"For all this was lavished upon us..." 2 Peter 1:3 (TPT)

A little definition if you please regarding this passage, many Greek words used in the New Testament does not cross over directly into the English language without a little definition to highlight their meaning.

“Everything” in this passage is the Greek word “pâs” which includes all the forms of declension;

“apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—ever, as many as, thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.”  It is actually a big word meaning we have everything thing we could ever need or possibly think of or imagine is available to us through the life of Christ in us.

“Life” in this text is the Greek word “zōē” which describes the new life imparted to us in Christ.  "This is the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the written word “logos”, and to Christ the spoken word “rhema” put on human nature which becomes our new life.  Life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, it is the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ."

“Devotion” is the Greek word “eusébeia” speaks of Godliness, holiness, reverence, respect, or separateness to God. 

So, this passage says we have unlimited resources “pâs” which means everything we can think of, and whatever is beyond what we can imagine available to us through Christ to live out this “zōē” life (this fullness of life in Christ) that has been given to us to walk out.  This is our reasonable service which is our devotion or separateness to God to be connected to that new life.  This is why it is called abundant life because we have infinate resources available to us through Christ.

The passage also says that this resource “has already been deposited into us by His divine power”, when did God put that into our bodies?

“I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you!  This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!”

Ephesians 1:19-20 (TPT)

This means we have a dormant power source that resides within us which needs to be activated on a daily basis through faith, however, it isn’t our faith that activates it, it is the faith of Christ that also resides within us which is also the power that activates our ability to believe.  It is all about God and not about us in our ability, He is the one who animates and brings about His life in us.

The word “power” here is the Greek word “dynamis” which means inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.  We get the English word “dynamite” from this same Greek word.  There is explosive-creative power that remains buried or hidden deep within us which is the virtue or nature of God which calls to us to utilize this force to create life not only within ourselves by our devotion or separateness to God but by our speaking the affections of God over all creation and bringing order to chaos, we are agents for change.

“For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.”  This wasn’t something we could earn, this was a gift lavished upon us because we know Him, How do we know Him?  That wasn’t about us either, God put the knowledge of Himself in us.  God reached out to us because He knows our name and invited us to come to Him. Why?  Just because of His goodness!  

There is no hidden agenda or plan with God which hasn’t been made plain to us from the very beginning.  It is recognizing that we are being called to a Homecoming, and we are the special guests appointed to that Homecoming.

He loves us immensely and desires to make that love known to us by drawing us into His very near presence and reaching out and calling us His children. We have been adopted as His sons and daughters to receive all of the benefits of a royal family.  We have so much resource available to us that it is staggering to consider.

God’s goodness is active and dynamic if we would receive it.  It is reckless in how lavish it has been poured out like water or rain which falls on everyone, some find it completely refreshing and invigorating, while others find it an annoyance and avoid it at all costs.  

God’s love is a disturbing flow, it shakes our sensibilities and our expectations which reveals who He is and who we are as it flows.   

There is so much within us which needs healing and restoration, and it is within the flow of His goodness that the power to overcome all obstacles and hindrances flows, it carries us to that place of surrender where His love will fill everything that it touches as He expresses His kindness and mercy toward us.

May you experience that dynamic flow of God's goodness as it leads you to the new life He has for you in Him.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett