Faithfully Yours Forever

Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-25
Verse: 1 Peter 2:24a (NIV 2011)
 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness….”

Does anyone have a problem submitting to authority?  Submitting to authority, in this passage, is linked to doing the right thing.  We are told, in verse 15, it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  Sometimes, how we handle an injustice or wrong done to another does silence the oppressor.  In addition, it can be a powerful witness, for those that are experiencing persecution or prejudice, to see someone that is willing to stand and do right.  Verse 12 tells us to live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.  While we may never get words of encouragement or support in this world, may we live for the righteousness of Christ in our lives and in our Christian witness.  When all is said and done, may we hear “well done, good and faithful servant.” (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-10
Verse: 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV 2011)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The heading for this passage is The Living Stone and a Chosen People.  While Jesus may have been rejected by many during the time He walked upon the earth, He is the precious cornerstone of the spiritual house being built by God.  To those of us who believe in the sacrifice by Jesus Christ, on our behalf, we have become the chose people of God.  We have been grafted into the family and have become a part of a holy nation.  Thank you Lord Jesus!  Praise your holy name!  May we help others to come out of the darkness and into the light.  May we extend mercy to those who have yet to choose to walk in the light of Christ. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 Peter 1:13-2:3
Verse: 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV 2011)
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

We are to be holy just as God is holy, but how can we do this?  We can’t; it is God who can make us holy.  However, we are to be obedient.  In this passage, we learn that obedience requires us to guard against our “evil desires.”  We are to love one another and rid [ourselves] of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind [v. 2:1].  What an impossible thing for us to do, but all things are made possible through Christ.

In addition to what is written of in today’s passage, let’s look at a couple of other Scripture verses that tell us what it takes, generally, to be sanctified or made holy.  In John 17:17 Jesus prays for His disciples.  He asked the Father to “sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  Obedience, to what is written of in the Holy Bible, makes us holy.  We, however, are unable to be obedient on our own.  We need power from the Holy Spirit.  In John 17, Jesus continues to pray for His disciples.  He said, in verse 19, it is “for them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” To be holy, we need the atoning sacrifice made for us by Jesus Christ.

May we desire to be holy.  May we be obedient to the One who has called us to be holy.  May we accept God’s grace, Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s power.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 Peter 1:1-12
Verse: 1 Peter 1:1b-2a (NIV 2011)
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces…, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood….

Peter is writing to us, but who are we anyway?  We, as Christians, are believers – believers in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  We are God’s elect.  We have been chosen, but chosen for what?  We have been chosen to be obedient to Jesus Christ.  We, as believers are His followers.  In this short introduction, Peter testifies to what we refer to as the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  What a blessing to us is God – three in one.  Our salvation is described as a new birth into a living hope.  It all begins with the foreknowledge of God the Father and ends, through the work of the Holy Spirit, with the blood of Jesus Christ.  The rest of this passage, Peter praises God for His mercy and grace that leads to salvation.  May we give praise, honor, and glory to God for the gift of salvation.  May we receive God’s grace and obediently serve our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: John 14:15-24
Verse: John 14:16-17a (NIV 2011)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

The suggested focus of this passage, from the devotional, is upon the Holy Spirit or “the Spirit of truth.”  We learn, from the Spirit of truth, about the Father and about Jesus, the Christ.  This passage also teaches us about those individuals who have a love for Jesus.  It makes the connection between love and obedience.  Jesus told us that if we love Him we will also keep His commands.  We can be reassured, as we read the Scriptures, that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to guide us toward a full understanding of His truth.  However, we are often reminded that we need to love… and obey… Jesus.  May we have a deep love for Jesus.  May we willingly obey His commands.  May our knowledge of God continue to grow as we continue to grow in our obedience.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 96 (NIV 2011)

When we choose to accept God’s gracious gift of salvation, we do sing a new song.
Verses 1-3

Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

May we declare His glory!

There is one true God.
Verses 4-6

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

May we praise Him!

The Lord, our God, is all powerful.
Verses 7-10

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.

May we bow down to our Lord, the one who reigns.

The Lord, our God, is holy and just.
Verses 11-13

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

May we rejoice in the Lord of all creation and praise His holy name.

(inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Exodus 15:1-18
Verse: Exodus 15:11 (NIV 2011)

Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?

What is the purpose of the Scriptures?  It is through them that we are able to know who God is.  It is through them that we learn of God’s plan of salvation for us.  It is through them that we see the relationship that God desires to have with His people.  May we grow in our knowledge and understanding of who God is.  May we be able to share God’s plan of salvation with others.  May our relationship with God be strengthened and deepened as we read, study, and meditate on the Scriptures.  May we be humbled as we consider His holiness, glory, and active presence in our lives and the world.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Hebrews 8:1-13
Verse: Hebrews 8:10-12 (NIV 2011)

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Our relationship with God is a holy covenant.  This covenant relationship should not be taken lightly or for granted.  The Lord will be our God.  He provides, cares, loves, guides, and protects us.  We are to be His people.  We are to love, honor, and obey Him.  The Lord is faithful in fulfilling His part of this covenant relationship.  May we fulfill our part.  May we truly know Him and His ways.  May we desire to follow Him and to live a holy life – a life that honors Him for who He is and for what He has done for us. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Luke 15:25-32
Verse: Luke 15:31-32 (NIV 2011)
My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Today’s passage is the “end of the story” to the parable of the lost son.  It may be understandable, from a human perspective, why the one that has always been faithful and obedient [the older brother] will look at a “late comer” to the faith [the wayward younger brother] with a bit of resentment, anger, or frustration.  However, the Lord hopes the faithful will rise above those human tendencies and view things from a more heavenly perspective.  May we appreciate the daily blessings that come from having a strong and faithful relationship with the Lord.  May we selflessly desire for others, who now choose to obey and be faithful to our heavenly Father, receive a full measure of His grace and blessings.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)