1 Peter 3:13-5:14; 2 Peter 1-2

When my wife and I sit down for coffee these days, our conversation usually trends towards the word, “endure.” It seems there is a call on our lives, right now, to be thinking about enduring. I am going to study and practice, “Alone with God,” to help me be able to stand when the time comes to stand.

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. – 1 Peter 3:15 MSG

Adoration means to recognize His holiness, to worship and to honour Jesus as my Master, my Lord.

‘The sanctuary was an asylum where men were safe. And if we have made our hearts temples in which Christ is honoured, worshipped, and trusted, then we shall dwell in Him as in the secret place of the Most High’ – Alexander Maclaren

There is a lot in this letter about suffering, especially in 1 Peter 4:12-19.

• I am going to suffer by labelling myself as a Christian
• It is not a cause for shame, but a means to glorify God
• I am already honoured by God
• I should honour God and entrust my life to Him while persevering in doing what is right

I have picked up a few pointers today:

1. The essential criterion of honourable conduct is not public opinion but the will of God and reverence for God
2. I am to look to Jesus as the paramount exemplar and enabler of such honourable conduct. Shaming and suffering should come as no surprise as my faith is in Jesus who was shamed and suffered.
3. There is an opportunity to win over others because of my conduct. It is something to see one who has been shaming Christians and now see them glorifying and honouring God.
4. I cannot believe I am saying this – suffering is actually something positive and honourable.

What is true is that my honour is based on my relationship with Jesus. He has brought me into the family of God and that is where I get my foundation to live honourably and holy.

So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. – 1 Peter 5:10-11 MSG

What a great way to end this letter – so clearly written where I get my glory, grace and honour from in the midst of suffering. I pray that I can completely ignore the futile attempts at shaming me, and resist the pressures to conformity and assimilation. I can stand fast in the grace of God. It seems that my task is straightforward – honour, praise and glorify Jesus.

Thank you Lord for such an encouraging word.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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1 Chron. 29; 2 Pet. 3; Micah 6; Luke 15

“Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! ” 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 NLT

David used his wealth to help build the temple. He was praising God for giving him everything that he had (1 Chron. 29:2). He wanted to see his son Solomon have the same trust in God that he did. “Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” 1 Chron. 29:19.

Like David, the Father of the prodigal son was generous with his money. He cared more more about his son’s lost soul, than about demanding his rights. He gave freely, not only of his money, but his life. He loved extravagantly.

“A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before I die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living…So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” Luke 15:11-21 NLT

Both Fathers were leaving a legacy for their sons. They knew that their life was temporary. They wanted to use it to glorify God. Am I?

“What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:6-8 NLT

Dear Father, I pray that I would live with open hands. Help me not to forget that everything I have is yours. “They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it by water.” 2 Peter 3:5 NLT. You have given me so many gifts that I don’t deserve. Thank you most of all for Jesus. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2

I cannot pass the call for intentional regular focused rest. I know I need rest from my ordinary work and some of that time I need to be crying out to God.

On the first day of the seventh month you are to gather for worship, and no work is to be done. On that day trumpets are to be blown. – Numbers 29:1 GNT

It is so easy to reject this call to rest, almost as easy for those who do not know Jesus to continue to reject Him. They simply cannot let go of making money. The only way they can lose “this god” (money) is to understand that Jesus is all they need for He is with them always, even when money fades. When I experience the right hand of God grabbing a hold of mine and hear His promise to never leave me, I really have no desire for the things of this world. I keep my eyes on  Jesus. He alone is worthy.

Yet I always stay close to you, and you hold me by the hand. My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need. – Psalm 73:23,26 GNT

If I chose otherwise, I am on the slippery slope to destruction. It is only when I trust in Christ for my salvation that I receive God’s never failing goodness and grace. As I draw closer to Him I have so many testimonies to share of what God has done in my life. I know my times are in His hands and my future in eternity is secured for me in heaven.

When someone speaks about God’s judgement, some are awaken and some mock.

Someone calls to me from Edom, “Sentry, how soon will the night be over? Tell me how soon it will end.” – Isaiah 21:11 GNT

What I see is a door of hope being offered and it is my invitation to pray for mercy.

Father, I thank You for Your Word – it is truth. Keep me under the shadow of Your wing and guide me. I thank You for Jesus, for saving me. Keep me alert to anything that may draw me away from You – give me discernment. It was Your purpose to redeem me, adopt me and keep me from destruction. Help me share this gospel of grace and truth to others who will listen. Thank you for the stories of Noah that encourage me from not thinking too much about myself and keeps me humble enough to trust You completely. Even Lot was grieved for his generation – may my prayers be as his were. May I grieve for the lost. I want you to teach me how to walk this path of righteousness. Thank You for Your promise to rescue me from temptations and the trials that come my way. Protect my heart and my mind from worldly deception. Amen

 Erwin (evanlaar1922)

Numbers 28; Psalms 72; Isaiah 19,20; 2 Peter 1

“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.  Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 1:5-8 NLT

I typed the word Resilience on my notes app. It’s the name of a paint that I didn’t want to forget.  I see it whenever I look over my grocery list.  But, God has a sense of humor, because it started taking on a deeper meaning.  When I look at it now,  it was a word from God spoken into my soul.  “The ability to recover from or adjust easily to change” (Webster’s).  Patient Endurance. I think he had me write it down, because he knew I would need to remember it in this season of  life.  At times, when I am worn out and feel like giving up, to keep moving forward.  Just like in 2nd Peter, I need to continue to strengthen my faith.  Ask for God’s help, instead of trying to do it on my own

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for Living a godly life.  We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who has called us to himself by means of is marvelous glory and excellence.  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.  These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-5 NLT 

Sometimes I can get so caught up in my own needs, that I’m not reaching out to others with God’s love.  He has been telling me that he will take care of me. That I have his favor.  Am I trusting him enough to reach out to others?  “It’s more fun this way-dreaming of how you can bless others, than how you can win” (Jennie Allen).  I pray for a heart of generosity.

“May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitfuil.  Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.  May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky.  Yes, forever!  May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.  May all the godly flourish during his reign.  May there be abundant prosperity unitl the moon is no more.” Psalms 72:3-7 NLT

Dear Father, thank you that you speak to me in all kinds of ways. Help me to be listening.  Thank you for giving me strength when I am weary.  Thank you that you refresh my soul through your word. Amen.  

Amy(amyctanner)

 

 

 

2 Peter 1; Psalm 145, 128

How do you measure progress toward a task you can’t see or touch? How do you arrange touch points throughout a day or week or month for developing character and championing values? When my goals consisted of exercise, nutrition, managing my home–the tasks were clear and defined and results could be measured. But how do you measure the heart?

³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3, NLT)

I scratch my head. I sit with this.

By his divine power.

God has given me everything I need.

For living a godly life.

I have received all of this.

By coming to know him.

The one who called me to himself.

⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1:4, NLT)

Because of his glory and excellence.

He has given me great and precious promises.

His promises enable me.

Father God, you are so good to me. You are generous, glorious, excellent. You invite me to draw near to you. When I look outward and try to plan and prepare, you whisper to me, “I already gave you that. Just remain in me.” You love me so much that you supply me with all I need. I write these words down and keep them close because you are the way, the truth and the life. You make me contemplate this paradox, that I have not yet, and yet I have.

⁵ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

⁸ The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

¹⁰ So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. ¹¹ Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11, NLT)

Courtney (66books365)