KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, December 25, 2017
Chapters: Books of II Peter &Jude
Message: Boldly Speak For Christ
Hello My Friend,
Merry Christmas! This is the first year in a long time that I had people in stores say, “Merry Christmas” to me. Normally I get “Happy Holiday’s”, but this year more people have been getting out of their fear of saying “Merry Christmas as to not offend someone. It is sad to see the world turning into a bunch of spoiled brat babies, they cry, peace, love, and joy, but fight about everything, have tantrums every time they do not get what they want, have no self control, want everything handed to them, and get offended by everything. Natural brute beasts they are called, and they will die in their sins. “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;” – II Peter 2:12-13.
Okay, I know we do not want to hear about death on Christmas Day, but what better day to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ came here to save man from their sins. We cannot blame the world entirely for not knowing the Christ that Christmas is all about, Christians are partly to blame because they have let all these things creep in, not only our homes, but churches as well. Apostasy; An abandonment of what one was once professed. People every day turn away from their faith in Christ, and become something even the world shakes their head at. The reason so many people flee Christ in the first place is because they were trusting man rather than Christ. Nevertheless, we are to be the example that brings people to Him. This is what Peter addresses in his second letter, we are to be examples of Christ, and reminds us that trials are to bring godliness, not recklessness.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” – II Peter 1:3-9.
“that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,” When Christ lives in and through us, He changes us, and we no longer see many of the things we use do as right, so we repent of them. That is what Christ is all about, to help us remove the things that cause problems for us. Of course, we are not saved by our works, but our works change us as we walk with Christ. We need to be different than the world, we are not by any means better than them, but we are children of God, fully capable of living like Christ, and if we stop worrying about what everyone else has and seek the things of Christ than we will receive more than what we need. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” – I John 1:5,14,15.
Lust is the very reason why our societies are a mess. I was waiting for a red light, looked over at a woman, she had purple hair, a bull ring in her nose, and was vaping, she looked absolutely ridiculous with that smoke coming out of her mouth surrounding her face. Lust goes beyond mere desire, it is an obsession to feed the flesh with what it desires, and it destroys whomever it controls, including Christians. Peter reminds us of what happens when a Christian turns away from Christ and returns to the world.
“For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” – II Peter 2:18-21.
“the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” You think going back into the world and living a wicked life has no consequences, even if you renounce your faith in Christ? Think again. There is only one thing that causes apostasy, lusts of the flesh, either they were not saved to begin with or they never allowed Christ to be Lord of their lives. If God will not spare the angles that have reserved them for judgment, He will not spare anyone who falsely believes in Him for the sake of being justified for their sin.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – II Peter 3:3-9,17-18.
“being led away with the error of the wicked,” We do not know the hour in which Christ will return, but we do know that we better be prepared. Let me make one thing clear, we are saved by grace through our faith and acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ. However, we are not saved from the consequences that result from living an immoral or wicked life if we do not repent of them, turn away from them. Jude reminds us of the judgment to come upon all, the saved may not face hell, but they do face judgment before they die.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” – Jude 1:3-5,17-21.
“and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith” Contend; Fight. Fight for your faith, do not let the world dictate what you believe and keep it hidden as to not offend them. Offend them, boldly declare your love for Christ and let no one make you feel ashamed for choosing Christ. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” – Romans 10:9-11.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – II Peter 3:10.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Happy Birthday to you! Thank You for coming here and living like a pauper, when You are the only KING, so that we can learn by Your example. Thank You for the great sacrifice You made in giving Your life to save us, You did not have to, but you did, and all because You love us too much to see us end up in hell with the devil and all the unbelievers. Lord, I want You in my life in all that I do, walk with me, give me the strength that only You can give me, help me to be more like You, not because I have to, but because I want to. Put Your hedge of protection around me, and keep the devil and everyone else he uses from tempting me. If I am doing anything that will cause a hindrance or division between us, reveal it and help me repent of it. Through Your power, I know I can do all things. In Your name Jesus, I pray, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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