1 Peter 2:1-3

1 Peter 2:1-3

After ceasing to have all hateful feelings and all evil deception and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, long for the genuinely pure milk as newborn infants in order that you should grow in it into salvation – if you experienced that the Lord is kind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter reminds us that when we are in God we need to be intentional about getting rid of some things.  Ever have someone who hurt you – especially someone who got away with it?  We need to get rid of hateful feelings and slander.  Ever know the truth and how to act but intentionally do the opposite?  We need to get rid of hypocrisy.  Ever want something that someone else has?  We need to get rid of envy.  Ever lie to someone to make you yourself get something you want or make yourself seem better than you are in a circumstance?  We need to get rid of deception.  Following God is about truth and community.  We need to get rid of that which destroys truth and community.

Where in your life do you have truth and community?  Where in your life do you not have truth in your community because of how you act?

Second Thought:

We are to long for genuine and pure substance.  Peter is not telling us that we need to be simple like babies or not participate in the world around us as babies.  Peter is telling us that as babies long for the pure sustenance that comes from their mothers we are to long for the pure sustenance that can only come from God.  Everything that comes from us or comes from the world will only satisfy for a short time before it fades.  But the life that comes from God sustains here as well as into the future – even beyond the gate of death.

Where in your life are you reminded to be sustained by God?  Where in your life do you still rely on your own sustenance?

Third Thought:

Peter gives us a nice reminded in the last words of this verse.  We do grow into our salvation.  We aren’t saved because we grow, we grow because we are saved!  But most importantly, it all begins with God.  We experience that the Lord is kind.  Our salvation begins with the Lord’s kindness.

How do you understand your life in God’s kindness?  When you speak to others about your salvation, do you talk about your actions first or God’s action?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 2:4-6

1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:22-25

Having purified your souls in the obedience of the truth into genuine brotherly love, out of a cleansed heart love one another constantly – having been born again not out of a perishable seed but an imperishable one through a word of God that lives and remains.  For this reason: all flesh is like grass, and all of its glory is like the flowers of grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off but the word of the Lord remains into the age.  And this is the word that was being proclaimed into you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We’ve talked about the need for God to purify us, cleanse us, and save us.  What Peter does really well in the first verse of this section is to remind us why.  Remember, salvation isn’t the goal here.  We’re not purified so we can be saved.  Purification is the result of our salvation.  We are purified because Christ saved us.  So why are we purified?  We are purified so that we can live into brotherly love.  We are purified for the sake of community.  As we grow closer to God, we should be able to grow closer to one another as well.

Do you feel more prepared for genuine community as you grow closer to God?  How does this look and feel like for you?

Second Thought:

At the end of this section we get a very familiar quote from Isaiah 40:6-8.  Isaiah compares humanity to like grass.  He compares our achievements and accomplishments to the flowers of grass.  In other words, Isaiah is saying that all that we do is temporary.  He’s not saying that we’re not worth anything!  I have many flowers that bloom beautiful blossoms and I think they are worth quite a bit of joy and happiness!  Rather, what Isaiah is saying that we as human beings can only do things that fade after a time.  We cannot do anything permanent.  We can do neat things, but the glory of our things cannot last forever.  Yet the word of God and His promises remain forever.

Have you experienced a moment of your glory that faded after a time?  What do you think the glory of God is that doesn’t fade?  Do you look upon the Word of God as a treasure that never fades?

Third Thought:

Peter ends with a reminder that the Word of the Lord is that which has been preached to us.  Human beings are sinful.  Human beings cannot save ourselves.  God solved the problem by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sake.  Through His sacrifice, our sin is atoned.  Because our sin is atoned, we can be saved.  That is the Word that lasts forever and allows us to be purified so that we can be in community with Him and with others around us.

