Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 84-86; 1 Peter 2
Devotional Thought:
This is a tremendously practical chapter regarding Christian living. I believe the mission statement for the believer is given in verse 9. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” One of the greatest struggles we face in witnessing to the lost is the poor testimony of professing believers. Christians, too many times, want to experience, enjoy, and entertain the things of the world. We have learned how to respond to wrongdoing the way the world responds. Peter exhorts these Christians that they have been called to a different way of living from those who walk in disobedience. Peter exhorts the believer to be distinctly different in being selfless in action. They are to lay aside ALL malice, and ALL guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and ALL evil speaking…” (vs. 1) We tend to cater to our flesh and excuse it by saying we are just human, but why not cater to the Spirit and justify that by saying we are born again! We should be motivated to feed the spiritual man because we have tasted the grace of God. We have experienced the gracious character of Christ and we should desire to emulate it. Peter continues in this chapter to exhort believers to be distinctly different in their submission to authority. Peter reiterates the purpose of government is to punish evildoers and praise of them that do well. (vs. 14) However, his exhortation to submit is not dependent upon whether government does their job, but emphasizes the importance of Christians to do theirs. Because his next illustration is to be subject to your employer “…not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (vs. 18) Peter reminds these Christians that there is nothing distinctly different from the world if you are rewarded for doing good or given a consequence for doing wrong. However, there is something distinctly different when “…ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” (vs. 20) BUT THAT’S NOT FAIR! I have heard that so many times by immature Christians. But for the mature Christian we realize that our eternal home in heaven was not built upon fairness, but upon grace! Therefore, we have a responsibility to demonstrate grace even in the midst of injustice. Jesus is our example during His crucifixion. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” He committed Himself in complete dependence upon and in trust to His Father who He knew would judge righteously. How have you been doing in being distinctly different from the world in your selfless actions and submission to authority?
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to remember that I will never give an account for somebody else’s wrong doing, but I will give an account for my decisions. Help me to always be more concerned about what reward I will get in heaven and less concerned about being rewarded, vindicated, or appreciated here on earth.
• Lord, thank you for the example of grace both as the basis of my salvation and the example of my sanctification. Please help me to never justify an action because that is the way the world would respond. Help me to be distinctly different in my decisions and responses.
• Lord, help me be an example of your character and Person to a lost and dying world around me.