MATHS FOR THE CHRISTIAN.

If Maths were not your best subject at school, read Peter’s spiritual mathematics in 2 Peter 1:2-8 ) to encourage you.

The Christian life is not static. Major Ian Thomas once described Christians as ‘saved and stuck.‘ So Peter assists us along the road to Christian maturity.

He wrote, ‘Grace and peace be multiplied to you.’ This is not a once-off experience, but a daily, divine evidence of God’s grace. God promises peace to those whose minds are centred on Jesus and His word. The peace of God comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Add faith to grace and peace. Peter was a regular doubter prior to the cross, yet he preached with power when the Holy Spirit possessed his life, so that 3000 souls repented and walked the Jesus way. Peter’s trust relied on the faithfulness and truth of God.

‘Add virtue to your faith.’ A lot is tucked away in that old-fashioned word ’virtue’, yet it embraces a quality that ripples out in meekness, kindness, blamelessness, humility, sincerity with goodness and righteousness. Perhaps Peter recalled the word in Proverbs 31, which says, ’Who can find a virtuous woman ( with all these qualities) ? Her price is far above rubies.’ Well, the same Holy Spirit, who empowered Peter at Pentecost can also develop the fruit of virtue in us.

In Indonesia, I met a woman known for her virtuous life as a midwife, operating over an extensive area. While lying in bed, we often heard the tinkling of the bells of her pony-cart, while travelling on a mission of mercy to help a village girl with a difficult delivery.

She had delivered 30,000 babies over 25 years, mostly with difficult or complicated births. The village women helped with the normal ones. Bu pri honoured me with her kindness, tenderness and love, and on her fiftieth birthday. In our home, she delivered our youngest daughter, singing and praying over her. A truly virtuous woman, who always gave the glory to the Lord.

Now for maturity, Peter suggests we add knowledge. Our knowledge of God , His nature and character, comes from the Scriptures. It is essential and surely rewarding to dig and search for the meaning and application of words and phrases to expand our essential understanding of God. Then, with obedience and faith, our relationship with God develops maturity. With such a lifestyle, those who know God hate sin.

But we progress. When Peter added temperance and patience, did he recall his severing Malchus’ ear, and later emphatically denying Jesus. Self-control and cheerful endurance are sure marks of a Christian, and Peter’s words apply to us parents in our homes where these graces especially induce harmony.

A dear friend suffered shock when her husband died unexpectedly. Yet, she cheerfully endured because of her faith and knowledge of God and His grace, as she accepted His perfect will. She exemplified confidence in God’s comfort in the lonely hours of widowhood. She is now able to spend more time reading the Scriptures and praying, and has become a wise and loving counsellor to other widows. I admire her, and thank God for her deep faith.

As a child, I was amused with my great-grandfather’s unusual name of Eusebeus. Recently I learned its meaning. The Greek word, ’Eusebius ’ means godliness or godlikeness. One of the first century church fathers was named Eusebius. No doubt, his parents taught and trusted for godliness in their son. I am sure my great grand-father was so named.

Today, we seldom hear the words holy, reverent, pious and devout. But godliness adorns a Christian like a beautiful garment, and Peter knew this additional value.

‘Without holiness shall no man see the Lord.’

Frances Ridley Havergal aptly wrote, ’Holiness is by faith in Jesus, not by merit of my own. Sin’s dominion crushed and broken, by the power of grace alone. ’

Probably the final addition came from Peter’s vision of the sheet full of animals, which he called ’unclean.’ Humbled, Peter realised that he must bend his will and go to those outside his own ethnic circle, sharing the precious gospel.

Now he entreats us to add brotherly-kindness- ’Philadelphia’ a fondness for guests not of our immediate circle.

How easy to love those who love us, but Peter writes of the stranger, lie the immigrants in our areas who cannot speak English , are lonely and .long for friends,

It is an engrossing Maths lesson, with the sum total affecting all in our circle of acquaintance, and fruitfulness for God, and glory to Him.

2 Peter 1:2-8 Gwenda