God’s Word Daily

Drinking Games and Black Friday

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture:  1 Peter 4:1-6

1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Observations:

The Gospel creates a new motivation for us to pursue holiness:  Jesus suffered in this world in order to accomplish the will of God.  vs. 1-2

People are surprised and don’t like it when others don’t join them in “their flood of debauchery:” sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties and lawless idolatry.  They malign the abstainers.  vs. 3-4

But all people will give an account to God who judges our lives.  vs. 5-6

Application:

Peter’s language seems archaic and old:  a flood of debauchery.  Yet, the imagery is dramatic.  Watching videos of flash floods inspire awe as I watch the power of water unleashed on unsuspecting people and their belongings.  They are carried away!  The destructive power of a flood is awesome.

Debauchery by definition is excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.  It hits us like a flood.  Food, wine, sex, drinking parties, entertainment, shopping.  What?  Did I say shopping?  Black Friday is a day of debauchery!  Who got carried away by the hype, great deals and easy credit?

We always pay for it.  The problem with excessive indulgence is that it is short-sighted and loses sight of what actually brings meaning to our lives.  And that loss of meaning does hurt people.  Not just ourselves, but also the people who count on us.  Excessive indulgence creeps up on us and then self-control is an illusion we manufacture to convince ourselves that we are OK and that we are right.  We tell ourselves, “I can stop when I want.”  Recently the most dramatic cultural illustration of this was in the Hunger Games series.  The “capital look” became code in our family dinner conversations for excess and cooperative neglect for the real value of people.

I know I need a Saviour!  To live in the Spirit (vs. 6) is a gift.  Jesus lived responsive to his Heavenly Father and yet even he was called a “glutton and friend of sinners” in contrast to John the Baptist, his cousin who lived responsive to God in the tradition of the prophets.  Even he was criticized.  I need grace to enjoy what is to be enjoyed as a gift of God.  I need grace to live for the affirmation of the Spirit and not the crowds being carried away.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me and give me grace to enjoy life as Jesus did.  But also grant me the courage and foresight to suffer according to your will.  Shape my character by your holiness.  Fill me with your Spirit.  AMEN.

Baptism and life with Jesus

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture:  1 Peter 3:18-22

18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Observations:

For — Peter is connecting how we may suffer in this world according to God’s will even as we “do good” (See vs 17).  In our sufferings we may consider our Lord Jesus who:
suffered…once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,

that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

Jesus’ ministry continued in the spirit and with proclamation of God’s freedom in Christ. vs. 20

Baptism corresponds to the story of Jesus… and indicates our participation in His mission.  vs. 21-22

Application:

Peter is not making baptism the agent of God’s salvation.  Rather he is connecting the act of baptism with the immersion of our decision-making capacities (conscience) in the grace of God in the Gospel.  In verse 18 Peter captures the movement of Jesus born into this world: suffering for sins on the cross, put to death, raised again, and then vs. 22 ascended to the Father.

Baptism “corresponds” to the story of Jesus.  The appeal of baptism as we make the confession that “Jesus is Lord,” is for God to grant us the grace to live by the Spirit of Jesus in this world of relationships infected with brokenness and darkness.  By joining with Jesus’ ministry by the same Spirit that raised him from the dead we may see people delivered from captivity of sin and into God’s forgiveness and His Kingdom (just as God delivered Noah and his family of eight.)  Now we look forward to the end of suffering with Jesus in heaven where all things and powers are being brought under Him.

This Gospel approach to life is “salvation.”  Baptism is part of our redemptive process because of how the act aligns us with the work and community of Jesus in the world by the Spirit of God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today I am remembering the day of my baptism and our celebration of your grace toward me.  Thank you for the hope that pulls me forward and gives perspective to the troubles of this world.  Even this day fill me with your Spirit that I may live aware of the company of Jesus and join you in loving people.   AMEN.

You are what you do.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17

13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Observations:

Peter continues to address the challenge of being a Christian under pressure, in a hostile environment.  His theme is suffering even while doing good.

Peter tells the disciples who are under pressure to
–not fear their agitators.
–to honour Christ the Lord as holy in their hearts
–to be prepared to make a defence for their good behaviour by sharing the “reason for the hope that is in you.”
–to do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a good conscience.

It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Application:

We can see the difference.  You are what you do.  Not just what you think and feel.  Donald Miller observes that the only story people know about you is what you do, not what you think.  Peter envisions a community of disciples of Jesus who stand out because of their good behaviour.  Their goodness, what can be seen in their relationships with people, cuts against the grain of their society.  In fact the general crowd may call the disciples’ good “evil.”

