"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9
Our natural inclination is to repay evil with evil and insult with insult. Our sinful nature likes to get even. But the inclination of the life of Jesus in us is to repay evil and insult with blessing (cf. 1 Peter 2:23).
As they crucified Jesus, He prayed for their forgiveness. And so he charges us, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28). Our inheritance is a blessing in Christ and therefore we are to "dish out" blessing to those who are around us without regard to how they may treat us.
Father, "Make me a blessing, Out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray, Make me a blessing to someone today." (from "Make Me a Blessing" by Ira B. Wilson)
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
In His Steps
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21
"To this you were called" refers to doing good (God's will) at any cost, even suffering. Christ suffered in order to do God's will, which was our salvation. While obedience may cost us, we have the example of Christ suffering in God's will to inspire and strengthen us. Our call then is to "follow in his steps."
The phrase "in his steps" inspired a novel of that title written by Charles M. Sheldon in 1896. The novel inspired the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) craze in the 1990s. Both the novel and the WWJD movement remind us of our calling to imitate Jesus by following in His steps even when it requires suffering. Will you follow at any cost?
Father, help me to walk in the footsteps of Jesus by obeying your will at any cost today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"To this you were called" refers to doing good (God's will) at any cost, even suffering. Christ suffered in order to do God's will, which was our salvation. While obedience may cost us, we have the example of Christ suffering in God's will to inspire and strengthen us. Our call then is to "follow in his steps."
The phrase "in his steps" inspired a novel of that title written by Charles M. Sheldon in 1896. The novel inspired the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) craze in the 1990s. Both the novel and the WWJD movement remind us of our calling to imitate Jesus by following in His steps even when it requires suffering. Will you follow at any cost?
Father, help me to walk in the footsteps of Jesus by obeying your will at any cost today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, October 12, 2009
Called to be Holy
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16
What a rich chapter 1 Peter 1 is! The question is not what to highlight but what not to highlight. I chose the verses above for comment because of their impact on my spiritual growth.
As a college student, I struggled with a particular temptation. I memorized 1 Peter 1:15-16 to help me in that struggle because Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Every time that particular temptation raised its ugly head I quoted these verses to remind myself of God's call to holy living and then I would pray for God's strength to be holy in this area of my life. Through Scripture and prayer I found victory over sin!
God is holy and those who want to live close to Him must be holy. If we trifle with sin we will not walk close to God. But if we understand His character, take His call to holiness seriously, and rely on His strength we can be victorious over sin and walk close to our Holy God.
Father, I praise Your holiness and I desire to live holy. Grant me the strength and grace through Scripture, prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit to be holy as You are holy.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
What a rich chapter 1 Peter 1 is! The question is not what to highlight but what not to highlight. I chose the verses above for comment because of their impact on my spiritual growth.
As a college student, I struggled with a particular temptation. I memorized 1 Peter 1:15-16 to help me in that struggle because Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Every time that particular temptation raised its ugly head I quoted these verses to remind myself of God's call to holy living and then I would pray for God's strength to be holy in this area of my life. Through Scripture and prayer I found victory over sin!
God is holy and those who want to live close to Him must be holy. If we trifle with sin we will not walk close to God. But if we understand His character, take His call to holiness seriously, and rely on His strength we can be victorious over sin and walk close to our Holy God.
Father, I praise Your holiness and I desire to live holy. Grant me the strength and grace through Scripture, prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit to be holy as You are holy.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Ministers of Reconciliation
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. - James 5:20
Yesterday as we focused on our Connection to the World we learned from 1 Corinthians 5:17-21 that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, and that God makes his appeal through us.
This verse from James illustrates that truth even further. There are people all around us who are in sin and facing death. These people need to be reconciled to God, and God has called us to be his ambassadors to these people.
Father, I know that it is an honor to represent you, The Most High King, and yet I confess, that often times I am fearful and timid when it comes to sharing the gospel with others. I ask that you would burden my heart for the lost and give me a love that would compel me to share Christ with them.
