Who Are We To Complain?

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 

"But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Do we realize the depth of God's love for us? Think of the worst thing someone could do to us, and imagine that even after they have done it, we would be willing to truly forgive them, and even die for them. We are often very quick to say that we will forgive someone, or claim that we love others, but the truth is usually revealed quite plainly the moment someone wrongs us, treats us unfairly, or even hurts someone we love. Yet, Jesus was willing to take on our sins, and prove His love for us by giving His life; in order to redeem us and reconcile us to God. There was no small print or exception clause in what He did and now offers. He did not make a list of sins that could not be forgiven, outside of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is essentially rejecting the offer of salvation when the Spirit convicts us. Yet, we make a thousand and one excuses for why we cannot love or forgive those who hurt us or do us wrong. We complain every time God chooses to allow suffering, especially when we have done what was right to do. However, when we compare what Jesus did, and why He did it, who are we to complain, when what He calls us to do does not compare to what He did? He was put to death for us, but raised again to glory. If we know Him, because we have trusted Him and called upon Him, then we have been brought to life; and by the work of the Spirit in us and through us we too can now learn to suffer for doing what is right. We can learn to love others as He has commanded us to, and forgive others as God has forgiven us for Christ's sake.

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).

Count It An Honor

1 Peter 3:15-17 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. 

How often have we wondered and asked, "What is God's will for my life?" How often have we been asked this same question, or overheard someone ask it? Most often, we ask the question seeking a positive answer. What I mean by this is that we expect the answer to be God's will as far as service to Him, or God's will regarding some decision we need to make. The issue with seeking God's will is that He makes it very clear in the pages of the Bible; yet, we choose to override it with our opinions or our "better way of doing things". Why do we do that? We do that because we do not always like those verses that say, "This is the will of God." We do not like them because they fly in the face of what we really want to do and how we really want to live. God's will challenges the flesh and its desires. We love God's promises, but then question why we suffer, when Jesus plainly promised, in the Gospel of John, that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33). In today's verses, especially verse 17, God once again tells us that allowing us to suffer may be His will on certain occasions. Yes, there are those times when we do what is absolutely right to do, in accordance with God's Word, and it will be God's will to allow us to suffer for doing good. What we forget very quickly is that God promised that all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28). What we also forget is that our suffering is not really about us, but about Him and how He will glorify Himself through it. Do we think that we are better than our Savior? Did not our perfect and sinless Lord come to suffer and die a horrendous death, in order to fulfill the Father's will? Why then would we expect to escape suffering, if God allows it? Who are we to complain, should it be God's will for us to suffer for a moment or two in our lives? If we are going to suffer for the Lord, let it not be because of sin or because we are behaving obnoxiously toward others. Instead, let us suffer for doing good, and count it an honor to suffer for the cause of Christ and the Gospel.

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).

Ready, Set, Give!

1 Peter 3:15-17 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. 

Do we really stand out and stand apart from the world? Do people easily recognize that we are people of faith? Not just because we speak "Christianese", but because our lives, our actions, attitudes, and deeds, speak louder than words? It is in the midst of persecution and troubling times that we need to strive to live a life that stands apart from the rest of the world. Instead of focusing on "how the world is going sideways", we need to remember that God already warned us that this would happen. We must refrain from reacting in fear and behaving like the unsaved, in our responses and attitudes. We need to see this as an opportunity to let the light of Jesus shine even brighter through us. The darker this world gets, the brighter His light should shine. He has chosen us to be the ones to put His light on display during these trying times. This ought to cause the world to wonder, especially in the midst of persecution and hard times, why we are able to maintain a life of peace, joy, and tranquility. In turn, this will give us plenty of opportunities to give an answer, or defense, to everyone who asks, for why we have hope in the midst of hopeless times. Are we ready to give that answer? Does our life reflect such a difference from the "norm" of this world that it sparks curiosity in the hearts of the onlookers? Because if it does, the Lord will certainly open doors of opportunity for us to share our faith. So...ready, set, give! Give what, you ask? A reason for our hope; that's what.

