A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMP).

God prepared and planned your life beforehand for His glory. He didn’t create you for defeat, weakness, sadness or failure. He planned a wonderful life for you—a life of excellence. The challenge is that most people are yet to understand God’s good plan for them. In Jeremiah 29:11, He said, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God’s expected end for you is success, victory, honour, and abundance. He prearranged a good life of blessings for you to walk in. It brings to mind what He did before He created Adam. He first created a beautiful garden where everything Adam would require was made available. He then created Adam and placed him in the ready-made Garden of Eden, “…to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15), not to toil or cultivate the ground afresh.

God knew you’d be born at this time and planned ahead for you like every caring father would. That means there’s no need for you to go through life suffering, begging or seeking blessings, because you stepped into God’s destiny for you the moment you were born again. Therefore, enjoy your life, and enjoy all that He’s made available to you.
2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” He’s called you to glory and virtue; that means to a life of excellence. Never think failure, because God has never made a failure. You’re His dream come true; you’re the best of everything that He created: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).

Grace And Peace In Increasing Measure

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

From the verse of scripture above, we can understand that the way to have grace and peace multiplied in your life is through the knowledge (Greek: epignosis) of God, and of Jesus, our Lord. Someone may lament, “Please pray for me; my life is in a mess. I don’t have peace at home; I don’t have peace where I work. There’s no peace in my heart; I really need prayers.”

You may pray for such a person, but it might not work, because the Word is clear as to how to enjoy greater peace in your life: It’s through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord. God wants you to know, and live by His Word, because the more you know Him, the more grace and peace you stand to enjoy in your life.

Moreover, “peace” here, isn’t just referring to ordinary peace of being quiet or mere solitude. The Greek word for peace is “eirene,” which is akin to the Hebrew, “shalom,” which means peace with rest and prosperity put together. In other words, through the knowledge of God, you’re at home with prosperity! Everything about your life works out right. You’re not fretful or agitated over anything! Irrespective of what happens, you’re unperturbed, you’re in charge, and in control.

As you learn more about Jesus and meditate on His Word; as you learn about the Father through fellowship, more revelations will come to you. The knowledge of His Word makes us masters, causing your life to be filled with immeasurable grace and peace.
Notice the Bible doesn’t say, “Grace and peace shall be ADDED unto you,” but that they’ll be “multiplied unto you.” In your life, it’s possible to keep heaping up grace and peace in increasing measure. John 1:16 says of His fullness have we all received, grace heaped upon grace. So, enjoy grace and peace in your life, by increasing your knowledge of Him. Praise God!

"EVER-INCREASING GRACE"

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever: Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

Grace is the outward reflection of the inner workings of the power of God in your life. It's of the beauty and influence of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God in you, producing acceptability, advantage, favour, joy, liberality, gift and pleasure. Every Christian has received grace in abundance (Roman 5:17); but the measure or degree to which it's seen and reflected through you is dependent on you.

You have the responsibility to see to it that the grace of God upon your life increases in greater measure. 2 Peter 1:2 shows you how the grace of God can be multiplied in your life; it's through the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ." As the knowledge of God and His Word increases in your life, you'll walk in increased grace. Your testimony then becomes like that of the Apostles in the early Church: "And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).

The greek word translated "grow" in our opening verse is "auxano" and it means to give increase to, or enlarge. Notice that the Bible didn't say for you to pray to God for increase grace , rather it shows you how to "enlarge" or "give increase" to the grace that's already been available to you in Christ. You do this through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The Greek word for knowledge in 2Peter 1:2 is "epignosis." It means full knowledge that transcends, mere awareness; an esoteric knowledge-a discernment or full understanding of God and of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Recognize, perceive, and become fully acquainted with God and His living Word- Jesus Christ-and you'll walk in ever-increasing grace. That way, the grace of God that brings acceptability, advantage, beauty and excellence will function in you in ever-increasing measure in Jesus name, Amen!!!

Shout "Amen".