One of my favorite books in the Bible is Peter – actually, both books of his are among my favorites. I have found such inspiration from a man that was so bold to step out and walk on water and the one that said the most inappropriate thing to Jesus when He revealed how He would die (I can relate to saying inappropriate things while trying to say the right thing!). Peter was a faith giant but also had some failures. Remember, he was the one who denied Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion. I love the way Jesus restored Peter after His resurrection and called out his future. Jesus did not dwell on Peter’s failure or betrayal, but He pointed him to his future (John 21:15-17).
Peter gave us this verse. This is what he experienced. 2 Peter 1:2 (AMPC) May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
This verse calls out that His grace and peace are multiplied in the personal and accurate knowledge of God and Jesus. We cannot just know about Him. We must know Him personally. This is what Christianity is all about. It is common to hear others explain Christianity as a personal relationship with Jesus. And, yes, it is a relationship. To know Him personally means when you talk, He listens. It means when He talks, you listen. It means you spend time with Him to learn His ways, how He is leading you, what His voice sounds like, and what His plans are for your life.
Do you know that the Lord is not the one stirring up trouble? He is not the one pushing you or driving you or putting burdens on you. How many people do you know that believe the Lord is the one causing the negative situations in their lives? Maybe you’ve been taught that God is in control and that He has a plan or purpose for your pain. Well, that is not true! He loves you! He is for you and not against you! He sent Jesus to the cross (and He went willingly) to take my place and your place, to bear the burden of sin and sickness. If Jesus paid for all sin and all sickness, how could God be putting the burden of it on us? Why would He demand that payment be made a second time? That just is not scriptural, but it is a doctrine that has crept into the church.
Back to my point. The Lord is not hard, harsh, sharp, or pressing. He is not mad at us. In fact, Zephaniah 3:17 says that He rejoices over you with gladness and rejoices over you with singing. One translation says He will quiet you with His love. Does that sound like a God that is mad at His kids? Nope. He isn’t holding anything against us.
Grace and peace are multiplied to us when we have accurate knowledge of His goodness, His mercy, His patience, His will, His plan, His desire for us live life to the full. When we know what He’s done, we are willing to let grace do the work. Yes, we must cooperate with grace, and we cannot set it aside for our own works (Galatians 2:21). The Apostle Paul said he labored more abundantly than them all, yet it was not him, but the grace of God which was with him (1 Corinthians 15:10). Even though we labor we can do it by the grace of God. When His grace is on something, there is a greater ease to it, and it works.
Matthew 11:28 (AMPC) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
Does that sound like the peace described in 2 Peter 1:2?
Matthew 11:30 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
This is an outstanding promise! Many people are overburdened and heavy with care and the circumstances of life. I understand. I have been there, too. When I read these verses, I see how the Lord intended for us to live – completely dependent on Him. Only He can bear the burdens that we try to bear, with success.
This reminds me of the time Martha was hosting Jesus in her home. She was working hard preparing a meal and attending to guests. While she was working, her sister, Mary, was sitting at the feet of Jesus and heard His word. Martha was perturbed. She went to Jesus and said “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” Can you hear the irritation in her tone of voice to Jesus? She was obviously close to Him in that she could speak to Him that way. This is how the Lord answered her. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (see Luke 10:38-42).
Upon hearing those words I imagine Martha probably had a quick change of perspective and she probably sat down to listen to Jesus also. When the Lord calls you out on something like this, it’s a real good opportunity to make “now” the moment you make a change. Martha wanted things to go well for His visit. That’s honorable. However, she let the burden of it all disturb her heart. She was bitter with Mary. Mary chose to sit at His feet and hear from the Master. They both knew He was in the room, but Mary was in the room with Him – she experienced Jesus. Is it possible that Jesus is in the room, but we are too distracted to experience Him? Martha was working hard to please the Lord, but Mary did what was pleasing to Him. She recognized a precious moment to sit at His feet.
I can relate to Martha – I’m a doer. That’s part of my makeup. We might think we are pleasing Him by our drive to be productive and accomplish great things – don’t get me wrong – there is a time and place for that, but it pleases Him when we sit with Him, experience Him, and listen to Him. In that place we will find rest, refreshment, ease, and relief for our souls. I will admit I have missed opportunities to sit at His feet and be with Him because I was too distracted with my burdens or to-do list.
If multiplied grace and peace are not your current experience, I want to encourage you to take action and do Matthew 11:28-30 with all your heart. Let Him transform your heart and flood you with peace.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
I am praying for you all today.