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).

Nothing Contrary to His Holiness

1 Peter 3:15-17 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. 

Do we really trust God? Do we trust Him and proclaim His goodness only when we are on the mountaintop, or do we give Him thanks, praise Him, and trust Him, even in our times in the valleys? What enables us, as followers of Jesus, to continue trusting God even at the height of persecution and troubles? Peter gives us the key in today's verses. He calls us to sanctify the Lord in our hearts. What does that mean? It means that we are to completely acknowledge, believe, and live by the truth that God is holy. A holy God is always just, fair, and faithful to the truth that He is holy. Therefore, everything He dictates and allows is always in line with His holiness; that includes even the moments when He allows trials and persecutions to enter our lives. He is faithful to the truth that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and ultimately works circumstances out for His glory. The bottom line is that we can maintain a testimony that honors God, in the midst of persecution and troubles, when we consecrate God in our hearts; holding fast to the truth that He is holy and will never do, or allow, anything contrary to His holiness.

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).

An Investment In Our Heavenly Future

1 Peter 3:13-14 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.” 

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) If we believe this, why do we fear telling others about Jesus? If we believe this, why do we fear rejection and persecution for choosing what is right in the eye of our Lord? In Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Rather than see persecution, and suffering, that is the result of doing what is right; we need to see it as a way to gain heavenly reward. In other words, stop being afraid of what others will say or think, or even how they will respond, when we choose to do that which pleases the Lord. We need to stop compromising with the world, simply because of our fear of man. Proverbs 29:25 clearly states, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." When we read today's verses in their context, it is clear that a wife who honors and submits to her own husband will be criticized by the world. A man who truly loves his wife will be mocked; sometimes even by other Christian men, who are worldly. When we choose the way of peace, and choose to respond with good and kindness toward those who do evil toward us, we will be called fools and be accused of being weak. The Lord says that is okay, accept the criticism, the mocking, the name-calling, and whatever persecution comes; for we are in good company. In John 15:20 Jesus said, "Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." When persecution and suffering come as a result of living for Jesus, be of good cheer; our heavenly inheritance, which is reserved for us and awaits us, is growing (1 Peter 1:3-5). Instead of seeing suffering as a burden and a bad thing, let us start seeing it as an investment in our heavenly future.

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).

Love Life and Do Not Grow Weary

1 Peter 3:10-13 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.” 

The world tries to convince us every day that in order to enjoy a good life we must pursue riches, status, and the things that stroke our pride and ego. I am not saying that we neglect providing for our family. As a matter of fact God tells us that if we do not provide for them, we are worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). What I am saying is that if we want to love the life God has given us, and we want to see good days, then we must live those days by God's standards. The first thing we must realize and acknowledge is that none of us is promised a life without challenges; and if we are truly living for Jesus, we should expect persecution. However, in the midst of persecution, because we have Jesus, we can still love life and see good days. Rather than be tempted to respond with evil words that spark conflict and bring about arguments and instigate trouble, on top of the trouble we are already experiencing, we need to speak words that bring about peace and harmony. Romans 12:18 tells us that if it is possible, as much as depends on us, we are to live at peace with others. We are to do this regardless of what their attitude is toward us; especially if they are choosing to be in conflict with us because of our faith. We are to refuse to engage in worldly behavior that is evil and creates further complications; the kind of behavior that stokes the fires of conflict. God promises that if we are obedient to His commands to refuse to speak evil, and do all we can to pursue peace, His eyes will be upon us and His ears will be open to our prayers, especially in the midst of trying times. Sadly, we often focus on the fact that evildoers seem to get their way and are rewarded for their actions, almost immediately, while satisfaction and relief for the righteous seems to elude us, or be delayed so long that it feels as if it will never come. This makes the temptation to compromise and behave like the world much greater. Brothers and sisters, be encouraged and know that God always keeps His promises. Remember what Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7-9, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

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).

