"HOLY KISSES"

“Greet one another with a kiss of love.” 1 Peter 5:14a

I don’t know if all young Christian guys like this verse as much as I did when I was about 17, but I have to say when I found out that Christians were to kiss each other as a form of hello I was pretty jazzed. Needless to say or I must confess, that I once used this verse as a weak line on a date to explain why it could be specifically God’s will that we fulfill the directive of scripture before the date went any further. Come on now, work with me here! Surely this was what Peter meant. He was encouraging me to at least offer a Biblical perspective on the subject. Not too long after that a Pastor preached on this section of scripture at Summer Camp and I got a deeper message about love and holiness. It cramped my style a bit, but I didn’t misuse the verse again. I still can read into this text and caution us all to be careful how we interpret His Word. Makes me laugh today that I was so brash, forward, and self-indulged in my thinking. But, I was sweet, and when the girl said, “just one” I left it at that for the evening.

GOD HAS A PLAN

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9

“Open your heart and invite God into every circumstance because when God enters the scene, miracles happen.”

With all the happenings going on in my life the past week I have been clinging to the fact that God is in charge.

“WORLDWIDE BROTHERS AND SISTERS”

"Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9

I love this verse. Of course, we are talking about resisting the enemy, avoiding the devil by being strong and standing firm in the faith. And we should. Peter encourages us by sharing that we are not alone. We are not just Christians at Grace Harbor or affiliated with Transformation Ministries, or American Christians. We are part of a worldwide Body of Christ. Billions of believers. We don't stand alone. We stand together as one worldwide church of all those who know Jesus Christ as Savior.

"ABOUT YOUR ENEMY"

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

I for one do not want to be the devil's dinner. He nips at me, chews on me, picks at my wounds and would like to devour me completely if I would let him. But, I don't have to. I can choose to avoid him stalking me and treating me like his prey. How? Just like the verse says, “By being self-controlled and alert”. This is great advice for protecting yourself against the enemy. First of all, take responsibility for the access you give the devil because you are out of control. Good grief set up some simple boundaries. Control where you go, what you look at, what you think, what you listen to, what you read, what you allow yourself to mess with. You know, play with fire and you will get burned. If I don't want to be eaten by the devil, I probably should stay out of his kitchen, his refrigerator, his restaurant and his supermarket. If I don't go where trouble or sin is I am far less likely to find it. Have a decent defense right? Protect yourself. Stay away from him and his favorite places to mess with people. Stay away from people who get tempted a lot. The other advice is great, too. Be alert. Not only should we not wander into his path, we should also watch out for his attack. He will not only pick you off for a snack if you stray into his territory, he will also come looking for you, especially if you are new in the faith, or growing in the faith, or serving in the faith. He does not give warning. Oh, the Lord will warn you. He is warning you now. Stay away from the enemy and look out for his attacks. The enemy doesn't play fair. He is a liar and a cheat. He seduces addicts, manipulates and destroys. His sole goal is to undo the work of the Lord in each of our lives. He hates us and will dismember us before eating us alive. He will divide us and turn us on each other. Know your enemy but don't play his game. Be alert, keep your eyes open and keep your eyes on the Lord. Whenever there is trouble or discord or conflict, watch out because the enemy is near, just waiting to pounce. God has our back; we should look out for ourselves and each other.

HIGH ANXIETY

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Wow. Just wow. I need to read this verse daily, sometimes many times daily. Especially because I am prone to some physical and emotional anxiety and really have to make a concerted effort to remind myself that He can help me so much with my issues. “Cast” it says. Throw it and let go as you do. Take it away from you and give it to Him. Most if not all that I am anxious about is stuff He died for. You know, my sin, the sin of others, my lack of control, and the control of others. ALL your anxiety it says…the big stuff, the small stuff, the important stuff, and the stupid stuff. Don't hang on to any of it. Give it all up. I know, I know, some of it works for me, too. How can I have a pity party with no theme? How can I get even, with no evidence? How can I justify what I eat without stress? How can I prove that I have been wronged, if I forgive? The list goes on. Cast all of my anxiety on HIM it says. What? I want to share my anxiety with those around me. You know, for empathy or sympathy or fun? The Word also says, 'Be anxious for nothing". In truth, sometimes I must admit that it really is "nothing" that I am anxious about. Oh, maybe the mountain I am making out of the molehill. Or the federal case I am making out of the misdemeanor. Right? Of course. If I let go of it I can't use it to my advantage, can I?

“PRIDE OR HUMILITY?”

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5b

We all know that we should choose humility over pride, but the actual implementation of the practice is another thing, altogether. Not easy to do. I think we never actually relinquish the pride part and therefore the humility part comes across pretty phony. When you clothe yourself with humility it means that you cover yourself, that you put something over yourself and change your appearance. Our nakedness as it were refers to our sin. Humility means something when you realize that it isn't natural for us. We come into this world naked and proud. As much as we love babies and feel as they are precious and wonderful, in all honesty they are demanding, selfish, helpless and proud. We are not born in innocence, all humble and meek. We come out kicking and screaming and demand to be fed and cleaned and catered to in every way. Some folks never get over that. Admit you are sinful by nature and humility will come easier.

The Days Are Coming

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:5-6

It has always amazed me how the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, form one continuous work, despite the fact it was written over thousands of years in different languages on different continents and by several authors. No other book can boast of such legitimacy and, if you take the time to study the historical, factual and spiritual aspects of this book, I believe it is impossible to deny that the Bible is the Divinely inspired Word of God.

"GRUMBLING ABOUT GRUMBLING"

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

Funny devotion title, huh? I think so, made me chuckle as I wrote it. How can I possibly address this without complaining about complainers? Okay, even though it is almost impossible, sorry, am I already grumbling?

"Taking Hold"

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Philippians 3:12b

I have been a believer in the catchy little phrase that says…"Let go and let God.” I am sure almost all of us struggle with control issues. We spend a fair amount of time, energy, and emotions either trying to get control or give up control.

"Above All, Love"

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

Peter knows what it means to be loved, even when we sin. What a horrible sinner he must have felt like when he ran away after Jesus was arrested. How sick of heart he must have been when he faithlessly, sinfully, with cowardice denied knowing Jesus three times. Oh, how forgiven he must have felt when the Lord especially made sure he knew the Lord had resurrected. Oh, how covered Peter’s sins were by the merciful, gracious, and forgiving love of Jesus. Oh the deep, deep, love of Jesus that covers our sin. But, here in this verse we are not only talking about His love for me and you, or our love for Him. We should love on another the same way. Face it, we find it harder to love sinners, especially those who mess up repeatedly. When you love someone with His love, you have to set aside your other feelings and judgments. Deep love looks beyond the surface and sees others like God sees them. Deep love allows His grace to cover our sinful attitudes that too easily we forget…”Were it not for the grace of God, what would I be.” Love indeed covers over not only our sin, but the sin of others. His love is deeper than sin.