Acceptable and Pleasing Sacrifices

1 Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

"A holy priesthood"; that is what we, as a body of believers, are referred to. We are holy, set apart for the purpose of offering up spiritual sacrifices to God. But wait...what sacrifices? Let us go to Hebrews 13:15-16 and take a closer look at what are some of the spiritual sacrifices we are called to offer up to God. Note, that verse 15 tells us to bring our sacrifice of praise to God, through Jesus. In that same verse it describes that sacrifice as "the fruit of our lips that give thanks to His Name". However, let me ask this, "When is giving thanks a sacrifice?" It is easy to thank God and be grateful when things are going well. It is a completely different story to give thanks to God when everything seems to be going wrong; in the midst of suffering. That, my brothers and sisters, is when giving thanks becomes a true sacrifice. Verse 16 goes on to tell us to "not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased". Let us consider the heart and intention with which we do those good works. If we are doing them with the intention of earning our salvation, or with the thought that our good works will gain us more favor than the next person, then our motives are misguided. Our good works and sharing should be driven by our faith. In other words, it is one thing to give to someone out of the abundance of what God has blessed us with, and then wave a big flag so that everyone will see what a good Christian we are; as opposed to giving someone our last dollar, quietly and privately, and trusting that our provision will come from God. As a holy priesthood, God wants us to offer up thanks, praise, and our good works, by faith, and in Christ Jesus; for our sacrifices are only acceptable and pleasing when they are offered up in the manner that God commands.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Someone Else's Property

1 Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

This is a beautiful reminder that the sacrifices we offer up to God, in Christ, are acceptable and precious. Note that I said, "in Christ"; for all our works of righteousness, in and of themselves and outside of Christ, are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). However, because Jesus was chosen by the Father and precious to Him; now that we are in Him, the sacrifices we bring to Him are now acceptable. The question now becomes, "To where do we bring our sacrifices?" The Jews had the Temple to where they could bring their sacrifices. We, on the other hand, have a different type of temple; that temple is our body, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6; 2 Corinthians 6). Sadly, today many followers of Jesus are more concerned with the condition of physical church buildings than of the living temples which are our bodies, and which also make up the actual church of Jesus. There are so many things that we are so careful do and not to do while in a physical church building; uet, we carelessly mistreat our bodies which do not belong to us, because we were bought by the Blood of Jesus. So, the next time we are tempted to use our bodies for something other than glorifying God, as living sacrifices on His altar, let us stop and ponder the fact that whatever we do with our bodies, we do with someone else's property, and that someone is Jesus.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Put Away, Crave, and Grow

Put Away, Crave, and Grow

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

We were reminded in the previous chapter that life is very short, and we wither away in an instant. The frailty of life ought to make us continually reevaluate how we are living this life. Are we loving God and loving others? Are we striving to live a life of obedience, which is the evidence that proves that we love Jesus? Peter continues his narrative here, admonishing us to put away those things which not only put a wall of separation between us and God, but also cause division within the body. Instead, he calls us to desire, or crave, the Word of God. Just like a baby craves milk, and will cry and have a fit, until it is fed; so should we crave time in intimate fellowship with God, in His Word. It is this time of reading, studying, praying, and obediently applying, that we will mature enough to begin feeding on the meat of God's Word. As we grow, we will then realize the importance of unity, and how destructive our selfish actions and behavior can be to the advancement of the Gospel. Once we have tasted and truly appreciated God's grace, we will realize that nothing compares to time spent in intimate fellowship with the One who has given us such unmerited favor.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Fervency and Urgency

1 Peter 1:22-25 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

We spoke previously of the expectation, as followers of Jesus, to love one another as Jesus loved us. Today, we will speak of the urgency of loving one another, as the Lord has commanded us to love. Peter reminds us over and over that our salvation was not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, and there is nothing here on earth that compares, or even comes close in value, to what Jesus gave in order to redeem us. Having the knowledge that such a great sacrifice was made on our behalf should drive us with an overwhelming desire to respond to Jesus with obedience, and a willingness to put forth the greatest effort to love the brethren as the Lord has commanded. Peter tells us that the urgency with which we do this comes from the fact that our life here on earth is fragile and short. As born again believers, our goal on earth, where we are strangers and pilgrims, is to live for what is eternal; that which will last forever. We are not called to live for the flesh, which withers and dies. No...we are called to live for God, in accordance with His Word, which will last forever, because it is eternal. The bottom line is that there is not much time left for us to win as many people to Christ as possible; and there is not much time to learn how to truly love one another with the kind of love that the Word of God describes. Let us love one another with fervency, and urgency, for there is much to do, but not much time to do it in.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