How does the Word impact your life on a daily basis?  How does the Word enable you to live out your brotherly love in community?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 2:1-3

1 Peter 1:17-21

1 Peter 1:17-21

And if you all call upon the Father who judges impartially according to the work of each, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your life in a foreign land.  Having known that you were being redeemed out of your futile way of conduct handed down by your forefathers not by perishable things – silver or gold – but rather by valuable blood of Christ – as a lamb of unblemished and spotless nature – in one hand having been foreknown before the foundation of the world and in another case after being revealed upon the last days for your sake, the ones believing through Him into God, who raised Him out of the dead and who glorified Him in order for your faith and hope to be into God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter just makes sense in this opening sentence.  If I believe in God and I believe God cares about what I do, then why wouldn’t I conduct myself in a way that is pleasing to Him?  Why would I want to act in a way that makes Him mad?  Furthermore, if I am of God and I am in a foreign land here on this earth, why would I want to act in a way that is more like the ways of this world than the ways of the God?  No.  I am a citizen of heaven and a follower of God.  I should conduct my life in a way that pleases God.

In what ways do you conduct yourself in ways that represent your heavenly citizenship?  In what ways do you conduct yourself in ways that look like the ways of the world?

Second Thought:

Next, Peter reinforces the manner of our purchase.  We were bought with the blood of Christ.  Notice to what Peter compares Christ.  He says that the blood of Christ is valuable, yet things like silver and gold are perishable.  That is such an interesting contrast in multiple ways.  First of all, it shows the value of life.  Blood – life – is more precious than metals.  Second, it shows the perspective of the world.  If you set the Gospel of Jesus in front of someone and set a large sum of gold or silver in front of someone, a worldly person is going to take the money every time.

What would you prefer – the blood of Christ or a large sum of gold or silver?  Does your life demonstrate this?

Third Thought:

Peter ends this section with a really neat perspective on Christ, too.  Why did Christ come?  He came so that our faith and hope might be in God.  This shows the self-sacrificial nature of God very well.  Jesus didn’t come for His sake.  Jesus didn’t come to prove Himself worthy.  Jesus didn’t come to get revenge on Satan.  He came so that we who were lost to sin might be able to put our faith into God.  It’s that pure and that simple.

Why is this a great example of selflessness?  How does this demonstrates God’s willingness to make sacrifices of Himself?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, after preparing your minds, while being in control of your thoughts, hope completely upon the grace that is being brought to you all in the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As children of obedience, while not conforming yourselves to the former evil desires in your ignorance but rather holy according to the one who called you, also become holy yourselves in every manner of conduct because it has been written, “You all will be holy because I am holy.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Take a good look at where Peter begins this section of verses.  We are to prepare our mind.  We are to be in control of our thoughts.  Of course, none of us can absolutely control every thought that we have; I don’t think that’s Peter’s point.  What Peter is saying is that we need to live in a manner that wrestles to bring our nature under control rather than live in a way that lets our nature run free untamed.

Do you try to reign in your nature or does your nature run free?  What is the difference in these positions to you?  Is Peter implying that we cannot have fun and enjoyment by saying this?

Second Thought:

Then Peter tells us that we should place our hope in the grace that comes through the revelation of Jesus Christ.  This is a simple point that is brought up again and again in the New Testament.  It is so simple, it is easy to wonder why it needs to be said so much.  But it needs to be said so often because it is the crux of what our faith is all about.  When God revealed Jesus, salvation came.  It’s just that simple.  Without Jesus as God’s Messiah, there is no hope in an extension of grace.

Do you place your hope in Christ?  What does that look and feel like for you?

Third Thought:

The point that Peter ends on in this passage is a neat place to end.  We are holy because God is holy.  We are not holy because we earn it, deserve it, or work ourselves into it.  We are holy because God is holy.  God imparts His holiness upon us as a matter of grace.  Furthermore, remember that the definition of the word holy is “different.”  We can be different from our nature because God is different.

In what ways are you different from your nature?  In what ways do you see God being different from humanity?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:17-21

1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12

Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied regarding the grace into you all searched and inquired with considerable effort – while inquiring about who or what time the Spirit of Christ in them was disclosing while foretelling the suffering into Christ and the glory with these sufferings.  To these it was being revealed that they themselves were not serving themselves buy also you all – which was now being announced to you all through the ones who proclaimed good news to you all in the Holy Spirit, who was being sent from heaven, into which things angels desire to look.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage we hear Peter focus on the development of God’s message of hope to us.  The first people that we hear about are the prophets.  They had a relationship with God, but they knew that there was something more.  They knew that God’s Messiah would come.  They knew that there was more to the story than themselves and their current lifetime.  God revealed to them that there was more to come and there were people in the future that needed to be reached.  That is a great perspective for us to have.  We should always be reaching forward in our minds looking to where God is driving us.

