Why It Can’t Be Me

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness   2 Peter 1:3

Granted –There are two verbs translated “give” in the New Testament.  One is didomi.  We see it in Matthew 20:4 and Luke 20:22.  Depending on the context, it usually means to give in return for something.  The other verb is doreomai.  It is also translated “give” or “grant,” but there is something different about this verb; something that we must understand.  This verb emphasizes the gracious nature of the giver who gives or grants something even though it is not deserved.  If I have earned a degree, I will be given a diploma (and didomi would be the verb).  But when doreomai is used, it means that the gift comes simply because of the nature of the giver.  I didn’t deserve anything, but I was granted the gift anyway.

I absolutely need to know the difference.  Why?  Because, if for one second, I begin to think that everything pertaining to life and godliness comes to me because I have earned it, I will very soon fall into hopeless despair.  You see, I can’t make it on my own.  No matter how hard I try to hold up the standard of holiness, no matter how much I struggle to maintain righteousness, I just can’t do it.  Not on my own.  Not though my willpower.  Without His divine power, I just can’t make it.  But I am sorely tempted to try.

We don’t seem to really appreciate just how weak we really are.  Our world propagates the mythology of power, allowing us to believe that with the right training and the right attitude, we can accomplish anything.  We idolize symbols of achievement, those icons who forcefully wrestle success from a hostile environment.  And we worship the powerful.  We think, “If I could just be stronger, I could succeed too.”  So, we apply this foreign mythology to our spiritual lives, waiting anxiously for the Holy Spirit to dump energy on us so that we can be all that God wants us to be.  We believe in a performance theology.  But that’s the problem.  God doesn’t want me to be powerful.  He wants me to recognize that I am utterly weak, hopelessly lost and morally corrupt.  God doesn’t share His glory with me.  He lavishes His glory on me – when I stop trying to prove that I am good enough to deserve His favor.

Peter was the “power” man of the disciples.  But in order to be of any use to God, he had to be shattered.  His self-esteem, his ego, his arrogance had to be smashed.  It all happened in one evening.  I am Peter too.  If I am going to experience all that is needed for life and godliness, it will have to come as gift from an unbelievably gracious giver because I don’t deserve it.  Not for one second. 

But I certainly need it.