I had a crazy day yesterday. It started out with an early morning coaching appointment and then moved on to me getting the chance to worship for about 2 hours, which was awesome. I was going to worship, read and then pray, but the worship thing got ahold of me and I didn't stop until after 10 AM. Then, when I got ready to go read and pray, God gave me a great opportunity to serve some friends and my community. By the time all was said and done it was after 9 PM, I hadn't read or prayed yet and I still hadn't eaten since lunch. We ordered pizza and I showered and then spent some time reading the Word. I didn't seem to manage a good prayer time, but I did enjoy my time in the Word. You will probably notice I jumped into 1 Peter. I didn't have my commentaries with me and didn't want to read just to read, so I figured I'd read 1 Peter last night and today and then jump back into Ezekiel tomorrow (Thursday). Hope you don't mind.
1:2 - ...Grace and peace be yours in ABUNDANCE. - I love the abundance part. Not just grace and peace, but large quantities of grace and peace. Costco or Sam's Club warehouse/bulk quantities of it.
1:5 - It is through faith that we are shielded by God's power.
1:7 - Faith is a big deal to Peter. Look at how many times he refers to it in his letter.
1:8 - ...filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. - Do you experience this? If not go back and reexamine your faith. This should be the normal experience for every follower of Christ.
1:11 - The prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ). Cool to see the same God working the same way thousands of years ago.
1:13 - Your hope is not set on things here and now, but on things in the future.
1:16 - Principle - Be holy, because God is holy and He wants to give you a great relationship with Him. Sometimes we think the things God says are rules. Some of them are, but most of them are God's way of explaining to us the good He wants to do in our life and simply giving us the parameters for receiving those gifts.
1:23 - The word of God is living and enduring.
2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. - Love this verse. Get hungry for God.
2:5 - Your calling = to be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:9 - God's special possession - Get that - YOU are God's SPECIAL possession. I have a sword that was passed down to me from my dad from his dad from WWII. It is a special possession to me. I show it to almost everyone who comes over to my house because I am so proud of it. You are that in God's house - the thing He loves to show everyone and tell everyone about.
2:11 - foreigners and exiles - We need to develop this mentality more. Some of us are dual citizens and that never works.
2:16 - Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. - You are free for a purpose!!!!
2:18 - Slaves, in reverent fear of God... - I was struck by the idea that we submit not because the other person deserves it, that isn't even a legitimate question. We submit out of a fear and love for God. You do not submit to your boss because he is some great guy, but because you fear and love God and therefore you would rather honor Him no matter what it costs you. I have some friends who really struggle with their boss because he seems to be a man who struggles with pride and competency, and I would tell them, Honor your boss out of reverence for Christ Jesus and God the Father. How you treat him says a lot to the world around you.
2:21 - Suffering for good is part of the example we are to follow.
2:23 - ... Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. - One of my favorite verses. Really. I know I say that a lot, but this one really is one of my favorite out of my favorites.
Love, Michael
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