1 Peter 2:15-17 - Submission to Authority

 

S- 1 Peter 2:15-17

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

O – 1. By doing good you can silence ignorant people.

2. Live as free people – do not misuse the freedom.

3. Live as God’s slaves.

4. Show proper respect to all

A – Today’s verse teaches on submission to human authority. We sometimes fall into conclusion that since we are under God’s authority, we do not need to submit to any authorities on earth. But God has placed people in authority over us so as to maintain law and order. In this way we need to respect them and submit to their authority. We are people who are free in Christ but this does not allow us to cover up the sins we want to do. We need to be God’s slaves. A good slave submits to his master, obeys his instructions and is dedicated to serving him. This is the same attitude we need to have for God. I need to have proper respect for everyone, other believers and the ones in authority. Our lives should do the talking instead of us. This way we can silence the ignorant people. We need to win people over by our life, attitude, and behavior. The Christ in us should be revealed to others through how we deal with others. I like the quote of Willian J toms “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”

P – Father Lord, Thank you for teaching me today about the importance of submission. Enable me to submit to authorities you have placed in my life. I want to respect them all not considering whether they are good or bad or to me. Enable me to live a good life which will please you and the authorities so that I may be found right. Help me to pray for the ones in authority and seek your blessings on them.  Let me be able to witness you wherever I go and give you all glory.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

AMEN.

 

 

1 Peter 2:1, 4-5 BUILT INTO SPIRITUAL HOUSES

S - 1 PETER 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind

1 Peter 2:4,5 - As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

O – 1.Rid ourselves of malice, hypocrisy, slander etc

2.   Just as Christ is the living stone, we too are being built into spiritual house offering acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.

A – Jesus is the living stone but the people rejected him. He was so precious to and was chosen by God. Once we accept him as our savior we too become living stones with Christ as our foundation. We can grow up and be built up only through the pure milk of God’s word. I like the comparison of a baby craving for milk. Newborn Babies crave and cry for spiritual milk as if their life depends on it. This is the same approach I need to have for the word of God. I need to Hear, Read, Study, Memorize and Meditate on the God’s word. In this way I will be deeply rooted in the word so that I can rid myself of all evil like deceit, hypocrisy, envy etc. I can transform into the Lord’s image only once I submit to the Holy Spirit to teach me the Word and help me apply it into my life.

P – Abba Father, Thank you for reminding me of how precious the word of God is. Enable me to faithfully engage myself in the Word and apply it to my life. I want to love other unconditionally just like how you did. Enable me to overcome the fleshly tendencies to gossip, envy others, talk evil etc. Cleanse me with the precious spiritual milk i.e your word and enable me to trust and obey your teachings.

I pray also for each of the precious sisters in this group. Lord, Enable them meditate on your word and hear your voice. I submit all the desires of their heart into your hands. We pray for the ones preparing for their exam, engaged in research, looking out for a good job etc. We submit it all into your hands and we are not worried since you are with us through it all and in perfect control.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray

AMEN

1 PTER 1:13,15 BE HOLY BECAUSE HE IS HOLY

S – Therefore with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 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”

O - We should look forward to the 2^nd coming of Christ with hope. Our minds should be alert and directed towards it. The evil desires of the flesh should not take this focus away. We have been born again and the spirit dwells in us. We are guided by the spirit and He convicts us when we tread in the wrong paths. We need to be alert to this guidance and should not backslide to the position we were in when we were ignorant of the truth. We cannot live a holy life by ourselves. This would make us Self-righteous, instead we have been provide a wonderful counselor, The Holy Spirit to guide us. We are guided by the spirit to trust and obey the Lord and in this way transform into His image which is Holy.

A – Many a times I have tried to be holy and tried to make myself right. I realized that I am so weak and cannot control many of my bad habits. So many thoughts come to mind and I want to react and say something to prove my point and I end up failing. These verses remind me that I have been called to be holy, but am I alone in this battle? No. I have the Holy Spirit in me to lead me and correct me. When the enemy brings negative and provoking thoughts I need to submit myself to be lead by the Holy Spirit and cancel all the lies of the Satan in the name of Jesus. I choose to obey the Holy Spirit and let go off all my fleshly tendencies. The immaterial matters on this earth are worthless compared to the grace that is going to be revealed in the 2^nd coming.

P – Precious Father, as I transform to your image, Enable me to let go of all my fleshly desires. Enable me to die to myself and submit myself to you completely. I don’t want to conform to the pattern of this world father, but live a worthy life as your daughter. To remind me at all times that I am the daughter of the King of Kings.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray

AMEN

1 PETER 1:17,21 - PURCHASED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB

S -  1 Peter 1:17,21

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear

²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

O – Impartial God, We are foreigners in this world, Through Christ we have faith and hope in God.