Where are you headed in the faith?  Where does God seem to be headed in His unveiling of the Gospel in the world?

Second Thought:

The next people that we meet in Peter’s description are the actual evangelists in the life of Peter’s audience.  Someone came and proclaimed the message to them.  Someone brought the love of God into their midst.  Someone came to them and challenged them to think about something more with respect to their life.  These are people of the same spirit as the prophets.  These people are not thinking of themselves but rather thinking of the people to whom God is calling them.  That’s the secret.  God’s people aren’t thinking of themselves but always looking outward to see where God is opening doors of ministry.

Where is God opening up a door in your life?  Who are you called to reach?  Are you willing to follow God into and through this door?

Third Thought:

Finally we meet the Holy Spirit.  This is the orchestrator of the evangelical effort.  It is the Holy Spirit that draws people together.  It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us and prepares us for ministry.  It is the Holy Spirit that guides us out into the world to proclaim God’s message.  The Holy Spirit is the one at work and to whom we should be listening.

Where do you hear the Holy Spirit in your life?  How does the Holy Spirit prepare you for work?  Are you willing to do this work?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Peter 1:6-9

1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you all rejoice –now being necessary for a little while after becoming sorrowful in various examinations – in order that your genuineness of faith, more valuable than gold that is tested and destroyed through fire, should be found into praise and glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ: after not seeing you all love Him, while not seeing yet while believing into Him and while rejoicing by an inexpressible joy, having been glorified, while receiving a salvation of the soul at the end of your faithfulness.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter reminds his audience of a very important fact.  It is necessary to be made sorrowful in life for a little while.  Of course, when I say that it is necessary, I don’t mean that God forces it.  What I mean is that because the world and God have different natures, our testing is necessary.  When we, who are of the world, choose God, becoming of Him, then we will feel a difference.  We will be tested in the world to see if our faith is a passing fad or something that will persevere.  It is easy to have faith and believe when life is easy.  We only see if our faith is genuine when we undergo persecution or trial or hardship and still cling to our faith.  That’s when we know that our faith is truly genuine.

Do you cling to your faith?  When have you experienced trial or hardship and clung to your faith rather than taking the easier road of the world?

Second Thought:

In the middle of this section we get a very unusual analogy that is often lost in our modern understanding.  Peter tells us that our faith is more valuable than gold, which is destroyed in the fire.  I’ve heard many people try to bring this analogy in line with modern wisdom and translate in such a way as to talk about the purification of gold.  That is not what Peter is talking about at all!  Peter is reminding his audience that if you throw a piece of gold, which is very precious, into a fire it will melt and lose its shape.  We consider gold valuable, yet we can destroy its shape with some simple heat.  Faith is better than gold because the shape and structure of true faith cannot be lost under pressure and trial.  Peter isn’t speaking about the purification of gold – although it certainly can be purified through fire and trial.  Peter is talking about the strength of gold to endure and persevere!

Do you think of strength when you think of faith?  When has your faith been the strongest in your life?  Why is it important to understand the strength of faith?

Third Thought:

When it comes to faith, however, what is important is the time to come.  Faith is important now as we have already seen.  But faith is most important in the time to come.  At the revelation of Christ, faith will lead to praise and glory and honor.  This is why we love Him even though we cannot see Him.  This is why we rejoice even though we cannot see Him.  This is why we glorify Him.  As Peter says, we our faithfulness is done and this life is complete, we will receive the end of faithfulness: the salvation of our souls.  As great and as necessary as faith is to our life today, its true greatness is yet to come!

How much do you value your faith in your life today?  How does it feel to think that as much as you value your faith that there are greater things to come?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who in His great mercy caused us to be born into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ out of the dead into an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance having been kept in heaven for you all, who have been guarded in the power of God through faith into salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter continues by talking about God and all that he has done for us.  It is God who causes us to be born.  It is God who causes us to have a living hope.  It is God who resurrected Christ out of the dead.  God is the initiator of all of these things.  God is the source of power through whom all of things can happen.  God is the one who is responsible.  God is the one that deserves the credit.  As Peter says, God is the one who should be blessed.

