Because He Loves Me – Chapter 2

This is a GREAT chapter! There were so many truths that got me thinking, but one in particular stood out to me and really has gripped my thoughts since reading it.

Elyse Fitzpatrick writes:

“In Peter’s second epistle he lists the character traits that mark a believer’s life: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love. Then he makes an interesting statement. He writes that “whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” 2 Peter 1:9

Peter writes that one reason we don’t grow in ordinary, grateful obedience as we should is that we’ve got amnesia; we’ve forgotten that we were cleansed from our sins. In other words, he is saying that ongoing failure in sanctification (the slow process of changing into Christlikeness) is the direct result of failing to remember God’s love for us in the gospel. If we lack the comfort and assurance that His love and cleansing are meant to supply, our failures will handcuff us to yesterday’s sins, and we won’t have faith or courage to fight against them, or the love for God that’s meant to empower this war.”

I have read and re-read this passage through the years of being a believer and have been encouraged by it. But today I find myself corrected as well. Verse 8 reads, “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” While I would read on and am very familiar with 2 Peter 1:9, I saw myself in verse 8 in the “will be neither barren nor unfruitful” part. I would motivate myself by reminding myself I didn’t want to be barren and unfruitful and then desire to see continued growth. While this isn’t wrong, it is only part of the story. Surely I am there in verse 8 growing in those Christlike qualities many times. But, there are also times when I am found to be one who is shortsighted or near-sighted, having forgotten being cleansed from my former sins.” Right now, I can pick two areas in my life where I am particularly there. I have been stalled and frustrated. This passages tells me it is not about “beating myself up” over not having enough discipline, self-control, or patience, but it is about remembering that I have been cleansed. It is about readjusting my gaze away from the struggle that is right there in front of me and toward God’s immense gift of love, forgiveness and cleansing in my life. It is only then that I can see the struggle for what it really is and more importantly, it is only then that I can take that struggle to the Lord and move beyond it. As Elyse writes, it is about remembering that “we’ve been so loved by our heavenly Father that those things that used to “charm us most” are seen for the pathetic counterfeits that they are.”

For instance, instead of remembering His love for me in times of trial and momentary impatience with my children, I go to the old standby of raising my voices for emphasis or perhaps over-reacting to their choices when all along our Lord is calling me to remember Him. He is calling me to remember His ways and how He deals with me when He doesn’t like what I have done. He is reminding me His kindness to me in His Son. Then, having remembered Him, I would find that as I gaze upon His love for me, I might perhaps turn away from my old standbys and instead turn toward our Lord and Savior and proclaim Him to my children. Instead of my display of disappointment, His hope would be proclaimed in the midst of sin. Elyse says, “Our ambition and selfishness, and impatience will be swallowed up in humble amazement that He has loves us so much and suffered for us and we’ll gladly welcome and serve all those whom our Father loves (Rom. 15:7).

I admittedly underlined 30% of this chapter. But, I am going to leave my post here lest I miss out on applying this precious truth that has been made so real to me. It is my prayer that God’s precious love for me would be in the forefront of my mind so that I can be His hands and feet to my husband and children and that my life can be a testimony of transformation to the lost and dying world I live in. God’s love for me in Jesus is SO beautiful and so glorious that all else in the world grows dim when it is in view.

Blessings!