By This Kind of Love

1 Peter 1:22-25 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Today we are reminded that, even though we can never earn our salvation or repay what Jesus has done for us, there is a clear expectation that we, as followers of Jesus, are to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. However, that love is not to be any ordinary love, or love as defined by the world, but a love that is only possible when grounded in a personal, intimate, relationship with Jesus. John 15 commands us to love one another, as Jesus loved us. Just as He sacrificed Himself for us, we must be willing to take up our cross daily and sacrifice our own wants and desires, if necessary, in order to serve one another in the Name of Jesus. Peter tells us that the love we have for one another should come from a pure heart. A heart that desires good for our brethren. A love that is without hypocrisy. A love that sets us apart from the world, and communicates to the world that we belong to Jesus. We live in a world where there is hatred, division, and darkness. Let us be the instruments God uses to bring forth the love of Christ, the unity that should be seen in the Body, and the light of Jesus that dispels the darkness; for it is by this kind of love that the world will see Jesus and know that we belong to Him.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Are We Proclaiming It?

1 Peter 1:18-21 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

What are we putting our hope in during trying times? When tribulation and persecution arise, what are we putting our faith in? Peter reminds us that our hope should always be found in Christ Jesus. Why? Well, because God did something that should have solidified our faith and hope in Him. What was that "something" He did? He resurrected the Lord Jesus from the dead, giving us the proof we needed to reassure us that our salvation in Christ is sure. Here is the wonderful and mind-blowing truth about God's plan of salvation, and Jesus' resurrection; it was planned long before any of us existed. As a matter of fact, it was planned long before God ever created a single solitary thing. Salvation was not a last minute emergency plan. Man's fall was not a surprise, and God did not panic when the devil deceived Eve, or when Adam willingly disobeyed God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God's love existed, for us, long before the earth was formed. What an amazing truth! Yet, how often we panic when troubles come our way. The same God whose plan overcame sin and death is the same God who is with us, and who already has a plan in place to get us through times of suffering. God's plan of salvation is proof that His plans are always perfect, and that He can be trusted one hundred and ten percent, thereby solidifying our hope in the One who is our Living Hope. God's salvation is not cheap, and it is the only way to an intimate relationship with Him. It is the only way to become a citizen of Heaven. A salvation that is this valuable, and that was carried out with such great and perfect love, is a salvation that is worth being proclaimed and shared with a lost and dying world. Do we truly believe that? If so, are we proclaiming it? If not, then why not?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our Word and Actions Will Show It

1 Peter 1:17-19 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Reading God's Word in context is of utmost importance when it comes to interpretation and application. When Peter says, "And if you call on the Father", we must remember what he said just before that, about being holy (separated unto God) and living a holy life in the midst of persecution. Our motivation for being holy, as our God is holy, is not only our love for Jesus, but it should also be grounded in a reverent fear, or respect, for the Lord. God is not a God who is partial to anyone. He does not overlook the deeds and action of one person over another as if He finds more favor with one or the other. No one, and I mean no one, is exempt from obeying God's Word, and no one will escape giving an account for their life. So Peter tells us that not only are we to live holy, but we are to do so in reverent fear of offending a perfect and holy God. Joseph was a great example of what living in holy reverent fear looks like. He refused to sleep with his master's wife, not primarily because he would sin against his master, but because His reverent fear of God caused him to realize that the offense would be against the Lord. Our salvation was not cheap. It was bought with something more precious than all the silver and gold in the world. We did not earn it, and we will never be able to earn it. It was bought with the Blood of Jesus; and it was that Blood that purchased us. We now belong to Him, and as such we must live as if we are not our own, because we are not. We belong to Jesus. So today, before we interact with the people the Lord puts before us, let us be mindful of our words, actions, and deeds; and ask ourselves, "Is what I am about to say or do going to show my love for Jesus, and demonstrate respect and fear for my Lord?"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Let Him Turn Up the Brightness

