When I was in my early twenties, I went on a blind date with a New York State Trooper. He was very courteous. At one point his hand brushed across my cheek as I was getting into his car. “Oh,” he said. I had forgotten how smooth girls’ skin is!” I remember nothing else about that date, not even his name; but I thought that communication might not be clear or easy.

In a wonderful number of ways the Scripture expresses God’s intention for our relationship with Him: He has given us His great and precious promises, so that through them you my participate in the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4)

Hardly anyone seems to be interested in “participating in the divine nature,” and only recently has it seemed too me to be a real life pursuit. Peter wrote that the “Great and precious promises” were the path to sharing God’s life, and the life of Jesus as well, and so I looked at some of them and turned first to the promise of the rainbow. Beside being an object of delight for nearly everyone, it conveys a promise and reveals the sensitivity of our God, that His people not panic whenever it rains.

The promises, though, become larger and stronger. God shows His desire for human beings to be able to fellowship with angels and with God Himself, a promise laced with His very great promise of eternal life. The promises accumulate and find expression in individuals who experience God’s presence in their lives: Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2:11)

The greatest promise of God was made by His son Jesus to Martha, the sister of Lazarus: “Jesus said to her, “.. . . ‘The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’” (John 11: 25) the promise was fulfilled at the resurrection following Jesus’ death on the cross. The promises hold the “secret” of God’s desire for His relationship with us. There are countless other promises, as well, all converging on the cross. His promises contain His desires and His intentions.

The state trooper was polite and even generous, but I could not connect with him. Our God communicates His divine nature to every soul who seeks Him, and more.

Love in Him,

Prue