"Good Deeds"

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12

When Peter speaks of living good lives, and doing good deeds, he is not implying being perfect. After all, he should know, right? Of all people, Peter understands about being awkwardly, painfully, and haphazardly human. We remember him for his “over the top” zealousness and for his tendency to “give up” and “give in” to his fears and weaknesses.

Sinful Desires

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." 1 Peter 2:11

Abstaining is not a popular subject. Everybody wants to get some, have theirs, be free and not be prohibited. Prohibition is a bad idea, right? We are free. Free to choose, free to learn from our own mistakes, free to experiment. Come on now, just a little. A little never hurt anybody. Everybody does it. The rationalizing seems endless. We are inclined to trust ourselves with more than we can handle. Whether it is potato chips or video games, just one or just one more minute is our cry. But, it doesn't stop there. We have to say no to more things than we do. We may not like it, but it is true.

WHAT ARE WE DESTINED FOR

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

We ask ourselves the question, 'Why am I here?' from time to time. Sometimes, because we are trying to figure out our destiny, and other times because we are simply in the wrong place. lol. Our destiny is spelled out in this verse. How is that possible? The word destiny is not even in this verse. Aha, but it is in the previous verse where Peter describes what those who are disobedient are destined for. Then he immediately uses that connective word 'but' and starts to describe those of us who believe and are obedient to Him. By the way, it sure is a lot easier to fulfill and enjoy our destiny when we are being obedient to Him. Let's go over the destiny list.

1.) A chosen people. Not just the Jews, us Gentiles too. We are grafted on to the family tree and all of God's promises also belong to us. We are chosen people.

EVERLASTING ARMS

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27

Romans 8:39 "Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Grow Up"

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:2-3

When we are younger we so badly want to be older. We want to be 5 and go to school, we want to be 13 so we are teenagers, 18 so we are adults, 21 so we are completely legal, and 25 so we are completely grown up. Then it changes. Very few can’t wait to be 30, or 40, or 50, or 60. Then it changes again, and we either don’t care much or we celebrate any day we get, no matter the age.

The Fruit of Kindness, by Charlotte Adams

When I conducted the 9-week Fruits of the Spirit study for Women's Bible Study last year, the one “fruit” that has constantly tugged at me is the “fruit of KINDNESS”. I wonder why that is so, and yet I think I already know, and you likely do as well. Could it be because it seems like there is such a shortage of kindness in this “reality show” mentality gripping our culture right now. Is there anyone out there that would disagree that there is a crying need today for people to “just be kind”, or more kind, than many of us are being in our everyday encounters. One author summed it up best, stating that we are experiencing a “kindness famine.”

Why is it so difficult to be kind? It's a gift you can give to anyone that doesn't cost a penny. Can it be that we think some people are deserving of kindness and others are not? That certainly can't be the case because we are all God's children and everyone deserves to be treated kindly, just as God imparts his loving-kindness on each of us daily. This isn't a new concept, as I am sure most of us heard statements like the following ones as we were growing up - “Treat others as you want to be treated”, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “If you want to have a friend, be a friend”. The goal therefore for each of us, especially those of us who are called CHRISTians, should be to be as kind to others as Jesus Christ in his love and mercy has been to us.

He gave His followers the perfect recipe, and it's a verse we all know and hear a lot as the Love month (February) is approaching. 1 Corinthians 13 – Love says ... Love is patient, Love is KIND... It goes on with these ingredients: don't envy, don't boast, don't be proud, don't be rude, don't be self-seeking, don't anger easily, don't keep records of wrongs, don't delight in evil. It's easy to see that “if” we are doing any of these “don't” things, (and we all do), then it's no wonder that kindness might not be the ruling factor in our lives. It stands to reason that if we are unkind, we are unloving. I know that I want to be loving, and so that means I must be kind (to everyone). How about you? Just think of what would happen inside our churches across the nation as we CHRISTians cared in kindness for each other. Instead of “shooting our wounded and hurting”, as we are sometimes known to do, what if we tried a little (a lot) of loving-kindness? Just some “food” for thought, since this devotional was about “fruit”.

Wishing all of you a very blessed weekend. As always, if you do not have a Church home, Grace Harbor Church invites and welcomes you to join us at 9:00 a.m. For Sunday School (currently engaged in the study of the Book of Revelation) and 10:00 a.m. for worship, praise, and fellowship with fellow Brothers and Sisters In Christ.

In His Love,
Charlotte Adams

“Rid Yourself”

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” 1 Peter 2:1

Every “therefore” in Scripture begs the question why and is answered with a because that comes from the proceeding verse. For example: why should be rid ourselves of these character flaws of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander? Because in the last verses of chapter 1, we are reminded that we have been born again through Christ and His Word has been taught to us. Therefore, as a response of having received this precious gift we should desire to be transformed and be more like Him, since He now lives in us. Who He is in us conflicts with our old sin nature that is malicious, deceitful, hypocritical, envious, and slanderous. Indeed the battle is on. Through discipline, self-control, wise choices, study, fellowship, service, giving, acts of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and right attitude we can shift the tide, change our course, adjust our behaviors, and tether our tendencies; thereby being more like Him, allowing Him to shine through us.

