Author: David Short

2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Encouraging Words

We live in two realms simultaneously. The realm that we are most familiar with is the physical realm. Our bodies are temporal and this is the realm that sustains them. We also live in the spiritual realm. It is all around us. Due to our fallenness and the impact of the fall to all around us, we do not see this realm unless God opens the eyes of our souls to see this realm. Even so, because of the work of Jesus, we have been brought into this spiritual realm and blessed to be considered joint heirs with Him in the kingdom of heaven. We are partakers in the divine nature by the grace of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Peter 5:8-10

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Personal Challenge

Our enemy, our adversary, the devil, will use whatever means he can to thwart us in our relationship with God and our neighbor. He will even use our brothers and sisters in Christ, if he can get a foothold in their lives. This is part of the charter here, to be sober and vigilant. This is not only needed to be prepared to deal with him and his willy schemes against us, but to make sure that he doesn’t hook us into being a stumbling block for another. The core to resisting him is to be steadfast in our faith. This steadfastness must be at all times, not just when we are under attack. By doing this and persevering, Jesus will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. Glory be to God!

Tobit 13:6

If you return to Him with all your heart
And with all your soul,
To do the truth before Him,
Then He will turn to you
And not hide His presence from you.

Encouraging Words

All of us, like sheep, have gone astray from our God once or more in our lives. It is us who have changed in these situations, not God. He is always constant. When we recognize that we have wandered away, repent, and return to Him with all our heart and soul, then He will embrace us and hold us near to Him. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Encouraged Words

We humble ourselves before our God because we know that we owe everything to Him. He conceived us and has given us every breath that we breathe and every beat of our heart. We know that He will exalt us in His due time for humbling ourselves before Him. We cast our cares upon Him for we know He cares for us. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Personal Challenge

One of the descriptive words of a key behavior of a follower of Christ is “submission”. We are to embrace humility and live a life of submission. We submit, first and foremost, to our God and strive to live His ways. We submit ourselves to one another in love so that their needs may be met. We submit to our elders for they have gone before us and have much to offer us. We submit to our leaders because God has put them there for a reason. The entire core of this submissive mindset is founded upon a desire to be humble before our God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Peter 4:10-12

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Personal Challenge

Each follower of Christ is given one or more gifts. These gifts can be found throughout the New Testament. It is our responsibility to use these gifts to build up the kingdom of God and to glorify Him. Almost all of these gifts are to be used in relationship to those around us, those whom God has placed in our lives. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 4:7-9

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Personal Challenges

As followers of Christ, we are called to love one another, whether inside the church or out, whether a righteous person or a sinner, whether they treat us nice or not. This is really not a choice, it is an expectation. We do this because by the example of Jesus we see “that “love covers a multitude of sins”. Part of these acts of love mean that we be hospitable to those around us, especially those who come into our homes and churches. This kind of love and hospitality is to be expressed fervently. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Peter 3:13-17

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Personal Challenge

Why is it that people, quite often people in the church, treat others with such disdain and animosity, especially when they don’t take the time to reach out to them to find out what is going on in their lives? Why do people make assumptions of others’ intents and then go off treating them based on those assumptions rather than showing them the love of Christ. Sometimes we make decisions to do what we believe is right in the eyes of God, just to be looked down upon and sneered at by those who are not willing to at least ask us if we are doing okay. I am so thankful for the hope that is within me that comes from my Lord. It is this hope that keeps me moving forward even in the midst of those who are unhappy with my decisions. They can attempt to defame me as an evil doer. They can revile me for my good conduct in the Lord. But in the end it is they who will be ashamed. This may be part of all of our journeys in Christ at some point in time. It is never easy. It is always painful when people that you have loved and served alongside of revile you and snub you because you are no longer fitting their model and attempting to follow where you believe you are being led. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

LIVING AMONGST OTHERS

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain 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 prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”

Personal Challenge

Let’s face it. If we truly desire to live a Christian life, then our behavior must change. We cannot do as we please or as we have always done and expect God to bless it. Are our actions any different than the non-Christian world around us? Do we get wrapped up in political agendas and divisive arguments like the rest of the world around us? Do speak evil and deceitfully of others? Do we seek peace or revel in the discord of our world? Are we different? Are we set apart? Do we do all that we do in our lives, our families, our churches, and our going in and going out in love or are we legalistic and controlling, God has called us to be like His Son and to love Him and our neighbor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!