Are You a Bit Shaken?

Strengthen the feeble hands,
   steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
   “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
   with divine retributionhe will come to save you.”
Isaiah 35:3-4 (NIV)

Just a little reminder: God is Sovereign, he has unfailing love for you, and he will save you.

Comfort and Protection in His Light

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

II Peter 1:19

I was watching a survival show last week and the situation was a guy stranded on an island for ten days. The first thing he did was set up shelter and make a fire. He said he needed the fire at night not just to keep warm and see but to protect him from the wild animals at night. The Bible not only gives us guidance but protection.

One of the actions the survivalist took was to stay near his fire at night. The fire provided the warmth and protection he needed. Reading the Bible on a daily basis is not about works, it's about staying connected to God. It's about staying near the comfort and protection of living by faith Christ. Having a time with God is not about being able to say to God that he owes you because you pray and read the Bible daily, it's about being reminded that God hears your prayers, that God is faithful, that he doesn't always answer what we want to hear but he will never leave us nor forsake us. We pay attention to his light because we need to stay connected to our Lord and Savior. 

Father, help us to pay attention to the word of the prophets mad more certain in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

You Don't Have a Cartoon Religion

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

2 Peter 1:16-18 (NIV)

I must admit that I laugh (to their face) at arrogant evolutionists  who scoff at creationism. Their big proof is "illustrations" of hypothetical evolutionary steps from something crawling out of the water, to a monkey to modern humans. It's a cartoon! You might as well believe that Bugs Bunny is an alien who came from outer space and spiked our ancient microbial ancestors to set us on an evolutionary pathway to the humanity we are now. 

Peter is proclaiming that the apostles gospel is not a made up fantasy but truth and reality in the most undeniable manner. They saw and God heard speak from his Majestic Glory proclaiming Christ as his Son. They saw him live, die and rise from the dead. They did not make up some clever story. The simply told the truth about who Jesus is. 

For us today that means we are basing our hope on the truth of Christ. He is Savior and Lord. He ever lives to intercede on our behalf. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will remain faithful even when we don't. He is faithful to complete the good work he began in us. That is the truth. 

Father, thank you for the truth in Christ. Help us to live by faith i Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

Being Sure of Yourself in Christ

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make you calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

II Peter 1:10-11

First of all I think that you only worry about your salvation if you  are saved. If you are not saved you don't care. Peter is talking to people of faith. Not just faith in general, but, faith in Christ. He's talking about knowing Christ. Peter is all about effective and productive knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes we don't see the work of Christ in our lives because we  sense the battle within ourselves. For example, I am a teacher and this year I am teaching sixth graders English and History. An aide who works with some special needs students I have in a few classes tells me she doesn't know how I stay so calm because there are several students who struggle with their behavior. I don't always feel so calm, but my reactions apparently reflect that I am continually trying to be patient and redirect students to be on task and help them understand the tasks at hand. 

My point is that sometimes while we are fighting the good fight we may only sense the tension of the battle, but, because we are seeking Christ our faith is becoming effective and productive, even if we don't notice it. Remember, Christ is faithful to complete the work he started in our lives (Philippians 1:6). 

Father, help us to keep sowing seeds of righteousness. Open our eyes to see the effective and productive fruit your Spirit is producing in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

Efforts of Faith, Not Works

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

Even though the verse says to "make every effort" I know that legalism is not part of the meaning. In other words, this is not a to do list that must be followed to the letter, and if I miss one part then it all falls apart. Legalism puts it all on me and that is not faith.

Faith in the finished work of Christ is what I am trying to grasp. I do, at times, feel ineffective and unproductive in my relationship with Christ. So, trying to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to my faith does not mean acts that earn me God's favor. 

I think it was Zig Ziglar who said, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." What will you seek today? By faith you can aim at several things that God promises to use to make us effective and productive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't aim at nothing, aim at goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. 

Father, help us to walk by faith and may our knowledge of you be effective  and productive. Praise be to you in us today!

To love (agape) others means ____. Fill in the blank on Fill-It-In-Friday!

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

After mixing together faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and mutual affection (brotherly love) Peter  says to add love. 

Why do you think Peter saved love, agape in the Greek, for last? What do you think agape love means? 

I am going to try something different today. Let's call this a "Fill-it-in" Friday. I need you to complete the following statement. 

Peter places love last for a reason. To love (agape) others means ___________________________________. Help us out by filling in the blank leaving your thoughts and insights in the comment section. Thanks!

