The Precious "Starter"-- Faith

“to them that have obtained (received) like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”
(2 Peter 1:1)

Reference: Ps. 119:18; Rm. 10:17; Heb.11:1-3; Titus 1:4; Jn. 6:44; Rm. 4:16; 2Cor.4:13; 2 Cor.4:18

Just as the “starter” for the Friendship Bread is made up of several things; the starter faith as I have called it is actually a combination of three gifts: saving faith, grace and precious promises from the Lord Jesus.
In the verse above, you see that the faith given to you is the same as was given to the Apostle Peter and every other friend of God.

“Abraham believed God (it takes faith to believe) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23
God wants to be your friend as well. That’s why he came to your house to offer you the bread of life, and with it the “starter” faith needed to continue the friendship and help it grow. Hebrews tells what this faith is:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Heb.11:1
Since faith is made of something you hope for, combined with proof of what you cannot see, you can no more produce it for yourself than you can take a bottle and fill it with light, put a cap on it and use it to light the darkness of a room. Ephesians two and verse eight confirms that it is impossible for it to come from any other source than God himself.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8

With God all things are possible. God can produce something from nothing and use it for His glory and he does it every time he saves a soul. Here is where your first precious promise comes in handy. (vs.4)

You have within you as a gift, the starter it takes to grow in the Lord. It by itself does not make the finished product; that will take work on your part and daily maintenance. What is that finished product? It is becoming a mature Christian.

Just as the neighbor does not supply you with bread from now on while you sit and enjoy; faith, grace and promises, although you cannot grow without them, will not give you all that you need to become a mature Christian. God in his wisdom has left some responsibility to you, but he did tell you what you will need.

Peter is confirming this and wishing you grace and peace, not just a little –not just sometimes, but multiplied (more and more added together). Peter was a practical man. He didn’t spend his days sighing and wishing he could be filled with peace.

Think of this. It was a goal he had been able to reach and he is telling you exactly how you can reach it too: through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Because of the divine power of Jesus you have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness. It is in his Word: the Bible. And what follows these verses is the recipe for a life filled with grace and peace multiplied.

The first step is to open the door and accept the gift of friendship that Christ has to offer.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” Rev. 3:20

He is offering you the start of an eternal friendship when you open that door, and with it the key ingredients needed to live an abundant life while you are here.