What role does God play in your life?  How God are you at ascribing glory to God as He deserves?

Second Thought:

If we look at what God offers to us, Peter gives us three words: imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  Our promise is imperishable.  That means that it will not spoil.  We don’t have to worry about God’s promise getting old or not being as good as we thought.  God’s promise is undefiled.  That means that our sinfulness cannot harm it.  We cannot take that which is of God and make it less in value.  We also hear that God’s promise to us is an inheritance that is unfading.  This means that it will never lose its glory.  The first day will be just as significant as the millionth day.

How do each of these three words tell us about different aspects our inheritance?  In what ways do these words compliment and support one another?

Third Thought:

If we look at the promise, we hear that our salvation will be revealed in the last time.  It is something for which we wait.  But we also hear that it is ready.  We are not waiting in time for God to complete our salvation.  God is ready to reveal it to us.  What we are waiting for is the time in which all who will believe will have come into belief.  That aside, god is done.  The preparations have been made.  God is ready to reveal his glory to us at any time.

What does it say about God that He is ready?  What do you think that revelation will be like?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:6-9

1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter 1:1-2

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.  To the chosen ones of the diaspora currently not living in their natural home in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in a sanctification of the Spirit, into an obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.  May grace and peace multiply for you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As with most of the letters in the New Testament, Peter gives himself the title of apostle.  With what is Peter identifying?  He is sent out by God on a mission that is of God’s choosing.  Peter is a messenger from God.  He’s not living a life of his own choosing; Peter is living as an extension of the king of the universe.

Are you an apostle?  How does apostolic living look to you in your life?

Second Thought:

I love how Peter describes the people to whom he is writing.  He uses the description diaspora (διασπορά), which literal means “scattered.”  It comes from the word that is usually used to talk about scattering seed in the field.  Of course, Peter is talking about the Christians (and Jews) who due to oppression in Jerusalem are living all throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.  He also uses the word eklektos (ἐκλεκτός), which means “chosen” and is the root of our English word eclectic.  What is Peter talking about?  Peter is addressing this letter to people who due to oppression are loved by God but living in a place that truly isn’t their homeland.  That’s the literal understanding.  But from a spiritual understanding, isn’t Peter talking about all of us?  How many of us who belong to God are truly living in our homeland?  Are we not all scattered?  Should not all of us face persecution according to our faith?

Where is your homeland?  From where does your persecution come?

Third Thought:

Peter then focuses his introduction on why he is where he is and why his audience is where they are.  Everything has happened with the foreknowledge of God.  God knew these people would be in this situation well before it happened.  They – and we in our scattered lives – do not live outside the foreknowledge of God!  Second, they and we are in the position we are in through the sanctification of the Spirit.  How are we scattered if not through the direction of the Spirit?  How are we able to be apostles of God if not by the Spirit?  Finally, Paul reminds us of the blood of Christ.  How could we even be in a relationship with the Father if not for the blood of Jesus Christ?  We are where we are in our life and in relationship with God because of the blood of Christ, in the foreknowledge of the Father, and through the guidance of the Spirit.  We can rest confidently in all of these things.

Are you confident in the blood?  Are you confident in the wisdom and knowledge of the Father?  Are you confident in the sanctification of the Spirit?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Jude 24-25

Jude 24-25

And to the one who is powerful enough to guard us from stumbling into sin and to set us up blamelessly in front of His glory with great exultation, to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord: glory, greatness, power to rule, and authority to rule – before all time, now, and into all time. Amen.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This is a great doxology.  As Jude concludes his letter, he turns all focus upon God.  After all, without God, none of his words could be true.  Without God, nothing is possible.  In the end, God should be our focus.  What matters in Him.

Is God your end?  Is God your focus?  Do you live a life that represents the idea that all that matters in the end is Him?