Does a Friend Need You to Stand by Them?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly love, and to brotherly love, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

I have two sisters and one brother. We grew up like typical brothers and sisters. We argued , played, fought and laughed. After we moved out and we're living on our own my brother went through a bit of a hard time. I drove out from California to New Mexico to pick him up and bring him back for Christmas. He kind of thought that just because he was going through this particularly difficult situation that we might not support him. I told him that right or wrong (and he was in the right) he was my brother, I loved him and would always be there for him. 

Brotherly love just loves. Not romantic love. Not emotional fantasy love. It's stand by your friend, help no matter what love. Brotherly love stands with someone when they repent. It's not about condoning or judging, it's about support. Brotherly love tells the truth in love. It helps you see what is right and helps you do what is right. 

Who do you need to stand with today?

Godliness is not wimpy

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

Godliness has got to be a trait with little meaning to our modern  world. Our modern culture does not value godliness. Growing up the message I heard about godliness was a lot about what you didn't do. You don't get angry. You don't hit someone back. You don't think to highly of yourself. You don't lust. You don't drink. You don't go to R-rated movies. It made me see godliness as sort of advanced wimpiness. 

In contrast to much of what people think, the men of God found in the Bible were quite strong, bold and anything but wimpy. 

Think of Job. He was a strong powerful man who sought the Lord with all his heart. 

Then there was David, the warrior psalmist. He was a man after God's own heart. And he led his nation in battle. 

The Apostle Paul was definitely an A-type personality if there ever was one. Persecutor of the church  turned follower of the way. He preached the gospel to basically the know world and wrote a good portion of the New Testament. 

What about Peter, the fisherman turned fisher of men, disciple and apostle? I don't think you would call him wimpy. He stood up to the ruling Sanhedrin and declared, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God" (Acts 4:19b). He wrote this very epistle we are studying. He would die a martyr's death. 

Godliness is strength governed by grace and justice tempered with mercy. Living my life in godliness is not about things I don't do, it is loving others as Christ first loved me. 

Father, help us to be godly in all we say and do. Praise be to you in us today!

Just the Cross

It's just the cross of Christ I see,

  not my sin, he died for me.

It's just his mercy that I need,

  no work I do can set me free.

It's just His grace that abounds for all to see,

  that can even use a man like me.

The chief of sinners is what I be,

  and yet his love abounds in me.

                             By D. Grant 

Does God Hear Your Prayers?

Praise be to God,
   who has not rejected my prayer
   or withheld his love from me!
Psalms 66:20 (NIV)

God's love is amazing. If one of my children does something wrong  I will not stay upset too long. And even when I am really angry with them I still have a father's love. How much more does God love us, even when we sin? He loved us enough to send his one and only Son to die for our sins! That love has not changed. His compassion continues! His mercies never fail! It's about his faithfulness and that is why we are thankful!

In Prison or Abundance God is God

Praise our God, all peoples,
   let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives
   and kept our feet from slipping.
For you, God, tested us;
   you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
   and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads;
   we went through fire and water,
   but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Psalms 66:8-12 (NIV)

Thank you, Father, that even though our trials have been harsh and difficult you have been faithful to bring us through. Help us to remember that even though our own sins sting us, you still are faithful to provide a way out to freedom in Christ. Praise be to you that in the end you will bring us to a place of abundance and work all things for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

I Almost Waited Long Enough

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

All I can think of is the story of Saul in I Samuel 13. Saul waited seven days in the face of the enemy and the army of Israel looking to him to lead them. He was waiting for Samuel the priest. He panicked and offered the offerings himself. Just as he got done, Samuel arrives.  Samuel tells him he acted foolishly by not keeping the command God gave him. 

What hits me, is the question of how many times I have been impatient and not persevered and tried to take things into my own hands? 

I don't want to condemn myself or anyone else because I know that God is forgiving, merciful and gracious. He is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness. I do want to remind us to patiently endure in our present circumstances. Whether that be a situation at work or at home, God, who began a good work in you, is faithful to complete that work. 

Father, help us to remember, even when confronted with unbearable pressure, to wait on you, to persevere. Praise be to you in us today!

Don't Be Crazy

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

When I was in college I played goalie for the soccer team. It was a small school and we played in a league that had several semi-pro type players. One game against a team that called themselves the Pars got pretty physical and the ref warned everyone (mostly this one guy from the other team) that he would call the game if it got out of hand. 