A – Today’s verses teach me how precious I am. There are many phases in my life when I ask myself “Why can’t I do this? Why can’t I be a better mom? Why can’t I be a better wife?” I tend to look down on myself. These verses are so powerful and I can hear God’s voice say “My Child you are so precious to me, I bought you with the blood of my son who is blameless and perfect. And so In Him you too are perfect”

      We are disciplined by the father and we will be judged for what we do with the life that he has provided us, so we need to live a life of reverential fear. This is not the fear of a slave of his master but a reverential fear of a child to his/her father. Peter reminds us that we are just foreigners on this earth. Heaven is our home and while we are here let us live out a life which reflects the Christ in us. Let me not take for granted the salvation that is given to me by His grace. I can place my hope in God only through the precious blood of Christ. We stand worthy in His presence only because of what Christ has done for us. So I want to live a life that would make Him proud of me and it is not worth to waste on worldly pleasures, sinful desires and disobedience in this world.  

 P – Father Lord, I feel so precious because of what you did for me. You were so blameless and sinless yet you laid down your life for a sinner like me. I can never look down or feel ashamed of myself because what I am today is because of your mercy. Enable me to transform into your image. Help me to share your love to anyone and everyone I meet. Enable me to overcome the fleshly tendencies and engross myself in your love. I want you to be proud of me when I meet you. All my weaknesses I submit to you. Help me overcome them with your strength and spread the good news to many more people.

In Jesus matchless name I pray

AMEN.

1 Peter 1:6-7 GENUINENESS OF FAITH

S  - 1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

O -Rejoice in the eternal inheritance

 

Overlook the trails and test for a little while in this world

Fire refines gold – same way trials refines faith

Trails and tests glorify God when we stand strong on the hope the Lord provides.

 

A - Today’s verses provides me with the courage and confidence to withstand any trials that may come my way. I understand that these are only testing phases that seek the genuineness of my faith and it is only to refine my faith. The glory and honour to the Lord will result when we stand strong in our faith. I am unable to see Christ now but I believe in Him and love Him. This put a glorious joy and peace in my heart. This joy is based on the end result of my faith – Salvation of my soul.

P – Father Lord, I praise your precious name. I thank you for the promises that you are giving me through these verses. Help me to stand strong in your faith and not to let any trials or tests distract me. Enable me to empty all the impurities in me so that I can filled with more of you.  Bless me to lean on to you in all situations and not on my knowledge or on anything in this world. Enable me to prove the genuineness of the faith I have in you and stand as a witness for you.

In Jesus powerful name I Pray

 

Amen

1 Peter 1:3-4 LIVING HOPE AND ETERNAL INHERITANCE

S – 1 Peter 1:3-4 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.

O – Through His resurrection Christ gave us:
New birth into a living hope
Inheritance that can never perish

A –  Through the resurrection of Christ, we have a living hope and an inheritance in heaven. We as believers should not place our hope on anything immaterial. Many a times, I place my hope on my Family, Job and self Efforts. But the Lord has given me an eternal hope and this will never fail me. Whatever happens in this life on earth should not overly affect or upset me as my hope is placed on the Lord.

P – Abba Father, Thank you for this hope that I have in you. Enable me to always be reminded of this hope that I have in you and not to put my hope on anything perishable in this life. Let me at all times be grateful for this living hope and the inheritance that awaits me in heaven. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, AMEN

New Study on 1&2 Peter

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PROVERBS 20:15-21

S- Proverbs 20:15-21

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

    will not be blessed at the end.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;

²⁰ If someone curses their father or mother,

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon

O -
1.    Lips that speak knowledge is more precious than gold and rubies
2.    Dishonest gain may seem beneficial but will not last and consequences have to be suffered.
3.    Any major decisions should be taken with proper guidance.
4.    Avoid gossip by all means
5.    Father and Mother should never be cursed.
6.    An inheritance should be taken at the right time only

A -

The words I speak are very important and as emphasized many times in the bible, the tongue is very difficult to control. The words we speak should be shown in Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Yet there are times when I tend to forget it and just blurt out what I feel to just satisfy the flesh for that moment and guilt rushes over. I need to seek the spirit to guide me in this area.

Any kind of gain made through dishonest means is no good at all and will turn to have greater consequences later one. I need to be prayerfully alert to any such dishonest invitations.

Any major decision should be taken with godly wisdom or it will be regretted later. Consulting godly people for guidance is also a good way.

Gossip is mentioned as evil many times in the bible. My self evaluation tell me that I have improved a lot in avoiding it compared to the earlier years. But sometimes I just fall unintentionally into a conversation which might lead to a gossip and this is not good. Unnecessary talk about other people should be completely stopped as it does no good. I remember reading a devotional article on how to approach gossip. We need ask 2 questions “Does this talk do me any good? Does this talk help the person who we are talking about?” If no, then just stop.

My parents should not be cursed by any means. Honoring parents is one of the commandment God has given with a promise attached to it and hence it is indeed important.

P -

Abba Father,

Thank you for speaking to me through the word today and mostly highlighting to me about the words I use. Enable me to speak words of wisdom which is only possible thru your guidance. In all that I do let me be guided by your light. Enable me to be a witness for you and not a worldly person giving vent to anger and hatred. I submit myself to you completely. Mould me and make me fulfill the purpose you have for me.

In Jesus precious name

AMEN