The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 244 To live in the Blessing 1 Peter 3:8-12 – Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For: “He who would love life   And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah We are not afraid to ask God to bless us, are we? I figure that there is not a day that goes by that we are not seeking a blessing from God. Yet, what happens when our compassion for another brother or sister, and even an unbeliev...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 243 Submission to Government and Employers Submission to Husbands Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. A Word to Husbands Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as bei...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 242 Submission to Government and Employers 1 Peter 2:13-25 – Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this yo...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 241 1 Peter 2:11-12 – Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submission to Government ( cf. Rom. 13:1–5 ) 1 Peter 2:13-17 – Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah In chapter 1, the apostle Peter reminds and exh...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 240 The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People ( Ps. 118:22 ; Is. 28:16 ) 1 Peter 2:4-10 – Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone, “And ” A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 239 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah This section in the Second Chapter of the 1 st Epistle of Peter is still the discourse of chapter one, verses 23 through 25. However, this small section of the Second Chapter is packed with Spiritual Truths that ought to add volumes to our Spiritual Maturity. Sadly, much of what the Apostle has to say is not practiced in churches today, and if it is, it is usually the makeup of our human good platform, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into a truthful platform. We are all guilty before our God when we fail to lay aside MALICE, that is; intending to due good for God apart from the human spirit rather than the Holy Spirit. It is a popular evil ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 238 1 Peter 1:22-25 – Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Because we have been born again through the Mercy of God, our lives are changed forever. This forever is not for us to look at the future when we will be changed into His likeness and see Him as He is. As the scripture says in 1 John 3:2 – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, w...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 237 1 Peter 1:12-21 – To them, it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fa...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 236 1 Peter 1:7-11 – that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we read an interesting verse pertaining to the gifts of God, (but now abides faith, hope and love; these three but the greatest of these is love).   We received from God ‘...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 235 1 Peter 1:3-7 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah The main subject that I wish to focus on as we look into this section of the epistle of 1 Peter is the subject of FAITH, just as the apostle who states in verse 5 of chapter one says, “who ar...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 234 1 Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah For God so loved the world, that He gave (elected) His only begotten Son, that whoever (elected) to believe in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life –   (John 3:16). This is as far as I will discuss ‘election’. God chose by His perfect will to send His Son Jesus to earth to pay the sin penalty of death for the entirety of humankind and any humankind who chooses to have faith (believes) in God’s Will, will be saved. The Messiah died for the sins of the entire world, and He rose again to justify all who believe in Him. As the apostle Peter begins his epist...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 233 Jesus ascends to heaven and to the Right Hand of His Father Luke 24:50-53 – The Ascension And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Like the children of God that we are, the apostles watched as Messiah returned to His home in heaven. He completed His mission to earth and He made many disciples including the eleven who witnessed His Ascension, including Matthias who witnessed the risen Messiah. He also gave many gifts. Gifts, not of secular value, but of greater value. He made some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Spiritual gifts did not originate from mere men, ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 232 The Old Testament Scriptures are opened and the apostles understand. Luke 24:44-49 – Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them , “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “And you are witnesses of these things. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah As we approach the final words of Luke’s gospel, I am reminded that the LORD Jesus desires that eve...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 231 Jesus Appears to His Disciples Luke 24:36-43 – Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah As this first day ( Sunday ) continues, I am reminded of Psalm 19:1-4 – The heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament (the expanse of heaven) shows His handiwork (the wor...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 230 The Disciples’ Spiritual Eyes are Opened Luke 24:28-35 – Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breakin...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 229 The Disciples’ Eyes Opened Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Jesus, the Chr...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 228 The Road to Emmaus ( Mark 16:12 , 13 ) Luke 24:13-35 – Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, a...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 227 The Road to Emmaus ( Mark 16:12 , 13 ) Luke 24:13-35 – Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death,...