西门彼得的最后嘱咐
彼得后书一章1至7节
1作耶稣基督仆人和使徒的西门彼得，写信给那因我们的神和（注：有古卷无“和”字）救主耶稣基督之义，与我们同得一样宝贵信心的人：
2愿恩惠、平安因你们认识神和我们主耶稣，多多地加给你们！
3神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。
4因此，他已将又宝贵、又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。
5正因这缘故，你们要分外地殷勤。有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识；
6有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；
7有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心。
信息分享
在第一封书信，彼得是要鼓励和坚固那些正在受逼迫的信徒。第二封书信，则是直接警告教会要防备假教师。
彼得前书的要旨是盼望；彼得后书的要旨是认识和辨别真理。两封书信都既有安慰，也有严厉的督责。彼得在这里既是牧者、教师，又是先知。彼得后书和犹大书都是用直言不讳的表达来提醒和激励，风格十分相似。
今天选读的经文中，包含一些重要的真理或原则。彼得自称使徒之前，怎样形容自己呢？他说自己是「耶稣基督的仆人」。仆人直译就是奴隶。保罗也经常这样自称。
在第1节的下半句，彼得指出此信是写给「与我们（众使徒）同得一样宝贵信心的人」，当中包括了你和我。我们如果与使徒一样，拥有这份信心，我们就跟他们一样拥有相同的身份──耶稣基督的奴仆。
我们若是耶稣基督的奴仆，基督就有权要我们完全顺服和服侍祂。我们不可再按自己的喜好来运用时间。我们要听凭主人的差使。
然而，神是满有恩典的（3节）。祂深知我们的软弱和需要，乐于赐恩给我们，让我们有能力去面对各种情况；只因我们认识耶稣基督。
经文反思：
「你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何。」（申卅三25）
SIMON PETER'S FINAL WORDS
2 Peter 1:1-7
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Message
In the first letter, Peter wanted to strengthen those Christians undergoing persecution. In the second letter Peter bluntly warned the churches against false teachers.
The theme of I Peter is hope. The theme of II Peter is true knowledge and discernment. There is comfort but also judgment in these letters. Peter is here a pastor and teacher, as well as a prophet. II Peter and the Epistle of Jude are very similar in their straight forward language and challenge.
In the first few verses of our reading, there are tremendous truths or principles. How does Peter describe himself before he mentions his apostleship? “A servant of Jesus Christ”, literally a bond-slave. Paul frequently used the same word.
In the remainder of verse 1, Peter included us all when he wrote to those who have the same kind of faith as the apostles. If we have the same faith, then we have the same position – being bond-slaves of Christ.
If we are His bond-slaves, then Christ has the right to expect our complete obedience and service. Our time is not how we like to spend as our own. We serve under our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
But God is a God of grace (v.3). He knows our weaknesses and our needs and is willing to supply daily grace for every situation. The grace is given to us simply because we know Jesus Christ.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “Your strength will equal your days.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)