Allow Him To Be Seen

1 Peter 3:8-9 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.

What are we doing, as the church, to shine the light of Christ in this dark world? A world that is filled with hate, division, and turmoil. Are we standing apart from the world, or do we look no different? When the world sees us, do they see people who live in peace and harmony with one another, or do they see division because of selfish attitudes and behaviors? Do they see a people divided over foolish arguments and a lack of love and forgiveness? We are called to be peacemakers. We are supposed to be sympathetic to one another's needs and sufferings, and moved to action by our compassion for one another. We are to love one another as Christ loves us, having concern for one another and being kind to one another. We are to avoid being like the world, returning evil for evil; instead, returning good for evil. When we do this we are promised the inheritance of a blessing; not a blessing as defined by the world, but a blessing as only God can provide. When we treat one another in this manner, and as the church reach out to the unsaved in a like manner, we will see real blessings, as individuals and as the church. The fact of the matter is that as the world gets worse in their attitude and behavior, the church's light should be growing brighter and brighter. Let us not allow our light to grow dim by mimicking the world and its ways. Instead, let us cause the light of Christ to shine ever so bright by mimicking Him, His attitude, and His actions. When we do that, the Gospel will go forth with power, and the light will pierce the darkness, allowing Jesus to be seen through His church.

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).

Treasure Them

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Men, we have such a great responsibility when it comes to keeping our relationship right with our wives. It may seem Peter had less to say about how we are supposed to treat our wives, but in reality he said a lot. As a matter of fact, even in other parts where there seems to be little said, in actuality much is said. Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 tell us to love our wives. This seems simple and straightforward, does it not? Well, Ephesians 5 tells us to love our wives as Christ loved the church, and Colossians 3 tells us to love them and be not bitter against them. Both these commands require that we know how Jesus loved us all, as the church, and how He forgives. We have an entire Bible that explains this; and because of that simple fact, we will be held to a greater standard for how we love and treat our wives. Peter, in today's one verse, tells us a lot about how we should live with our wives, and the consequences of ignoring these instructions. First, we are to live with our wives having an understanding of who they are and what makes them tick. That, my brothers, will take a lifetime. But then again, we should be in it for the long haul. We are told to give them honor as to the weaker vessel. That does not mean that we view them as, or that they are by any means, inferior to us. No, on the contrary, they are our sisters in Christ, and God's daughters. He loves them just as much as He loves us, and we will give an account for how we treat them and lead them. The idea behind treating them with honor as to the weaker vessel is the idea that we treat them as being delicate, yet of great value; just as we would a piece of valuable, beautiful, and delicate china. We would not handle a plastic or paper plate in the same manner that we handle an expensive china plate. We are to treasure our wives, be delicate with them, and hold them in that special place in our lives that no one else should occupy; other than God Himself. Peter issues a serious warning for those of us who refuse to obey these commands. He clearly states that our failure to value our wives as we should will result in a hindered prayer life. So, if we want to frustrate our relationship with Jesus, all we have to do is mistreat and mishandle our wives. Brothers, if we want to keep our relationship right with God, then we need to take great care in how we treat His daughters. The bottom line...treasure them.

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).

Trust God Without Fear

1 Peter 3:5-6 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

In today's verses Peter uses the women of old, specifically Sarah, to demonstrate what it means for a wife to be submissive to her own husband. A godly woman's submission comes from her faith in the Lord. Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him lord, not because of her faith in him, but because she trusted God. When a wife's faith and trust is in the Lord, she will not fear submitting to her own husband; even if that husband is an unbeliever. She can still, with a gentle spirit, worship the Lord, read her Bible, pray, give, and love her husband; just as God leads and directs, without fear. Even if her husband mocks her, she is to maintain godly and chaste behavior that God will use to influence the husband. Again, I want to make it abundantly clear that this is not an excuse for a husband to abuse his wife, or for that type of behavior to be tolerated by a wife. If a believing wife has an unbelieving husband who walks away, then God says, let him go. 1 Corinthians 7:15 clearly states, "But if an unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace." This does not mean that a believing wife has permission to instigate the unbelieving husband, in an attempt to drive him away. Instead, she is to demonstrate her faith in God, by her submission to her husband, and her chaste and godly behavior, so that there will be greater opportunity to win that unsaved, or backslidden, husband. Sisters, stand your ground like the women of former times who trusted in God. Let your faith and trust be not in man, not even your husbands, but in the Lord God Almighty. In the end, it will be that trust that will give you the strength and courage to submit under the authority God has established for our homes.

