Partakers Through God's Promises

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for February 20
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Partakers Through God's Promises

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. 1 Peter 1:4

Every promise that is in God's book holds out to us the encouragement
that we may be partakers of the divine nature. This is the
possibility-to rely upon God, to believe His Word, to work His works,
and this we can do when we lay hold of the divinity of Christ. This
possibility is worth more to us than all the riches in the world. There
is nothing on earth that can compare with it. As we lay hold of the
power thus placed within our reach, we receive a hope so strong that we
can rely wholly upon God's promise; and laying hold of the possibilities
there are in Christ, we become the sons and daughters of God. . . . 

He who truly believes in Christ is made partaker of the divine nature,
and has power that he can appropriate under every temptation. He will
not fall under temptation or be left to defeat. In time of trial he will
claim the promises, and by these escape the corruptions that are in the
world through lust. . . . 

To make us partakers of the divine nature, heaven gave its most costly
treasure. The Son of God laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and
came to our earth as a little child. He pledged Himself to live from
infancy to manhood a perfect life. He engaged to stand in a fallen world
as the representative of the Father. And He would die in behalf of a
lost race. What a work was this! . . . I hardly know how to present
these points; they are so wonderful, wonderful. . . . 

By His life of sacrifice and death of shame He has made it possible for
us to take hold of His divinity, and to escape the corruption that is in
the world through lust. . . . If you are partakers of the divine nature,
you will day by day be obtaining a fitting for that life that measures
with the life of God. Day by day you will purify your trust in Jesus and
follow His example and grow into His likeness until you shall stand
before Him perfected. 

>From Devotional: Our Father Cares, p. 55.