When confronted for the behaviours that people can see, the disciple of Jesus is to be prepared to give reasons for the hope they have.  This is a profound observation.  Goodness, quantifiable “holiness” flows out of the heart and mind that has been captivated by Jesus.  It flows from the daily confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”  Hope has reasons.  Why else would we bother to go against the tide of public opinion and view of what is normal?  People don’t know what’s in your heart and mind until you tell them.  But they may not care about what you know until they care about what you have been doing… or not doing.

Do followers of Jesus really rush in where angels fear to tread?

Hope has its reasons?  Our hope is wrapped up in the Gospel of Jesus wherein we have seen the grace and truth of the Father’s love for us.  Jesus the Son of God, according to the Scriptures, born of Mary, ushers in the Kingdom of God, killed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, buried in the tomb, raised on the third day to new life, ascended to the Father’s right hand, and now giving the Holy Spirit to empower His church, shall return someday in fullness of glory to judge the living and the dead and usher in a new heaven and new earth.

Hope has its reasons.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father can you see the difference?  Infuse our hearts with the hope of the Gospel so that we have reason for acting and living differently according to the holiness of your Son Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

 

When I’m hurt I…

/ Craig / Leave a comment

Scripture:  1 Peter 3:8-12

8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10For

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

11let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Observations:

All of you: a general word to all the congregation.  Peter exhorts them to possess the following:
unity of mind
sympathy
brotherly love
a tender heart
a humble mind

Peter exhorts them to avoid seeking revenge.

Peter appeals to the wisdom of a life that God blesses: a good life that avoids pursuing evil and diligently pursues doing good in response to a watchful and very present God.

Application:

Getting hurt, offended, frustrated in the context of the community we call church is highly likely.  Revenge has many forms relationally, passive and active.  It is more than just indifference.  I wonder if a lot of “just disappearing” is sometimes a form of relational  revenge.  I wonder if the movement into “not caring” is a form of evil.

The Gospel presses me to follow Jesus into the life of a gathering of other followers of Jesus and learn “long-suffering” relationally.  Peter is incredibly realistic here.  He is suggesting that sometimes people in the church community do act badly relationally!  And the challenge for those of us on the receiving end of it is to not act badly in return.  He calls repaying evil for evil.  When I’ve been hurt by a brother or sister in Christ, unity, sympathy, love, a tender heart, and a humble mind go right out the window.  Unless, I look for Jesus the crucified extending His hands to each of us.  Only then can I find the courage to bless with His truth and grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, have mercy on us.  May the wind of your Spirit blow away the chaff.  May the warmth of your Word warm our hard hearts.  May Jesus be glorified in our churches.  AMEN.

The Gospel Empowered Husband

/ Craig / 1 Comment

Scripture:  1 Peter 3:7

7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Observations:

Husbands, “Likewise”: living in response to the Gospel.

Live with your wife in an understanding way,

Showing honor to her.

Though she might be weaker than you, she is equal with you as an heir with you of the grace of life.

Mistreating your wife will hinder your prayers.

Application:

The husband living from the perspective knows that the Gospel creates equality at the foot of the cross.  He knows that both he and his wife need a Saviour.   He relates to his wife as one who is equally graced by Jesus and granted citizenship in His Kingdom.  The Gospel empowers a husband to seek to live with his wife in an understanding way.  Understanding and communicating that understanding requires work and time.

The Gospel compels each spouse to value oneness with their spouse and to make decisions that move them toward each other in love and appreciation.  Seeking understanding requires discipline and an open heart.  Learning to recognize when a  spouse makes a bid for a husband’s heart and shifting gears to let her in can be needs deep wells of grace.

The husband who decides to honouring his spouse will make 1000’s of persistent decisions to elevate the place of his wife in his life.  “Honouring your wife” means that she knows there is no one else taking her place.  Honouring your wife means that she comes up early in conversations with others.  Honouring your wife means that children and other family members do not get to divide and conquer.

Peter shows husbands that their attitudes and actions toward their wife impact the quality of conversation they have with God.  Truly no married man is an island.  The quality of his relationship with his wife impacts all of his life.  Jesus indicated that divorce is a product of hardness of heart.  Exam your heart:  To be hardhearted towards your wife may be an indicator of callousness towards God too.

Prayer:  

Heavenly Father, may my heart be tender toward you and the people you have give me to love, honour, and cherish.  May my wife know today, that she is loved.  AMEN.