"We Wither and Fall"

"For, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. " 1 Peter 1:24-25

At the core, human beings are alike. We all are born, age, and die. We can’t get here, go on here, or leave here any other way. Like grass, we spring up, and then we fade or get mowed down, or seasonally come and go. We must be watered, be aerated, get sunshine and some manure to just keep going. Like flowers, even at the pinnacle of our development, we fall. All of us are like this, no exceptions. We come and go, and then we are gone. Sounds sad in a way. There must be something more? There is! We can have an eternal life with the creator, the sustainer, and the life-giver, the one who never withers, never fades and never falls; the eternal, enduring one whose glory is perpetual and perfect. Man’s glory is just like it is, limited and seasonal. The things we do, make, invent, discover; (I am sure we actually are not as powerful as we think) these things wither and fall, too. Buildings get torn down, and homes are totally remodeled, as everything becomes obsolete and replaceable. Such is life.

"BORN AGAIN"

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23

I am often amazed and even shocked at how people can misconstrue the Bible. Two things to beware of, one, to read into it what you want it to say, and two, to not receive and believe what it does say. Some teach and preach that being born again is overblown and that as long as you love God, that is only what is important. Others preach that you must be baptized or speak in tongues, or ascribe to specific interpretations of the Bible in order to be saved. We tend to be either legalistic or take license by nature. Somewhere in between we must be serious about our beliefs and encourage both grace and obedience.

"In Honor of Martin Luther King Junior"

"These three remain; faith, hope and love, but the greatest is love." "1 Corinthians 13:13

Today is Martin Luther King Junior Day. I was hugely influenced by his ministry, words and cause. As a young man growing up in the 60's, and a new believer at that time I was greatly touched by his moving speeches and faithful commitment to doing what was right, what was biblical, righteous and true. I thought about how I could wax eloquent, or pull some tearful story out of my life experiences, but instead have decided to simply share five of the most compelling short quotes from the man himself. His words are so powerful and convicting and we need to hear them again loud and clear. They are based in the Word of God and are as pertinent as ever. Take some time today to consider these words and let them into your heart, where they can resonate and percolate.

Devotion by Council Member Dolly Whitlock

How Do You Like Your Coffee?

I admit, when it comes to coffee, I am spoiled. Coffeemaker at home, Starbucks on the way to work, coffee in the break room. Coffee is always readily available.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22

Love of one another comes from purification and obedience. We don’t automatically love one another, nor does it come naturally. The process of purification is akin to sanctification. It is a lifelong process. At the point of salvation we should see how deplorable, unlovable, and impure we are, and it should break our hearts to realize that our sin put Jesus on the cross. We should desire to stop sinning and because of our weakness and ongoing battle with our old sin nature, we should see others the way Jesus sees us. He sees us “as is” and loves us anyway. He sets the example of unconditional love. Love is not earned; it is purchased with a price through redemption. Literally we are covered with His blood and when God the Father looks on us He sees His Son’s blood and not our depravity, and loves us despite our despicability. His love for us is difficult to grasp.

The Precious Blood of Christ

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

We are all blemished and defective. We can’t save ourselves. Neither can our forefathers save us, nor did they or could they do anything to save us. There isn’t enough gold or silver to save us. No animal sacrifice, or religious ritual, or church, or relationship with anyone except Jesus our Savior through His precious blood can save us. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved, only Jesus, and only by the redemption provided by His shed blood for the atonement of our sins.

God's Impartiality

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” 1 Peter 1:17

Our Father loves us all, and not only saves us, but loves us and judges us impartially. He does not show favoritism. Nothing we can do before we know Him can position us more favorably before we surrender to Him. We all come to Him individually, naked, equal, and possessing nothing that merits anything. Our age, intellect, experience, craft, skill, accomplishments, size, station in life, culture, race or even who we know or how “less sinful” we are, gives us any advantage. The ground at the foot of the cross is equal. No one stands any taller or closer or more special than anyone else. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We all need the same salvation, mercy, and grace. We all come from corruptible seeds and all possess the same sin nature. We are all tempted. We all succumb. We must reckon with the same reverent fear of an awesome God who has granted us a gift we equally don’t deserve. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” (And you and you and you, too.) We have both depravity and hope in common. We are strangers in a strange place, equally estranged and saved.

SOBER AND ALERT

"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." 1 Peter 1:13

Sobriety and alertness are in and of themselves fascinating subjects for devotionalizing. In the context of this verse though let me stick with the point of the passage first. First of all, what is the therefore there for? Because of the wonderful message of grace revealed in His Word that we have heard that even the angels long to study about. So we should desire for our minds to be fully sober (I suppose as opposed to being partially sober?) lol..... Anyway, fully sober is a good thing. A best thing. The right and righteous thing. Now, being fully sober and alert at the same time is particularly effective. I think our sobriety and alertness can both feed each other and undermine each other.

BE HOLY

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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." 1 Peter 1:14-15

We have so much to learn as His children. Even though our transformation has already begun, too many of us are very young in our development in Him. When we came to Christ and first surrendered to Him, He began a work in us that should be progressive. Yet we are often remedial and need to restart and surrender anew. We drift back into behaviors and thinking from when we were ignorant and even though ignorance is no longer our excuse, we still act as though we didn't know better. As we know this is childish. Maturing in Christ is not easy, but necessary.

EVEN ANGELS

"Even angels long to look into these things." 1 Peter 1:12a

Scripture has lots of very special and unique passages that are full of meaning. This sentence that is tacked on to the end of a few verses that say, beginning in verse 10-12a, "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Then our verse today... "Even angels long to look into these things." Let me make a few observations from this that will hopefully make you curious about the Word of God.

Inexpressible and Glorious Joy

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9

When we truly experience the joy of our salvation, it surpasses our need to see the Lord in person. Some of the early believers got to see Jesus in the flesh. Got to not only see Him, but to hear Him, touch Him and be with Him. What an amazing experience that would be. But, He only ministered for 3 years and then ascended to heaven to be seen, heard, touched and present in the flesh no more.