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 the Inner Beauty Shine

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Before we get started today, I am not going to say that women cannot dress nicely or put on makeup or wear jewelry. All of this can be done with balance and modesty. With that said...ladies, if a man only sees what is on the outside and judges you on that basis, do yourself a favor and move on. Oh, and that would be for the single women. I want to remind us all today that you can decorate yourself as bright as a Christmas tree, and God will see through all of that, right to your heart. God is not interested in outer appearances. He is interested in what is in our hearts. We find this truth over and over in the Bible. Women are to be more diligent to take care of what is in their hearts, rather than trying to portray an image outwardly that is not who they really are. This does not mean that you are not supposed to take care to be presentable outwardly. However, when you do take the time to dress the outward person, let the outward shine forth what is inside. In other words, dress the outward with modesty, honor to God, and respect for yourself. Too many Christian women adorn themselves outwardly no differently than unsaved women who dress in ways that tempt men to think things they should not. Some women will be offended by that statement. However, the truth of the matter is that most men are visual creatures, and there are far too many of us walking around committing adultery in our minds because of what is being displayed before our eyes. Modesty in the public eye is not only showing fear and reverence for God, but also showing respect for self, and toward your own husbands. A man does not want other men thinking sexual thoughts about his wife, because the wife chooses to be immodest and dress herself on the outside in a way that provoked such thoughts. I am being brutally honest today because I have seen too many women fall victim to the world's idea of what real beauty is. If a man is going to love you, let him love you for the beauty that God creates within you. Let him see the beauty that comes from your intimacy with God, and your desire to be pleasing to the Lord. A woman who has a heart for God will have beauty within that will shine through without makeup, jewelry, or fancy clothes. All those things are not wrong to wear, if done with modesty and a desire to please God. Inner beauty will shine brighter outwardly than any outward fixtures we could ever put together. Men, I want to say to all of us today, let us appreciate our women, our wives, for who they are in Christ Jesus, and we will begin to see the beauty that lies within them. Let us not be shy about telling them, and letting them know, how much we appreciate that inner beauty that is shining through.

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).

Submit for the Glory of God

1 Peter 3:1-2 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

Before we speak about wives submitting to their own husbands, I want to remind us all that God commanded that we submit to one another in the fear, or reverence, to God (Ephesians 5:21). With that said, the submission of wives to their husbands is not permission for husbands to be brutes, dictators or abusive in their homes. By the same token, for the wives, there are no conditions set, or excuses given, for their refusal to obey this command from God. May I add that submission by a wife works a whole lot better when a husband loves her, as God commanded? But that's a devo for another day. The bottom line is that the testimony of a submissive wife is a testimony that God can use to influence a husband who is unsaved, or a saved husband who is backslidden. Just as Peter wrote to those who were persecuted, and admonished them to submit to those who were placed in authority over them; so the husband has been placed as the authority in the household. This may put the wife in a position to be persecuted by her own husband (I did not say abused...that is never acceptable), but God promises that He will use the godly conduct of a submissive wife to win the wayward husband. I know that all of this flies in the face of what society teaches, and how modern day women think, but my dear sisters must stand their ground. Sadly, this will also bring about persecution from people who will criticize Christian women who strive to be the godly wives God has called them to be. Remember that in the end, it is God who we strive to please, not man and his ideas. Ultimately, it should be a holy reverence for God that is the driving force behind the submission of a wife to her husband; and know this my sisters, that each husband will have to give an account, before the Lord, for how they respond to such submission. Submit in godly fear, for the glory of God, and trust Him to work in the heart of your husband.

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).

