit. Those who receive the promises of the Gospel are renewed in the spirit of their mind, after the image of God—in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Their hearts are set for God and His service, and they have a heavenly disposition in their soul.
This is what it means to participate in the divine nature. Through the Lord Jesus we have a share in God’s nature, a portion of who He is.
When I was young in the faith, I thought having “a share in God’s nature” meant copying the Lord’s lifestyle, mimicking His mannerisms, striving to follow Him as closely as I could. God is over there, I thought. I am here, and I must close the gap between us. Little did I realize that with the Holy Spirit residing in my heart, there was no gap. I could actually participate in the divine nature and be intimately one with the Lord.
Who can understand or fully explain the mystery behind Colossians 3:3 where it says, “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Perhaps it’s just another way of saying that we have a share within and a portion of Jesus. If the Holy Spirit is within you, you can delight in being one—actually one—with Christ.
Jesus, I confess I don’t fully understand what it means to be one with You, to share in Your divine nature. But thank You for the Holy Spirit who reveals what my intimate union with You really means.