Second Thought:

What does Jude say about God?  There are two discussion points that Jude gives to us.  First of all, God is capable of guarding us from a stumble into sin.  Now, Jude isn’t talking about keeping us from ever sinning again.  Certainly God is powerful enough to do that, but in His authority He gives us the ability to disobey.  Jude is talking about sin in a relational context.  God is capable of guarding us so that our sin does not keep us from relationship with Him.  In fact, God is the only one capable of doing that!  Not even we can accomplish that feat!  This naturally leads us to Jude’s second discussion point.  God sets us up blamelessly in His presence.  In spite of our sin, He establishes us in His presence.  He welcomes us.  He allows us to exist in a place we should not naturally be able to exist.  That is His greatness.

Why are each of these points important?  To where do each of these points direct your thoughts regarding what is really important in life?

Third Thought:

Finally, Jude gives us a blessing upon God.  Mind you, God does not need our blessing.  But Jude asks that glory, greatness, and the power and authority to rule be in God at all times.  Why would Jude say this?  First of all, it is true.  There’s never any harm in saying the truth.  But more importantly, it serves as a reminder to him and the people to whom he is writing that it is true.

Do you ever need a reminder that God should get the glory?  What about greatness?  Do you ever need a reminder that God not only has the power but also the authority to rule in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:1-2

Jude 20-23

Jude 20-23

But you all, beloved ones, while building yourselves up by your holy faith, while praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God while waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ into life eternal.  And in one case have mercy on the ones being uncertain, in another case save them while snatching them out of fire, in another case have mercy upon those in fear while also hating the clothing stained by the flesh.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We need to be very careful that we understand the verb of verse 20-21.  The verb is “to keep.” (τηρέω) All of the other verbs in these verses are circumstantial participles.  They are circumstantial because they set the circumstance of the verb.  So if we look at what Jude is actually saying, he is telling us that our goal in the face of false teacher who come into our midst is to keep ourselves in the love of God.  How do we keep ourselves there?  This is also simple.  We keep ourselves in the love of God by building ourselves up in faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, and while remembering that we wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ in eternal life.  If you want to never forget the love of God, do those things.

Do you ever feel distant from the love of God?  How effective do you think Jude’s advice in these verses is with respect to remembering the love of God?  How do you put these things into practice?

Second Thought:

Notice the importance that Jude places on mercy in verses 22-23.  In this second list, mercy is the thing that we are to do that he places both first and last.  We are to have mercy upon the uncertain ones.  We are to have mercy upon those who fear.  The honest truth is that following Jesus is a difficult thing to do.  There are many moment of uncertainty.  There are moments we are frozen by the fear of making the wrong choice.  There are moments when we are afraid of doing what is right because of the consequences it will bring in life.  Following Jesus in the path of discipleship is difficult.  Therefore we must have mercy upon those who occasionally struggle with the choices that are before them.

How merciful are you?  Do you tend to meet people’s failure in faith with judgment or understanding?  How does God meet your moments of failure?

Third Thought:

In the middle of mercy we see salvation.  We are snatching people out of the fire of judgment.  When we keep ourselves in the faith, we are able to show mercy.  When we show mercy, we are able to demonstrate God’s love.  When we show mercy, we help other people see why a love for God is important.  When we help create relationship with God, we snatch them out of the fire.

Do you think about your words and actions as snatching people out of the fire?  In what way of thinking is that complete and honest truth?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 24-25

Jude 17-19

Jude 17-19

And you all, beloved ones, remember the sayings that were spoken ahead of time by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ that they said to you all.  Upon the last days of time, people who mock will be while behaving according to their own lusts of ungodliness.  These ones are the ones who cause divisions, humans by nature, who do not have the Spirit.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jude continues in the general theme of his letter, reminding his audience that there will be people who mock the faith by chasing after their own desires.  This is just human nature.  It is a part of who we are.  We all have the capacity within us to have our own desires and to then chase after them.  We also have the ability to decide to set ourselves aside and chase after the love of God.  But not all people choose the second option.  Some people spend their lives consumed by the pursuit of their own desires.

What do you pursue?  What desires do you have in your life that you pursue?  Are they God’s desires for your life?

Second Thought:

Jude then reminds us that these people are the ones who cause divisions.  Why shouldn’t this be true?  If you have a person in the midst of a group and that person is chasing their own agenda, doesn’t it make sense that they will cause a division?  In fact, this happens by default when the group is following God.  A person following their own desires will always cause division among a group of people trying to follow God because the person following their own desires is by default different from the group.  This is the point Jude is making.  If we are a group following God, then people coming into our midst who follow their own desires are an inherent danger.