Shortly into the second half the ref awarded the Pars a free kick. The player from the other team who was player just shy of dirty, thought it should have been a penalty kick. While he was complaining we blocked their attempt and went down and scored. Crazy guy "attempted" to block a pass from our best player and kicked him full force in the shin. The ref blew the whistle and called the game. 

Crazy out of control guy was just getting warmed up. He was yelling at the ref and his entire team was trying to restrain him from attacking the ref. He broke free, ran directly at the ref, jumped in the air and kicked the ref square in the chest. Crazy out of control guy and his team were kicked out of the league. 

Proverbs 25:28 warns, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." If you don't have self-control, you have no defense. While crazy guy was busy complaining about the call, we scored. Sometimes we do that too, don't we. Something happens and we start complaining (maybe just to ourselves) but, we get distracted from the battle at hand, our defenses are down like broken walls, and the enemy can walk right in. 

Self-control is knowing that God is Sovereign and acting like it even when we don't see exactly see or discern what God is doing. 

Father, help us to by faith be self-controlled. Praise be to you in us today!

MORE THAN KNOWING ABOUT

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

I am a teacher so knowledge is pretty important in my world. Every day I am trying to help students learn a concept or master a skill to increase their knowledge. But knowledge without God is just vanity. 

Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Again in Proverbs 9:10 we are told, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Peter isn't talking about general knowledge, he is talking about knowing God. 

Peter was Jewish. The Hebrew concept of knowledge has to do with experiential knowledge. The NIV translates Genesis 4:1 "Adam lay with his wife Eve". The KJV reads "And Adam knew Eve his wife". The word is to know. The point is the Adam knowledge of Eve was not just in thought but in intimate experience.  Our knowledge of God is to be experiential. 

When Peter encourages us to add knowledge to our goodness and faith he's not talking about taking a lot of notes during church and reading books. Peter is talking about knowing God like you know your spouse of best friend. 

Father, help us to know you, to know you experientially. Open our eyes to see you in our lives. Praise be to you in us today! 

DO YOU MANAGE YOUR SIN?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

I must admit that I have been struggling with these verses. Mainly because I have been wrestling with my understanding of sin management in my own life. You see, if I view these verses as a pathway to manage my sin I will fall into the sanctification/holiness by works trap. But, if I look at them as a pathway to participation in the divine nature then it's more about accepting the holiness God has given me in Christ (see I Corinthians 1:30). 

When Peter says to add to my faith goodness he is not telling me to remember to be good enough. He is just reminding me of the direction I need to point myself. Somehow an ungodly saying got into my head last week. Finally, yesterday I thought to think of a godly saying. So, I started saying to myself, "The holier, the happier". I know it's hokey. I wasn't trying to be a theologian. I was just trying to win the battle for my mind. I was trying to have a good thought, a virtuous thought aim my thinking, not an ungodly one. You know, it has helped me to redirect my thinking. Just a little effort to add goodness to my faith. 

Father, help us to add goodness to our faith. Thank you that you are our holiness (I Corinthians 1:30)! Praise be to you in us today!

WHICH SIDE OF PRAISE ARE YOU ON?

Which side of this Song of Praise are you on? 

Songs of Praise 

In that day you will say: 
      “I will praise you, Lord.
   Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
   and you have comforted me.
Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water 
   from the wells of salvation. 
In that day you will say: 
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
   make known among the nations what he has done,
   and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
   let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
   for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:1-6 (NIV)

I think I have found myself on both sides of these verses. There have been times where God has worked and I am filled with relief, joy and thankfulness. And there are times when I am looking for salvation, for "glorious things" to be done in my life. I think I am looking for some more glorious things to be done in my life, but, I look back to what he has done to give me hope and faith to seek him at this time.

What side of praise are you on today?

DID YOU EARN THAT PROMISE?

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

II Peter 1:4

I think what is amazing is that the promises of God are given, not earned. The opportunity to participate in the divine nature is a gift of grace not a state of being to be reached by some effort on our part. 

His promise is that he has given me everything I need for life and godliness. His glory and goodness in me is his promise. 

When I don't feel righteous I remember I Corinthians 1:30, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 

When I don't feel like God is working in my life I remember Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." 

When I sin I remember I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (Emphasis mine)

What is a promise that helps you remember? 

Father, help us to remember your promises and participate in the divine nature. Praise be to you in us today!