The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 236


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 ‘spiritual gifts’ when we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. There are many gifts given at the point of being saved, but like any gift we may receive, to use it effectively we must learn how, both academically and practically. Learning how to use ‘any’ gift; secular from man, or spiritual from God, is a vital part of making what we have from God useful and personal. This is what the apostle Paul is driving at in the other twelve verses in 1 Corinthians 13. We have human faith, human hope and human love and through the grace of God, the motivation to use these gifts of God is His love for us as He suffered, died and rose again for our SIN.

Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OF SHADOW OF TURNING. Of His will He brought us forth by THE WORD of TRUTH, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:1-2). How is this going for you and me? In our fallen condition, we have “shifting of shadow and a variation of character. If we are to be fruitful as children of God, we must be willing to mature (be spiritually ripened) in the gifts of God, not just lay these aside as most do. Do we think, meditate and pray in the center of God’s Will with the confidence of a spiritually healthily FAITH, HOPE and LOVE in God? Do we LOVE God as the apostle John states in 1 John 4:12-18?

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. Obedience by Faith If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Thank God for your justified life as a believer in Christ, live it and experience God’s will in sanctifying your life; begin by meditating on Psalm 144:1-15, note verse 15 – Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose GOD is the LORD.

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