When have you ever been a divider among people because of your desire to seek your own way?  When have you been a part of a group that someone else divided?  How do you respond in either situation?

Third Thought:

The final point that I would like to make is a point about the apostles’ foreknowledge.  They taught about this reality.  They knew this would happen.  This is human nature, so it is absolutely guaranteed.  In every group there will be people who seek after their own desires.  Therefore, the apostles taught about it.  They prepared people.  They made sure that the people that they were training in Christ were prepared for this eventuality.  Part of making disciples is preparing people to interact with the world and expect human nature.

Why is it important to prepare people for human nature?  Do you feel that it is a fault for assuming the worst of the people around you?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 20-23

Jude 14-16

Jude 14-16

And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these ones while saying, “Behold!  A lord comes in his holy ten-thousand to do judgment against all and to rebuke all souls regarding all of their works of ungodliness that they did in ungodly living and regarding all of the cruelty that the ungodly sinners spoke against Him.  These are the grumblers, fault-finders, while behaving according to their own desires, their mouths speak excessing boasting, while flattering the presence of others for the sake of an advantage.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jude continues to go on about the people of whom we should be suspicious.  However, notice that it is more of the same.  Jude is talking about people who think only about their own needs and their own advantage.  Jude talks about those who reject authority in that they are finding fault in the people around them.  Jude talks more about the people who deny the glory of God and instead focus on their own glory.  Jude is pointing us to see common traits of sinfulness that can be found in all people in all places and all times.

With which of these traits do you struggle?  How do you fight against these human desires?

Second Thought:

All of that being said, note that God isn’t just upset at their own ungodliness.  Their own sin is a problem, but it isn’t the whole problem.  Their own sin leads them into cruelty against Him.  God is concerned about how their sinfulness destroys their relationship with Him.  God will judge us not only on the sin we do to one another but also on the brokenness we allow to exist in our relationship with Him.  In our sinfulness, we are even cruel to our Creator.

How does your sinfulness impact your relationship with God?  How aware are you of this impact?  How remorseful are you of this impact?

Third Thought:

Jude also reminds us that God will come with His host and judge us.  There will be consequences for our transgression against Him and against each other.  This is why it is important that we remain in relationship with Him.  We will all deserve the wrath that is coming.  But only the unrepentant will receive the full measure of wrath from His hand.

Do you ever think of the judgment to come?  Why is this important to remember periodically?  How repentant are you regarding your sinfulness?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 17-19

Jude 8-13

Jude 8-13

Indeed, in the same way while these ones dream dreams in one case they defile the flesh and in another case they reject authority and blaspheme against glory.  And Michael, the archangel, while disputing against the Devil was arguing regarding the body of Moses, he did not dare to pronounce a judgment of blasphemy but rather he said, “The Lord rebuke you.”  But these ones blaspheme as much as they have not known; they comprehend as much as is natural and like an animal without reason.  In these things they are corrupted and cease to exist.  Woe to them, because they behaved by the road of Cain and they dedicated themselves to the error of Balaam and they were destroyed by the rebellion of Korah.  These ones, while feasting together with you without fear, are the hidden dangers in your love feasts: caring for themselves, waterless clouds driven along by the wind, fruitless late-autumn trees after dying twice after being uprooted, a wild wave of the sea while foaming up in their own shameless deeds, wandering stars for whom the gloom of darkness is kept into eternity.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage Jude talks about three distinct dangers.  The first danger is defiling the flesh.  This is the pursuit of our own desires.  These are the times when we think only of ourselves and care not for what happens to the people around us.  This is the way of Cain, who out of his own passionate rage didn’t care about his brother and killed him.

Why is Jude concerned about people who only care about themselves?  What is the natural consequence in the community when we only think of ourselves?

Second Thought:

The second danger that Jude presents is the rejection of authority.  This is naturally tied to the first.  When we think only of ourselves, what reason would we have for submitting to an authority?  These are the people who rule themselves.  These are the people who make decisions based on their own logic.  These are the people who do not care about a truth that exists outside of themselves.  These are the people like Balaam, who make their mind up to do as they please without considering what is the will of God.

