So That...

There are 2 very short, yet very potent words laced throughout the scriptures. You don't find them often, but when you do they should be like a lighted billboard in the dark of night on a road in the middle of nowhere, screaming out an answer to the age-old question of "Why". Those 2 words are as follows:

SO THAT.

First off, let's use them in everyday sentences.

We taught our kids to swim at a very early age SO THAT they would not drown.

I try to eat wisely SO THAT I feel better and I don't gain unnecessary weight, but mostly to practice self-control and discipline.

We encourage people not to text & drive SO THAT their full attention is on the road ahead and they don't have an accident, possibly injuring someone, including themselves.

SO THAT. It brings even more clarity and understanding. And when it comes to the Word of God, this is life-changing. 

This past Sunday at The Brook we closed out the sermon on The Work of Sanctification with 2 Peter 1:3-8. Read Peter's words in verses 3-4:

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, SO THAT through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Work through this verse with me.

God has given us everything we need to live a life of holiness and righteousness through His Spirit and His Word. And He's given us His Word - His promises - His truth - SO THAT through the knowledge, application, declaration, and power of those promises we might be transformed into obedient followers of Christ.

God has given us His Word to grow our faith.
He's given us His Word to lead us into wisely choosing the path toward holiness.
He's given us His Word that we might know Him and that we might have self-control and that we might patiently endure whatever life brings our way.
He's given us His Word that His love might consume and control our motives.

We have the Word - the truth - the promises of God - that we might be effective and fruitful for His Kingdom and for the sake of the Gospel.

"He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that...."

Are you meditating on these "precious and very great promises"? (Ps.119:15)
Are you "hiding them in your heart that you might not sin against God"? (Ps.119:11)
Are they consuming your thoughts and actions?
Do they have priority in your life as the foundation of your beliefs and decisions?

Don't let your response to SO THAT be "SO WHAT?"
Seek the Lord. Meditate on His Word. 
Set your mind on things above.
Be effective and fruitful and useful for the Kingdom of our great God.

Dig Deeper:
Psalm 119
Colossians 3