The close of 2011 was a busy time. Between Christmas services and preparation for our annual New Year’s Eve event, I entered 2012 in a blur. But after about a week, I think the dust is beginning to settle as I survey the promise of a new year.
I’ve been mulling over 2 Peter 1:2 over the past few days. In it, Peter prays that grace and peace would come to the Christians to which he write in abundance. And the means by which that grace and peace is given is “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Without making too much of a fairly standard opening greeting, I think it is significant that Peter connects grace and peace with the knowledge of God. It’s also interesting that the word for “knowledge” that Peter uses carries an experiential connotation to it. It’s more than just book-knowledge.
I want for 2012 to be a year in which the knowledge of God that I pursue in study would be reflected in personal holiness. It is so easy for me to learn exciting new things and read the latest book and seek to know God, just to know stuff about Him. I don’t want that.
As Michael Green puts it in his commentary of 2 Peter,
“True knowledge of God and Christ produces grace and peace in the life; what is more it produces holiness.”
May that be true of my life.