Follower of the Way

Reading for Today - II Peter 3:14-18 - And count the patience of our Lord as salvation

2 Peter 3:14-18 (ESV)
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Reading for Today - II Peter 3:8-13 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells

2 Peter 3:8-13 (ESV)
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

 

God is patient with this world, because he does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.  Just because the Lord is patient, doesn’t mean he will not fulfill His promises.  One day, all things of the earth will be dissolved and the works that have been done exposed.  May we heed Peter’s word and seek to live a life of holiness and godliness.  May we live a life that shows we are waiting for the Lord and desire his coming.

What a glorious day it will be to enjoy His promises in a “new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Reading for Today - II Peter 3:1-7 - The earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God

2 Peter 3:1-7 (ESV) This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”  For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

We need reminders.  Reminders are good because they help to keep us safe.  May we desire to please God and look forward to Christ’s return.

Reading for Today - II Peter 2:9-22 - Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray

2 Peter 2:9-22 (ESV)
then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.  But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.  They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!  Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.  These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.  For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.  They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.  For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.  For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.  What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Reading for Today - II Peter 2:4-10 - The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials

2 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;  and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Reading for Today - II Peter 2:1-3 - In their greed they will exploit you with false words

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

 

We should be careful that we are learning the truth.  There are false teachers.  We must be careful so that we do not follow error.  May we study God’s word to ensure we are being taught the truth.

Reading for Today - II Peter 1:16-21 - No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man

2 Peter 1:16-21 (ESV)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Reading for Today - II Peter 1:12-15 - I intend always to remind you of these qualities

2 Peter 1:12-15 (ESV)
Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.   I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.  And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

 We need to be reminded of our spiritual goals.  The qualities that Peter mentions in II Peter are qualities we need to have in our life and qualities we need to be growing in.  It is important for us to make daily Bible study a part of our life.  The word of God is quick and powerful.  The word of God can change us.  May we seek the truth of God word daily and seek to grow after the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Reading for Today - II Peter 1:5-11 - If you practice these qualities you will never fall

 

2 Peter 1:5-11 (ESV)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

 As Christians, we should be growing in this list of items that Peter provides:

 

•                 Faith
•                 Virtue
•                 Knowledge
•                 Self-Control
•                 Steadfastness
•                 Godliness
•                 Brotherly Affection
•                 Love

 

We should ask ourselves frequently if we are growing in these things.  Is our faith strong than last year?  Do I know more of God’s word than last year?  Do I have more self-control than last year?  Am I growing in my ability to show love?  If we are living a life pleasing to God we should be seeking to grow in these.

 

Growing in these Christian graces will help us to effective and fruitful for God.  Peter wrote, “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

 

May we seek to grow every day to become more like Christ.  May we seek to follow his example.  May we trust God in all things and seek to live the life that pleases Him and that will draw men to Him.

 

May we be a light in the world shinning the light of the Gospel through our life.  May we shine our light in Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Self-Control, Steadfastness, Godliness, Brotherly Affection and Love.

 

Reading for Today - II Peter 1:1-4 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness

2 Peter 1:1-4 (ESV)
Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:  May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  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. 

 

What we need is found in God.  Peter writes, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”  Truly in Christ we have “precious and very great promises”.  How great it is to be in Christ.  May we put our desires on things above and seek the true knowledge that can only be found in God’s word.

Reading for Today - I Peter 5:5-14 - Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you

1 Peter 5:5-14 (ESV)
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.   Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.  She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.  Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Reading for Today - I Peter 5:1-4 - Shepherd the flock of God that is among you

1 Peter 5:1-4 (ESV)
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Reading for Today - I Peter 4:12-19 - Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good

1 Peter 4:12-19 (ESV)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.  For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”  Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

 

When we do good and suffer for this, let us entrust ourselves to God.  God knows when we do good and suffer for it.  God is the one who will punish evil and reward those who have served him.  Let us focus our lives on doing good.  Peter wrote in I Peter that we should not repay evil for evil, instead we should return a blessing.  Let us trust in God and do good glorifying God.

Reading for Today - I Peter 4:7-11 - In order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ

1 Peter 4:7-11 (ESV)
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

May we seek to use the talents, abilities, and blessings God has given us to serve others.  May we be good stewards of the gifts of God and seek to be pleasing to God and to be a light in the world pointing others to Christ.

Reading for Today - I Peter 4:1-6 - Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking

1 Peter 4:1-6 (ESV)
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.  With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

 

As Christians, we will live different than the world.  The world will be surprised that we do not live for the human passions of this world.  May we seek to live in the spirit and not after the flesh.

Reading for Today - I Peter 3:18-22 - Christ also suffered once for sins

1 Peter 3:18-22 (ESV)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.  Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Christ suffered to bring us to God.  Not only did Christ die to provide a way that we could have forgiveness, He died to provide a way to reconcile us to God that he would call us His Children.  When we learn of God’s plan for salvation, when we believe it, chose to repent and turn from our past sins and confess Christ we are ready to turn our lives over to God.  It is through the act of Baptism that we access this salvation and make an appeal to God for a good conscience.  After we have become Christ’s we must then continue to seek and to follow Him.  If we do not remain faithful to Christ, he cannot confess us before His Father in Heaven.  This does not mean we live a perfect life, but it does mean our heart and motives are right and that we are seeking to do that which is right.  We read in I John 1:7 that If we walk in the light as he is in the light the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from all sin.  May we seek to be in Christ and to follow Christ, to be pleasing to God and to provide a light to others that they may come to know the grace and love of God.  May our hearts always be open to His word so that we are touched by the His truth and seek His will and not our own.

