Divine and Human Interaction

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Just as a loving grandfather cares about the little details of life,
so our heavenly Father cares about us. 



Scripture:


2Pet. 1:16   For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.


2Pet. 1:19   So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


Observation:


In this first chapter of Peter’s second epistle we have seen the importance of Divine and Human interaction throughout life. Peter encouraged his followers to become partakers of the divine nature — to have koinonia or fellowship with the Triune God. After this encouragement he then listed the virtues that are to be seen in the life of the believer, but all of these virtues point toward a synergistic relationship between God and humankind. We do not participate in works to be saved, but we participate in God’s work because we are saved. Now he moves into the area of witness, but again it involves Divine and human interaction. God in his divine interaction with the world allows the human to bear witness to God’s activity and it is the human who then testifies to the world. 


This is Peter’s testimony to the Transfiguration which becomes a turning point in the life of Christ, but also that of the witnesses. Again, it is a sacred moment of Divine and human interaction. Peter acknowledges that we are to be attentive to the Divine moments for they bring light into the darkness. It is this light that we, as humans are to carry into the world. If the Divine action of God through the power of the Holy Spirit is lacking, then we are carrying a false light. True prophecy can only come from God, through God’s men and women. 


Application:


The continual and on-going Divine and human interaction described by Peter is the life of holiness. This is the life to which we are called, and only when we are in continual fellowship with God can we live the Spirit-driven life. I’m not sure that we really grasp the depths of this understanding, for far too often we venture out in life on our own. Or, we think that God doesn’t care about the little things, and so we wait and only come to him in the big moments. The problem is that we have failed to understand that the whole Christian life is about Divine and human interaction. God cares about the little things because God wants us to participate with him in the little things. 


I believe that Peter is also warning us about false teachers. There are a lot of good books that we can read these days, and it’s excellent to stay well-informed. At the same time, I believe that we should always look for that Divine and human interaction when it comes to the authors that we read. I want to know that the people that I allow to influence my life are being influenced by God. Now, I know that may not always be possible and I do believe that God can use whomever he desires but, there are far too many folks out there talking about spiritual things who are doing the work on their own. I want to read and learn from those who have been walking with God and participating in the Divine nature — so much so, that they reflect the nature of Christ. 


Through the years I have had the privilege of witnessing the power of God in this world. I pray that I will bear faithful testimony to the work of God, and that I will continually learn more about living my life interacting with the Divine. 


Prayer:


Lord, I want to know you more, and more, and more. Amen. 

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