Not Too Much To Ask

1 Peter 2:24-25 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

It still amazes me that Jesus would even consider dying for me, or for the world, seeing how sinful, cruel, and rebellious we can be. Yet God, the Creator of ALL things, submitted to His creation, laying down His own life in order to free us. The One who was perfect and absolutely sinless gave up His life so that we could have life. He took on our filth, allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and experienced the most excruciating pain any human being could experience. I do not speak of physical pain. I speak of the pain of having the Father, for the first time ever, turn His back on the Son. All this, in submission to God's plan of redemption for man. How incredible is it that we have been set free from the bondage of sin, and the oppression of the devils? Now we are free, by the power of the Spirit, to serve God and live a life of righteousness. Where once we lived empty lives with no real meaning or purpose, now we can live our life for Jesus. We can live a life that has eternal value, and that yields eternal reward when we live a life of obedience and submission to God and His Word. None of this would be possible if it were not for Jesus' willingness to submit to the will of the Father. So, is it too much of Him to command that we submit to Him by submitting those He has put in authority over us? I would conclude that this is not too much to ask of anyone of us who has gained the freedom that can only be found in a personal and intimate relationship with the Shepherd and Overseer of our life, 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).

No Love Without Submission

1 Peter 2:21-25 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

It always amazes me that we are ready to "amen" and "praise the Lord", when a message does not push us to do something that challenges our flesh. The thought of submitting to someone who treats us harshly or unfairly is unacceptable, and we have to immediately justify ourselves and our rotten attitudes; completely disregarding all the Scriptures that command us to return kindness for evil, or love and pray for our enemies. Yet, our God, who had no obligation to come to us, not only came to us, but submitted to His own creation, even unto death. For what? He did it out of love for us, who do not deserve His love, in order to redeem us to Himself. Today's verses are a reminder of the example Jesus set for us for when we experience wrongful suffering. He endured, He did not revile or threaten, and instead suffered for our sake. Today, do we consider ourselves better than Jesus? Will we justify striking back at those that Jesus commanded us to submit to? Will we behave like the world in criticizing, rebelling, and refusing to submit to the authority of those God allowed to have that power? Will we behave like the world in our places of employment, refusing to pray for any of them? Jesus proved His love for the Father by obeying the Father's will, even though it cost Him His life. Will we refuse to submit to the authorities that God commands us to submit to, then try to proclaim to the world, with great hypocrisy, that we love and represent Jesus? If there is no submission, is there really any love; for the Lord that is?

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).

They Too Will Be Judged

1 Peter 2:18-20 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Back in the days when Peter penned these words, many Christians were servants. Today, we would equate this to our attitude toward those we work for. Many of us, if not all, have had experiences with bosses or managers that were lousy at their jobs. They may have been insecure or just so full of themselves that it almost seemed impossible to work for them. As born again followers of Jesus, how are we supposed to respond to these people whom God sometimes allows to be our supervisors? Well, Peter put it in very simple terms...submit. That means that we cannot use the Bible or our faith to become the worst employee in the workplace. It means that we cannot use our manager's lousy attitude to justify not putting forth our best effort, failing to come to work on time, or returning a lousy attitude for a lousy attitude. As a matter of fact, Jesus can even use a Christian who maintains a testimony that honors God to win some people to Himself in that very environment. The bottom line is that we must stand apart in the way we continue to work, under these conditions, knowing that we must work for our employer as if we were working for Jesus, because we are! When it is all said and done, it is the Lord who will reward us for continuing to do the right thing, even when we are mistreated. We are to be the best we can be, not to be men-pleasers, but to be God-honoring; knowing that one day, even that boss, manager, or supervisor will also stand before God to be judged (Colossians 3:22-25).

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).

