For ten years I led trips to Israel for students. Since I was serving young people, it was important for them to understand the cost of the program. I wanted no confusion about how much they had to pay and how much cash was needed for expenses. Everything was included up front. Once they paid that price, they didn’t need to bring any money with them.

Knowing his readers were facing the pain of persecution, Peter reminded them that God “has given us everything we need for a godly life” (v. 3). In the face of difficulty, it is easy for Christians to assume we are missing something…that we need more. We may even come to doubt God’s goodness and believe He is withholding something from us.

Peter reminds us that we know God’s character! This knowledge should enable us to understand how to live (v. 3). God is gloriously good and His call on our lives, even if it means difficulty, is a good thing. When we cling to His promises, our desire is for Him rather than the world (v. 4). He has forgiven our sins and cleansed them (v. 9). We will be with Him one day! Clinging to these promises takes faith. We don’t have all the benefits now, but we will, for they have already been paid for.

With faith in God and His promises established, Peter calls us to press on by growing in a series of behaviors which will make our knowledge of God productive. It’s not enough to have knowledge if it doesn’t work itself out in life. Like a person who pays for an all-inclusive trip but forgets that all their meals have been paid for, we might forget that God cleansed us from sin. We need to remember what He has promised, paid for and provided!

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