SUFFERING, BUT DOING GOOD So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. —I Peter 4:19 There are those “who suffer according to God’s will.” We all have a “race marked out for us” and for many this will include suffering. As we run this race we are to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Those suffering and those not are all to “commit themselves to their faithful Creator.” Regardless of what is happening we know that our Creator is faithful. We may not understand how He is using what…

BE READY! But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (I Peter 3:15-16). Jesus is Lord, my Master and King. Because I love Him I will live for Him. It is so clear what many of His desires are for us. We are to be witnesses and the Holy Spirit enables us to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). I am…

CHOSEN AND CALLED FOR PURPOSE But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light… Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. —I Peter 2:9, 16 Dear fellow follower of Jesus our King, you were chosen. You did not make the choice, but God made choice to save you. All believers are a royal priesthood of God’s. He has made His priesthood holy. We are God’s special possession. Wow, do you feel like that as…

PRAISE! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time —I Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” Yes, let us sing praises, let us write praises, and let us speak praises to His…

THE SIN OF OMISSION If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. —James 4:17 Oh, yes… the sin of omission. How many times have we known the good God wants us to do and we do not do it? What is the good now the Lord is putting on your heart to do? Will you do it? If you do not, then it is sin. It is very clear. Now there are very many good things God has mentioned to us in His Word to do. Jesus Himself says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one…

FAITH WORKS But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited…

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FAITH ACTS AND IS NOT PASSIVE Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. —James 1:22-25 It is self deception to merely listen to the Word of God without doing what it says. Self deception…

ATTITUDES TOWARD LEADERSHIP Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith… Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. —Hebrews 13:7, 17 Who are those leaders “spoke the Word of God to you?” Have you considered the outcome of their faith? Do you know how faith has impacted their life? Do you know about their relationship with Jesus?…

WE WON’T BE SHAKEN! At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” —Hebrews 12:26-29 We will not be shaken because we believe in God who cannot be shaken and “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” We…