Mary Alice McGinnis
Jun 13 min
by Mary Alice McGinnis
My adult daughter told me recently that she has been attending dance classes. In her excitement, she was explaining to me that the instructor doesn’t just teach the steps. She teaches the art of movement - the momentum created through the arms and legs and the natural shifting of body weight to produce the most powerfully elegant moves.
Learning how our bodies are naturally built to move spoke to my daughter’s heart.
Today’s reading tells us:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 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 . . .”
What does it mean to participate in the divine nature? Anything from nature is natural, and is directly the opposite of what is produced by humans. We frail and wayward humans are by nature selfish, self-seeking, and bent on going our own way. On our own, we produce envy, strife, bitterness, hatred, and the like. Yet through God’s great and precious promises, He is infusing us with His Divine Nature!!
Peter continues, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith . . .
The word “add to” in the original language (Greek) is the compound word epichoregeo.
The second part of the Greek word epichoregeo is choregeo. It is also a compound word – choros – a band of dancers or singers. Think of a chorus line of dancers or a chorus of singers. And “ago” to lead or to guide. Choregeo therefore means “dance leader” and is where we get our English word for choreography.
The first part of the Greek word epichoregeo – translated as “add to” is the prefix “epi.” This word means “upon, on, to, over, or to superimpose.” The superimposition (of something) (on/onto something) the act of putting one image on top of another so that the two can be seen combined.
What effect does having God’s divine nature choreographed and superimposed into our nature have upon us? We have been infused with the Holy Spirit and now are endowed with the divine nature.
It is possible for that divine nature to lay dormant. Or, we can earnestly “ADD TO our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” We can intentionally follow the divinely choreographed steps given to us through His “great and precious promises” found in scripture and allow the indwelling of the Holy Spirit’s to superimpose His divine nature upon us and over us, layer upon layer. After time and practice, the Holy Spirit's empowering will become more and more a part of our nature.
Peter then promises, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We have been given so much! Grace and Peace in abundance. May it lead us to follow the lead of our divine choreographer and become more and more like Him, reflecting His nature. We have been given this extravagant gift not to let it lay dormant or unfruitful, but to shine the light of His love through our lives in this broken world.
Cup Prayer – Begin with your hands folded together like an upside-down cup. Pour out before God all your fears, anxieties, guilt, sin and shame. Tell Him what troubles you. Take time to be specific.
When you feel like you’ve poured out your heart, flip your hands over, folding them like an open cup, ready to receive from God. Sit in silence, asking God simply to fill you with His Spirit. If your mind runs back to sin, shame, anxiety or concerns of the day, flip your hands back over and pour it out to the Lord.
Thank Him for allowing you to participate in His Divine Nature. Ask Him where He is leading you in His Divine choreography today.