It has come to my attention that I have had a real misunderstanding of what it means to “partake in the divine nature.”  In my idealistic, romanticized, fantasy version of Divine Nature, it means that life gets good, gifts are lavished on me in the form of job security, running cars and animals who never scratch or make a mess of things as well as sickness is kept at bay.

It’s all about the flow.

As I read through today’s devotional it dawned on me that it is more like a sponge thing.  In order for a sponge to remain sweet-smelling it has to have a constant flow of fresh water, that means it has to be filled with water, used, squeezed, rinsed and filled again, than repeat.  A Sour sponge on the other hand is the sponge that refuses to be emptied but always wants more–it hoards the water.  It doesn’t take long before that sponge begins to smell, eventually, if not cleansed, it becomes useless and has to be thrown out.  The Divine Nature is much like this.  Jesus’ example to us was to be filled by His Father, than go out, be squeezed dry from people who needed Him and then to be refreshed again.  He didn’t take into consideration how difficult his situations were but rested on His Father to provide.  He remained SWEET.  To partake in His nature requires the same from us.  I must admit, when I start feeling sorry for myself and wishing life were easier, I start stinking, complaining, whining to God.  But when I obey the whisper of the still small voice in my head, “Do something nice for someone else,” I begin to feel a sense of refreshing coming in.  Soon, whatever was causing me to complain is gone and forgotten.  I am energized to give more–I am sweet again.

This may sound simplistic, but really, that’s all God wants from us.  He wants us to be a sweet, ever flowing water of relief to those around us.  He wants to be able to “flow through us.”  THAT my friends, is partaking in the Divine Nature.  Soak it up and be squeezed dry.  You won’t regret it.