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

While in the midst of persecution, trials, and suffering, it is tempting to compromise our faith, and seek ungodly solutions. It can become easy to forget what we have gained in Christ Jesus, and allow the enemy to convince us that somehow our previous life was better. After all, we were not suffering as much before we called upon Jesus. It has only been since trusting Him that we suddenly found ourselves losing friends, and having family make fun of us. When we started trying to live the right way, in accordance with God's Word, things started going upside down. We can easily become like the Israelites who murmured and complained against Moses and God, when they faced challenges in the wilderness, after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. They quickly forgot how cruel the Egyptians were toward them, and how much they suffered as slaves. Peter was reminding the persecuted saints of his day that they were now God's children, and no longer slaves to their previous life or its sinful lusts. They, and we, are now called to be holy, set apart, especially in the midst of suffering, for God's purposes. We are to persevere and live righteously, in Christ, before a lost and dying world; so that when the Lord opens doors of opportunity, we will be able to not only tell others about Jesus, but also be living examples of what it means to call upon and trust the Lord. Our lives can shine brighter than ever as times get darker. The darker life gets, the brighter Jesus' light should shine through us. Rather than focus on all the negative things that are happening in the world, that may be affecting us, and causing us to look away from God; let us keep our eyes on Jesus and remember that these dark days are opportunities to let the Lord turn up the brightness of the Light that lives within us!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Gird Up, Be Sober, and Hope

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

In the midst of persecution, Peter reminds these saints, and us, that in Christ we all have grace and peace. We are reminded that there is an inheritance waiting for us when we finally arrive home to be with Jesus. We can be certain of this because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and we are kept by His power and strength. Even in the midst of intense persecution and suffering we can rejoice with joy unspeakable, knowing that we have a great salvation that we must not only proclaim, but also be living examples for others to see. In today's verse, Peter begins to encourage them, and us, to live holy lives in the face of whatever suffering God allows. He tells us to prepare our minds. When a person girded themselves, they tied up any loose ends of their garments so that they would be able to run or defend themselves without being entangled. So we too must continually renew our minds with the Word of God, and through the power of God, in prayer, and take captive all empty and useless thoughts. The enemy loves to invade our thought life in order to create doubts about God and His truth. We must keep thoughts under control and be sober, meaning disciplined and self-controlled in our thinking. Rather than fill our minds with the garbage the world offers via the news and social media outlets, we need to fill our mind with God's truth. Peter reminds us that as we strive to live a holy life of obedience, we must continue to hope in the grace that will be brought to us at the coming, and return, of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Let us not be shaken and tempted to stray from holy living when tough times come upon us. Instead, let us keep our focus on Jesus and the wonderful salvation we enjoy; keeping our minds renewed and the hope of His return alive.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Powerful and Timeless

1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

In Psalm 51:12, David asked God to renew the joy of His salvation. Sin had robbed David of the joy there is in having an intimate relationship with God, and the salvation he hoped in, by faith. Today we are reminded that we have a great and wonderful salvation that was announced, preached about, and prophesied by the prophets. These men of God brought forth a message they knew was for us today; yet, they rejoiced in bringing that message to the people. Today, we reap the eternal benefits of accepting and knowing Jesus as our Savior; yet, we walk around like people with no hope. We have allowed sin, and the distractions of the world, and the devils, to rob us of the joy and peace we have in Jesus. The angels marvel and desire to know more about this wonderful salvation that has been offered exclusively to us, in Christ. How is it that we walk around as miserable as the world, and wonder why the Gospel message is not making more of an impact? It is long past the time we wake up! We need to stop behaving like the world. We need to stop coveting the things of the world, and we need to stop allowing the enemy to convince us that we serve a small God who is limited in His ability to do all things. Brothers and sisters...listen up!! We have an all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing God! Nothing is impossible for Him. He proved it by going to the cross, giving His life, and then taking it up again. Do we not realize that even death obeys Him? We serve the only true God who commands death to stand aside, and it immediately gives way to life. Why, because God commanded it. This is the God we serve. This is the God in whom we have salvation; the salvation that was preached long before we existed, and the salvation that angels long to know more about. So what excuse(s) can we possibly have not to live a life of faith, peace, and joy, for Jesus today? What is keeping us from doing what the prophets did so long ago, to preach a salvation that is available today to ALL who will call upon Jesus' Name, by faith, and tell of the imminent return of our Lord? The time is running out! Jesus will return one day soon to get His church, then return to establish His Kingdom. Let us get busy focusing on the mission we have been given, and stop allowing our flesh, the world, and our enemies, rob us of the joy of the salvation we have in Jesus, the joy of serving Him, and joy of seeing others come to Him when we share the powerful and timeless Gospel message that we have been commanded to preach to every creature (Mark 16:15).

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).