12/11 - A Short Thought From God's Word

2 Peter 1:8-9: 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. But if anyone does not
have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has
been cleansed from his past sins.

Increasing measure means that we should be growing in each of these
qualities (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,
godliness, kindness and love). Are you getting stronger in these
qualities?

12/10 - A Short Thought From God's Word

2 Peter 1:5-7: 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 kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, love.

Because we can participate in the nature of God, we should make every
effort to live like Jesus Christ. This list describes His nature (the
divine nature). The effort to add these qualities is something that
we are commanded to make.

12/9 - A Short Thought From God's Word

2 Peter 1:4 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.

God's power is at work in His promises. If we trust in the promises
of God, then our human (and sinful) nature is replaced with the
nature of God. Do you see how important it is to know what God's
promises are?

12/8 - A Short Thought From God's Word

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life
and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own
glory and goodness.

God's power, which is unlimited, is working for us to provide
everything we need to live and serve Him.

12/7 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will
himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him
be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is the main thought of the whole book, which is summaried in
Psalm 30:5: "Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in
the morning." Also, 1 Corinthians 4:17 says "our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all."

12/6 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:8-9: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings.

Peter says this in the context of talking about pride and humility.
It is very difficult for the proud man to be alert. We should replace
pride with humility, self-control, and obedient resistence to the
devil.

12/5 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Only the proud person thinks the can handle all his problems. If we
are humble, we will leave worrying about the future to God, for it
shows we humbly trust Him to look out for us.

12/4 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time.

There is a time to be humble and a time to be honored. What a
wonderful thing it will be if, instead of praising ourselves today,
we wait and let God honor us for eternity.

12/3 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are
older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble."

If the leaders are to be humble servants, how much more should the
rest adopt that attitude. In fact, if we are proud we set ourselves
in opposition to God. Do you want to oppose God?

12/2 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown of glory that will never fade away.

Being a servant/leader now, in this world, means that when Christ
returns we will be greatly honored and rewarded.

12/1 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 5:1-3: To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a
witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the
glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your
care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are
willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to
serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples
to the flock.

All leaders need to remember that, if we want to lead in the kingdom
of God, we need to be servants.

11/30 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should
commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Don't ever let fear of persecution sway you from doing good. Just
commit yourself to God to be your defender and then keep on going.

11/29 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:17-18 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family
of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those
who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the
righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the
sinner?"

If believers are to be called to account for everything they have
done, how much more so will unbelievers be called to account for the
things they have done to believers.

11/28 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief
or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if
you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you
bear that name.

There is no glory in suffering for wrong doing, though even that, if
it brings about repentence should bring rejoicing. But if we suffer
for being good, there is no shame in being persecuted for being like
Christ.

11/27 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you
are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

It is a mark of godliness if we are treated the same way that Jesus
was treated.

11/26 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:12-13: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening
to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

We are destined to suffer (1 Thes. 3:3), expect it. If we can learn
to rejoice, our joy will be great and our reward will be greater.

11/25 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:10-11: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various
forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very
words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God
provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

Everyone is given gifts so that he can help to accomplish God's work.
No one should be sitting and watching. We should be using our gifts
whole heartedly.

11/24 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

A clear act of love is to be willingly generous, and so we are
commanded to hospitality. What have you done for others lately?

11/23 - A short thought from God's Word:

Psalm 103:2-5: Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who
redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and
compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your
youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Happy Thanksgiving

11/22 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers
over a multitude of sins.

The number one command to the believer, which is repeated over and
over throught the New Testament, is that we need to love each other.
Here Peter says that it is to be done "above all." Nothing we do is
as important as showing love.

11/21 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded
and self-controlled so that you can pray.

The day of judgment comes quickly. There is much that can be
accomplished in the time that remains. So we must think clearly to
make the most of the time we have.

11/20 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:3-5: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what
pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies,
carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do
not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they
heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is
ready to judge the living and the dead.

It is time to live differently from those who do not believe. If the
unbeliever must give account of what he does before God, how much
more so will the believer. We are challenged to live in purity.

11/19 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 4:1-2: Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm
yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered
in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest
of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will
of God.

A person who is being persecuted for Christ is far less easily
entangled in sin than the one who is not. Persecution has a purifying
effect. So we should not shrink from it.

11/18 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:18: He was put to death in the body but made alive by the
Spirit.

We need not fear what is done to our bodies. We need to worry about
what happens to our spirits.

11/17 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:17-18: It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for
doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for
all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

If Christ suffered for doing good, why should we cry out that it is
unfair that we do so? Instead, we should do good and face what comes.

11/16 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:15-16: 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.

We should always be ready to witness, but we should only do it with
gentleness.

11/15 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:13-15: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do
good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are
blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in
your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

If we are doing good, it is unlikely that we would be harmed for it,
but if we are, we are promised special blessings from God. So what
hinders us from doing good?

11/14 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his
ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil."

We have a clear choice. We can choose to live in righteousness and
have God on our side, or we can do evil and face His anger. Which is
better? To coin a phrase ... "DUH!"

11/13 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:10-11: For,  Whoever would love life and see good days must
keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must
turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Loving one another is not something that just happens. It is
something that needs to be actively pursued.

11/12 - A short thought from God's Word:

1 Peter 3:9 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.

God does not want His children cursed. So He doesn't want you to curse them,
nor for you to live under the curse that comes from treating others with
evil or insult. If you bless, you will be blessed.

These devotions are written by David Dennis and brought to you to help you
with your Christian walk.  If you would like to be removed from this list,
please reply to this letter and ask for removal.

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