Equally Precious Faith
Ponder: Does your faith really matter to you or anyone else?
Scripture: “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us . . .” (2 Peter 1:1 NKJV).
Peter wrote his second letter “to those who have obtained like precious faith with us.” While it is true that Peter and his readers shared the same faith, and that it was precious to each one, that isn’t what Peter was emphasizing here. “Like” doesn’t modify faith – it modifies precious. In fact, “like precious” is one compound word in New Testament language. It is accurately rendered “equally precious.” The faith of the apostle Peter’s readers was equally precious with Peter’s own faith.
Do you feel insignificant because you aren’t a high-profile Christian? Do you wish you could be Peter, or Timothy, or Barnabas? “If only I were like brother Famous over at congregation X – then my Christianity would really be significant!”
If you have obeyed the gospel of Christ, your faith is every bit as precious as that of an apostle! It was obtained in the very same way. The apostles believed in the same Jesus you and I trust. Paul heard the same gospel you heard, so he arose and was baptized and washed away his sins, just as you and I did (Acts 22:16).
Think of the most widely-known and respected member of the body of Christ living today, with whom you are familiar. That person’s faith is precious; but yours is equally precious!
Various members of the body have different functions. Some are more highly visible than others. That doesn’t mean one member’s faith is of any more or less value, either to the Lord or to the church. So never minimize the value of your faith. It is precious to God, and it ought to be precious to you!
Song: “Faith is the Victory”
Prayer: Gracious Father, it humbles us to know that our faith is precious to You. Help us, we pray, to trust Jesus more and more, and to demonstrate that trust in faithful obedience. In His name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)