When are you likely to only consider your own definition of right and wrong?  Why is it important to have an authority in our life to whom we are willing to submit?

Third Thought:

The last danger that Jude present is the danger of blaspheming glory.  These are people who readily deny God in lieu of their own glory.  This is the natural consequence of rejecting authority.  After all, if we don’t think of anyone but ourselves and we reject the authority set above us, why wouldn’t we also deny any glory but our own?  Denying the glory of God and His followers begins fundamentally with thinking only of ourselves.  This is the ultimate consequence about which Jude would desire to warn us.

Do you ever deny the glory of God?  Do you ever take the glory that should be given to God and keep it for yourself?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 14-16

Jude 5-7

Jude 5-7

And I desire to remind you all, having known all: that after the Lord saved the people once for all out of Egypt He subsequently destroyed the ones who did not believe.  And He has kept the angels who did not keep their place of influence but rather after deserting their own dwelling into a judgment of a great day by eternal bonds under a deep gloom.  In the same way Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them – after engaging in sexual immorality and after pursuing flesh other than that which is normal – exist as an example of eternal fire while being subject to punishment.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jude makes three extraordinary points to his audience.  The first is a reminder about the wicked generation.  God saved all of His people in Egypt.  Yet they refused to obey and believe.  So God destroyed the vast majority of them in the desert.  Jude point is that just because God wants us to be saved doesn’t mean that we are automatically in.  We can reject God.  God blesses us time and time again, but we don’t necessarily receive it!  We must be careful to continue in relationship with God and humble ourselves to him.

Why is it important to remember the experience of the wicked generation that died in the wilderness after being rescued from oppression in Egypt?  What do you think Jude’s point is in focusing his audience to these people?

Second Thought:

Jude’s second point is about order of creation. The angels were created to be in the presence of God.  Yet some of them cast off that designation.  They were cast out of heaven and await judgment.  Likewise, human beings are the pinnacle of creation.  But just because we are in an elevated position doesn’t mean that we have it made.  We should not think that we cannot do wrong or cannot lose our place in God’s eyes because of our position in creation.

Do you ever think yourself superior to the rest of creation?  Does this superiority ever lead you to think that you can do no wrong?  Does this superiority ever lead you to a blind spot in your sin?

Third Thought:

The last example that Jude tells us is the familiar story of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding area.  They followed their own desires and paid the price.  They sought to satisfy their passion and paid the price.  They decided that they could determine right and wrong for themselves and found themselves on the wrong side of the line.  We can learn from their example, too.

What can we learn from the story of Sodom and Gomorrah?  Why is this an important lesson to learn?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 8-13

Jude 3-4

Jude 3-4

Beloved ones, while making every effort to write to you all regarding our common salvation, we have a necessity to write while encouraging you all to exert intense effort for the faith that was handed over to the holy ones once for all.  For some men slipped in unnoticed – the ones who have been formerly written about for this judgment, living without regard for religious belief, who transform the grace of our God into extreme immorality, and who deny our only master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The opening verse here gives us a very interesting insight.  Jude wanted to write a letter about faith and salvation.  He had even been in the midst of writing it.  But then he got news of something else that he felt was more important and a more pressing threat.  Jude displays a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  He was planning one thing, but the Spirit led him in another direction.  He obeyed.  He followed.  He is a model for humble obedience.

Are you willing to be interrupted by God?  How do you know when God is trying to interrupt you?

Second Thought:

 Jude then warns about the people who have infiltrated the community.  Pay special note, though.  Jude isn’t warning about people who are talking about Jesus in a different way or focusing on a different element.  Jude isn’t talking about what we might call denominational differences today.  Jude is talking about people who live without regard for religious belief.  Jude is talking about people who ignore grace and tell the community to behave how they want.  Jude is talking about the fact that people who even deny Jesus Christ are being allowed to come into the community and have sway over the gathering.  Jude is concerned not because there are differences in the faith.  Jude is concerned because people of faith are allowing themselves to be led and influenced by people who have no faith!  Jude is concerned because Christians are willingly submitting to people who are not submitting to God.

Who is an authority in your life?  Are your authorities submitted to Christ?

