Everything We Need

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. 
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life
and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and
goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the
corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

God’s part is past tense: “All authority has been given to
Jesus… His divine power has given us…”

And present tense: “I am with you always…”

With the past and present actions of God, our belief and
obedience is simple and assured. Notice that we are to teach obedience to everything
He has commanded, and He has given us everything we need to obey everything
He commanded. Obedience is hard if we do not believe that He has all authority
and if we think His divine power has not given us everything we need. Given
those two truths, then obedience is easy.

With all of this divine power and “everything we need,” let
us apply the following command this month:

“Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians
2:14).

Notice everything shows up again in this verse.