1 Pe 5 ANXIETY FREE
Thursday, March 10, 2022.
1 Pe 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you: what comforting advice for all who are anxious in our unstable world today. God created us for His good pleasure Rev 4:11 KJV and He has a plan for each of our lives Eph 2:10. He promised to keep us strong until the end 12 Co 1:8. God also demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to pay our sin debt 1 Jn 4:9.
Application: because God cares for us, we need to rest in His love and trust His plan for our lives. Nothing can happen without God’s approval Job 1:12 and if God allows us to suffer trials, He has the confidence that we will be overcomers and glorify Him. There will be no better reward than to hear the Lord say, “Well done good and faithful servant” Mt 25:23.
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1 Pe 4 POWER OF GOD
Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
1 Pe 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins: Peter began this command by stating its priority—above all. We are to love others deeply, not superficially for love can cover many sins. The best example of this command is found in the story of Noah. After drinking wine and becoming drunk, he fell asleep uncovered Gen 9:21. His son Ham mocked Noah’s sin by telling his two brothers Gen 9:22. They, however got a blanket and while walking backwards into the tent covered their father’s nakedness Gen 9:23. Ham exposed Noah’s sin while Japheth and Shem covered it, demonstrating a practical example of the proverb, “love covers a multitude of sins while hate exposes sins.”
Application: God has forgiven our sins and He desires us to display His love towards those who have sinned, with the hope of mercy turning them to repentance and a desire to love God.
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1 Pe 3 ANNOUNCING VICTORY
Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
1 Pe 3:19
After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—a very difficult verse to understand. Christ had died bodily but was made alive in the spirit meaning a disembodied spirit before receiving His resurrected body 1 Pe 3:18. He then went to Hades and proclaimed His victory to the disobedient—all those who rejected God’s offer of salvation, pictured by Noah’s ark 1 Pe 3:20.
Application: the eight saved were a picture of all who are saved by trusting in Jesus to resurrect those who die to themselves signified by baptism 1 Pe 3:21. The sea symbolized the rebellious, restless sinners, while dying in the waters to self represented submission and dependency on Christ. He has proved His claim to be the Resurrection and the Life Jn 11:25.
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1 Pe 2 THE LIVING STONE
Monday, March 7, 2022.
1 Pe 2:4
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— Jesus is called the Living Stone because He is the cornerstone in God’s temple of which we are “living stones” 1 Pe 2:5. The house Jesus built is alive made of sinful individuals who have acknowledged their lost condition and have accepted the provision of forgiveness and life from Jesus, to become His house. Prideful man rejected Jesus and did not consider Him worthy, but God chose Jesus to be the Savior of the world Rev 13:8 and is cherished by the Father.
Application: as “living stones,” we are Jesus’ hands and feet and should follow His example. He wrongly suffered and endured it patiently, thus we, when persecuted unjustly, should maintain this same attitude 1 Pe 2:20. We are to live as God’s slaves 1 Pe 2:16.
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1 Pe 1 THE ROLES OF GOD
Sunday, March 6, 2022.
1 Pe 1:2
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Peter revealed the roles of the Persons of the Trinity in this verse. The Father is the planner, the decision maker, who in regards to salvation sent Jesus, the Son of God to die for mankind sins. He then sent the Holy Spirit to guide Christians in their spiritual growth.
Application: understanding who God is results in a more intimate relationship with Him. Knowing that the Father is the Architect, is like acknowledging your human father for the creativity and skill you acquired because of his genes being passed on to you. Jesus is the visible Builder—the action Person. It’s like getting help from your brother to build that home. The Holy Spirit is the Real Estate agent that closes the deal, giving you a nice profit and contentment in your finished work.
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