Third Thought:

Now we look at what Jude says that we should do about it.  Jude says that we should contend for the faith.  We should wrestle for it and struggle for it.  The faith is worth fighting for!

Do you contend for the faith?  How do you do this?  Why do you do this?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 5-7

Jude 1-2

Jude 1-2

Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.  To the called ones in Father God who have been loved and who have been kept by Jesus Christ.  May mercy and peace and love multiply for you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I really love this opening to the letter Jude.  To really understand why, remember who Jude is.  He is the brother of James.  James was a half-brother to Jesus.  Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Jude is also a half-brother to Jesus.  Being Jesus’ half-brother, it is also reasonable to assume that he was on the same page as the rest of Jesus’ family when they thought Jesus was out of His mind as He was beginning His ministry.  It is likely that Jude was converted after the resurrection around the same time that James was converted.  So why is all of this important?  Look at how Jude talks about his relationship with Jesus.  He is a slave.  He is a slave of Christ.  That’s quite a change!  Jude goes from thinking his half-brother is insane all the way to linking up with Him and joining the cause!  That’s a great turn-around.

Why do you think Jude would make such a turn-around in his life?  What enables such an event to take place?  Do you think that it is easy to take for granted some of the dramatic life-altering changes that many of the leaders of the early church underwent?

Second Thought:

Jude then addresses his audience.  They have been loved.  That’s a perfect tense verb.  God’s love for them began in the past.  It continued.  It continues into the present.  The expectation is that the love of God will continue into the future.  Furthermore, the people who are in Jude’s audience have been kept by Christ!  They were seized by Christ in the past.  Christ has held onto them.  He still holds onto them.  He will continue to hold onto them in the future.  That’s a promise that we all get in Christ.  We have all been loved by God.  We can all be seized by Christ.  We can know the love of God and the possession of Christ now and forever.

What does it mean to you to know the love of God?  What does it mean to you to know that you have been seized by Christ and kept by Him?

Third Thought:

What is the outcome of being loved by God and being kept by Christ?  We grow in mercy.  We grow in peace.  We grow in love.  As we recognize the mercy of God, we appreciate it and desire to spread it around.  As we feel the peace in God, we find something that we do not deserve but can cherish all the more.  This causes us to love.  We can love God and love the people around us.

Where is your love?  How do you feel the peace of God in your life?  How do you experience the mercy of God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 1-2

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

And may the Lord of peace Himself give peace to you all through all things in every way.  The Lord be with you all.  The greeting is by my own hand of Paul.  This is a sign in every letter – in this way I write.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Paul writes this letter, he focuses on peace.  I think that he does this because this is a difficult letter to hear.  In this letter, Paul talks about false teachings regarding the end of the world – the return of Jesus Christ.  This is a topic that we don’t know much about to begin with, so of course it is a difficult area of the faith to learn and understand.  It is an even more difficult to feel comfortable and confident when thinking about the last days.  After that conversation, Paul spoke about idleness and how to correct people who aren’t living in a godly manner.  This is not a difficult lesson to hear, but it is certainly a difficult lesson to put into practice.  In the light of all of this, we can understand why Paul closes with the peace of God.  To walk in the faith means that we will experience hardship, we will worry, and we will make difficult decisions.  We will need God’s peace.

Where in your life do you need God’s peace the most?  Where are you experiencing difficulty that God’s peace can be a blessing into you?

Second Thought:

Then Paul says a phrase that is easy to overlook because we have a habit of saying it so often.  The Lord be with you all.  Sometimes it seems like that is just a greeting.  Sometimes that phrase is used simply to signify that we are transitioning from one place to another in our worship.  But it is one of the most important phrases that we can hear.  The Lord is with us.  He walks with us.  He battles with us.  He journeys through life with us.  We are not alone in this world.

Does the thought of God being with you inspire you?  Does it give you hope?  How else does it impact your life?

Third Thought:

Finally, after giving his own name in his own handwriting, Paul leaves the Thessalonians in God’s grace.  There is no better place to be left in life.  When all things come to an end, we will simply reside in the grace of God.  May the grace of God always be with us.

Do you remember daily that you live in the grace of God?  How do you see God’s grace in your life on a daily basis?  How do you proclaim this grace to the world around you?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 1-2