Submission to God

1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Today's devotion will likely make some of us cringe. So often people have asked, "How do I know God's will for my life?" Well, that is really an easy question to answer. God's will is found in God's Word. The truths and principles found in the Bible is God's will. Whatever He commands us to do is His will. As a matter of fact, there are even verses, like today's, where God specifically states, "For this is the will of God." So what is God's will in today's verses? In one word, it is "submission". Some of us would say, "No problem. I can submit to God." Well, in these verses God points out that submission to His Word means we are to submit to those in authority in our society. Yes, we are to submit to the ordinances of man. Note that God did not say to the ordinances that we agree with. He did not say to submit only to rulers we agree with or like. He tells us to submit to EVERY ordinance of man. The only exception to this is if we are told to do something that violates the Word of God. As His ambassadors here on earth, He commands us to represent Him in a way that stands apart from the unbeliever and how they respond to the ordinances of kings, rulers, governors, and others in authority. We are to honor people for the office they hold, not necessarily for who they are as a person or ruler. Far too many followers of Jesus become followers of the world when it comes to criticizing our leaders. We join them in name calling, judging, and criticizing, when God tells us that we are supposed to pray for our leaders. Jesus Himself submitted to Caesar by paying taxes; and when challenged, responded that we should render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's. Do we consider ourselves better than our Master? Are we above doing that which Jesus Himself did? Peter summed it up by these simple words, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." In other words, "Do these things in submission to God."

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).

Rob Them and Silence Them

1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The Word of God makes it clear that we are ambassadors for Jesus, while here on earth. Peter reminds us that we are pilgrims, sojourners, strangers, meaning that this world is not our home. We have been adopted into God's family, in Christ Jesus. As such, our transfer from Satan's family to God's family should be evident by a change in who we are, how we speak, and how we behave. Our address has been permanently changed from earth and Hell to Heaven. Our path has been permanently rerouted from eternal condemnation to eternal life. This should cause us to do all we can to glorify God with how we represent Him during our short time here. Just as the Christians Peter was writing to were suffering persecution; so we too will suffer persecution when we choose to surrender our life to Jesus. In the midst of that persecution we are to stand out in our response and behavior. Unlike the world, we are not to return evil for evil, but instead return kindness for evil. We are to love and pray for our enemies, and if God gives us opportunity, we are to give our enemy food and drink if they hunger and thirst. By doing this, we give God room to be our Avenger. We leave room for His wrath, but we also leave room for His love, mercy, and grace. Through our godly behavior and response, God may choose to win our enemies to Himself. The Apostle Paul was a good example of that. God met him face to face on the road to Damascus, but then chose Ananias to minister to him. Ananias obeyed the Lord's command, and treated Paul, who was an enemy of the church, with the love of Jesus. Acts 9:17 says this about how Ananias interacted with Paul, "And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him said, 'Brother Saul...'" The greatest vengeance we can take on our spiritual enemies is to cause their accusations to be empty and false by living a life that is holy and not stained with the wickedness of this world. We must do all we can to live a life that honors God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse world that will do all it can to point out our hypocrisy and lack of commitment to God every opportunity they get. Let us strive to rob them of that opportunity by silencing them with God-honoring lives. May the Lord God in Heaven be glorified by our actions and behavior here on earth.

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).

A Chosen Royal Priesthood or Harlots

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

When we truly understand what Peter is saying here, it is absolutely amazing! We are a chosen people. The word chosen means favorite or elect. God chose us, we did not choose Him. We have been chosen and set aside for His purposes, to live for Him and serve in whatever manner He chooses. Sadly, there are too many of us who are living for ourselves, the world, and the gods we have created for ourselves. He chose us to be a sacred and consecrated people. The word nation here means a nation that is foreign, gentile, non-Jewish. The Jews are still His chosen people, but He has grafted us in, as the church, and He will honor His promises to the Jewish people, as well as the church. When He refers to us as a peculiar or special people, He is saying that we are a purchased people. He acquired us as His special possession with the precious Blood of Jesus. Therefore, we belong exclusively to Him. Are we living as if we belong exclusively to God, or are we living as if we are the master of our own life? Have we given ownership to the demons and the world? Because if we have, we are giving away what is not ours to give. Peter makes it very plain and clear that we were saved to serve the King of kings, as His royal priesthood; to show forth His praises, even in the heat of trials, tribulations, and persecution. This is possible because God has redeemed us from the dark world we lived in, and brought us into His marvelous light. Although we were not a part of the people He originally chose, by the Blood of Jesus He has brought us into the fold. For that reason alone we should have the desire to submit and surrender our life to serve Him for whatever number of years we have left here on earth. So today, let us consider this, "Are we serving God as servants who have been set apart exclusively for His purposes, or are we playing the harlot by giving ourselves to someone or something else?"