Humbled by grace,
Matt
Yesterday as we focused on our Connection to the World we learned from 1 Corinthians 5:17-21 that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, and that God makes his appeal through us.
This verse from James illustrates that truth even further. There are people all around us who are in sin and facing death. These people need to be reconciled to God, and God has called us to be his ambassadors to these people.
Father, I know that it is an honor to represent you, The Most High King, and yet I confess, that often times I am fearful and timid when it comes to sharing the gospel with others. I ask that you would burden my heart for the lost and give me a love that would compel me to share Christ with them.
Humbled by grace,
Matt
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Effective Prayer
"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
These verses set two principles of effective prayer before us. First, in order to pray effectively you must pray. That seems pretty basic yet prayerlessness is prevalent among Christians. When we do not have something that we need to do God's will the problem may be that we have failed to ask God for it. Bring your needs to Him in prayer. He is waiting for you to ask.
Second, in order to pray effectively you must pray with right motives. The wrong motive is a selfish desire for our own pleasure. The right motive is a desire for God's glory in your life (see John 14:13). God is glorified when in answer to prayer He accomplishes His will in our life. His will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) and it includes our daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:11-12) among other things. Set your heart right before Him and ask Him boldly to meet your need according to His will.
Father, as the disciples once asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray," so I now ask you to teach me to pray as you would have me to pray.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
These verses set two principles of effective prayer before us. First, in order to pray effectively you must pray. That seems pretty basic yet prayerlessness is prevalent among Christians. When we do not have something that we need to do God's will the problem may be that we have failed to ask God for it. Bring your needs to Him in prayer. He is waiting for you to ask.
Second, in order to pray effectively you must pray with right motives. The wrong motive is a selfish desire for our own pleasure. The right motive is a desire for God's glory in your life (see John 14:13). God is glorified when in answer to prayer He accomplishes His will in our life. His will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) and it includes our daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:11-12) among other things. Set your heart right before Him and ask Him boldly to meet your need according to His will.
Father, as the disciples once asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray," so I now ask you to teach me to pray as you would have me to pray.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Controlling our Tongue
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:2
The ability to control our tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity (being "perfect"). Yet the tongue is difficult to control and it has the power to do great damage when it is out of control. It can also do great good when it is under control by building others up in Christ.
How does one control the tongue? James doesn't offer an answer. But Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that "the fruit of the Spirit is...self control." What we cannot do by our own power God can do by the power of His Spirit in us.
Father, help me learn to surrender control of my tongue to the Holy Spirit that I might be in control and spiritually mature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The ability to control our tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity (being "perfect"). Yet the tongue is difficult to control and it has the power to do great damage when it is out of control. It can also do great good when it is under control by building others up in Christ.
How does one control the tongue? James doesn't offer an answer. But Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that "the fruit of the Spirit is...self control." What we cannot do by our own power God can do by the power of His Spirit in us.
Father, help me learn to surrender control of my tongue to the Holy Spirit that I might be in control and spiritually mature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A Friend of God
"...and he was called God's friend." James 2:23
Abraham was God's friend because He believed God's promises (2:23) and because He obeyed God's commands (2:22). Faith in God and obedience to God are inseparable twins. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
James says that faith not expressed through obedience is no faith at all (2:17, 26). It is also true that obedience not growing out of faith is equally of no value. A friend of God walks in deep faith and diligent obedience at the same time.
Father, as Abraham was Your friend, I desire to be Your friend. Thank you for condescending to friendship with a mere mortal like myself. Teach me to walk more and more in the faith and obedience that enables me to live in close friendship with You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Abraham was God's friend because He believed God's promises (2:23) and because He obeyed God's commands (2:22). Faith in God and obedience to God are inseparable twins. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
James says that faith not expressed through obedience is no faith at all (2:17, 26). It is also true that obedience not growing out of faith is equally of no value. A friend of God walks in deep faith and diligent obedience at the same time.
Father, as Abraham was Your friend, I desire to be Your friend. Thank you for condescending to friendship with a mere mortal like myself. Teach me to walk more and more in the faith and obedience that enables me to live in close friendship with You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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