Reading for Today - I Peter 3:13-17 - It is better to suffer for doing good

1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV)
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

 

If we suffer for doing good – God knows the truth.  Peter writes if we “suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.”  It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  We have the example of Christ.

We are also told to make a defense of the hope that is within us.  When we teach others, it should be done with “gentleness and respect”.  When I read this verse, I think of Paul’s advice that our speech be always with grace and seasoned with salt.  How we teach others and defend the truth could impact how someone receives the word at that time.  May we show respect and use gentleness.  May we be gracious and share the good news Christ.  May our words build up others and lead them to Christ.

Reading for Today - I Peter 3:8-12 - Do not repay evil for evil

1 Peter 3:8-12 (ESV)
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

Christians are more concerned about others and doing good than “having their rights”.  We were called to bless others.  We know from the example of Christ to show brotherly love, to have a tender heart and to have a humble mind.  May we not be like the world returning evil for evil.  Let us be like Christ and return a blessing.  May we seek peace and pursue it.  May we seek righteousness.

Reading for Today - I Peter 3:1-7 - Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart

1 Peter 3:1-7 (ESV)
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.  For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.  Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:18-25 - Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example

1 Peter 2:18-25 (ESV)
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

What an example we have in Christ.  The Son of God left Heaven, came to earth, served man and died on the cross to save man.  What an example.  Christ was due all honor and praise, yet he suffered and died for us.  What is it for us to suffer in comparison to what our Lord and Savior suffered for us.  What an example for us to serve others and to show love to others.  Without the example of Christ, we would not know what it really means to show true love.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:13-17 - Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution

1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

 

Christians are the best citizens.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:11-12 - They may see your good deeds and glorify God

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV)
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

 We should be careful what we partake in.  Peter urged his readers to “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage ware against your soul.”  This was for their benefit as well as for those in the world.  Peter also told his readers, to “keep [their] conduct among the Gentiles honorable”.  The purpose for this was that the Gentiles would see their conduct and glorify God.  We are to be lights in the world directing others to Christ.  May we live our lives above reproach brining honor to God.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:4-10 - You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”  So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:2-3 - Long for the pure spiritual milk

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As Christians, we should desire the word of God.  Peter tells his readers to “long for the pure spiritual milk”.  If we feed on the word of God we will grow.  Spiritual growth is something we should desire.  We should be those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and seek to be filled with the word of God.  Truly “the Lord is good”.  May we seek to know Him and learn more about Him from the Bible.  As we follow God as he teaches us in the Bible and seek to live the Christian life we know that God is good.  May we seek to show the love of God to others that they too may come to know Him.

Reading for Today - I Peter 2:1 - So put away

1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

 

Christians are called to be different and to have brotherly love.  Peter urges Christians to put away several things which would be a hindrance to showing love.  Peter says to put away malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander.

                Malice – Desire to injure another

                Deceit – Craftiness

                Hypocrisy – Deceptive and deceitful actions and attitudes

                Envy – Feelings of unhappiness because of what someone else has

                Slander – defamatory statements

May we seek to make sure these attitudes are not in our life.  May we seek to show love that builds up and not those actions that destroy.

Reading for Today - I Peter 1:13-25 - You shall be holy, for I am holy

1 Peter 1:13-25 (ESV)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

 

Christians are a prepared people for a prepared purpose.  We need to be thoughtful of what we do.  We need to be able to control ourselves.  As Christians, we have a great hope and we need be sure to keep our hope on the things God has prepared for us and on the promises, he has given us.

Christians are called to be holy.  We have been bought by the blood of Christ.  May we will a life that brings honor to our Father in heaven.  May we show the love of God to our fellow Christians and to the world.

Reading for Today - I Peter 1:10-12 - It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you

1 Peter 1:10-12 (ESV)
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Those who foretold of Christ looked forward to his coming.  Jesus told his disciples that those in the Kingdom were greater than John the Baptist.  How amazing and wonderful are God’s promises to those in Christ.

Reading for Today - I Peter 1:3-9 - He has caused us to be born again to a living hope

1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 

What an amazing hope we have in Christ.  We have an everlasting and pure inheritance awaiting us that will be just as awesome and desirable for all of eternity.  If we are in Christ it is reserved for us and if we are living by faith in God it is protected by him.  Life may provide us challenges.  Life may not always be easy or pleasant, but we have a great hope.  May are life be lived in praise, glory and honor to God.

Reading for Today - I Peter 1:1-2 - To those who are elect exiles

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

God is calling all men to obey and serve him.  God is calling all for salvation.  Peter writes his first epistle to the elect exiles.  Through the working of God's word, that was delivered by Holy men of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, men are called and changed today.  God has chosen all those who obey His word.  Through the word of God delivered by the Spirit we learn about how to obey Jesus Christ and how we can access Chist's blood.  We are called for obedience.  Thanks be to God that He has provided us salvation and grace through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.