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).

There Will Be Real Evidence

1 Peter 2:6-8 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Jesus will either be the Cornerstone on which our life will be solidly built upon or the Rock that will be the cause of utter destruction. When we truly believe on Him, He will become precious to us; meaning that we will have reverence for Him. We will have a true desire to honor Him with our life by seeking to live a life of obedience to His Word. Not only will we desire to live for Him, but we will also have a great desire to tell others about Him and what He has done. On the other hand, those who choose unbelief will put themselves in a place of judgment and condemnation. Their life will be frustrated whenever they are confronted by His Word because it will oppose who they are and how they are choosing to live. They will reject Him and they will refuse to be subject to Him because they desire to be the lord of their own life. The greatest difference between the believer and the unbeliever is that in the end one of us (the believer) will have hope, and that hope will be realized when we are finally with Jesus forevermore. The unbeliever will live a life of hopelessness and darkness, only to end up facing eternal punishment at the end of this life. Jesus came to save the lost and gave Israel the privilege and opportunity to be the nation that would carry the Gospel message to the rest of the world. God foretold of Jesus' rejection by His people, and when that came to be, the privilege of carrying His message to the world was given to those who would believe on Him. Is Jesus precious enough in our life to create a burning desire within us to tell others? If we say, "yes", is it evidenced by how often we actually open our mouths to tell someone? If He truly is precious to us, then there will be real evidence by the way we live and how much we proclaim 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).

No Shame and No Fear

1 Peter 2:6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

In the previous devotional I had us consider who or what we are building our life on, and who is actually building it. Peter makes it clear that we are to build our life on the Rock, the Cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Himself. Today we focus on a promise stated in this verse. The promise is that we who believe on Jesus will not be put to shame. Regardless of what the world says or how much they mock us, God will still protect us, provide for our every need, and not forsake us or the promises made to us in Christ Jesus. Not only will we not be put to shame in this life, but we will not be put to shame in the next, as we will be with Jesus forevermore. The enemy wants us to walk in fear. However, when we put our faith and trust in Jesus there is nothing to fear; for the One who indwells us and seals us is greater than the enemy and his minions. Therefore we can walk with boldness, trusting that the One who promised to never leave us nor forsake us is ALWAYS just a prayer away. Praise God for what He has done for us in giving us His only begotten Son.

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).

A Façade or the True Cornerstone

1 Peter 2:4-6 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. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

What kind of spiritual house are we building? What is its foundation? More importantly, the question we need to ask ourselves is, "Who is building it?" Peter makes it clear that God desires to use each of us as living stones to build His church. In the process, He also has a desire to build us up individually so that we become a solid part of the church as a whole. Jesus is the chosen and precious Cornerstone that the Father has chosen to build His church. My question for us today is this, "Is Jesus the Cornerstone of the life we are building?" A cornerstone is the first stone that is set when erecting a building. That stone is set in place and determines the direction in which the rest of the building will be erected. Today, many cornerstones are more for the purpose of being a timestamp for when a building was built, or merely used as part of the celebration of erecting a new building, and is usually set by someone the builder considers an influential person in society, such as a celebrity or political figure. Sadly, many churches today, and many individual Christians, are using Jesus as a Cornerstone in the latter sense; more for show than genuine commitment. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 7:24-27 that we build our life on one of two foundations. We either build our life on sand or on the Rock. Life built on a foundation made of sand will crumble and fall when the storms of life hit it. A life built on the Rock, on the Cornerstone, who is Jesus, will stand no matter what God allows into that life. Ultimately, we must decide if we will build our life on a façade that we build, or whether we will allow God to build our life on the Cornerstone who is Jesus Christ, our Savior and 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).