KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Chapters: The Book of I Peter
Message: Finding Joy Through Sufferings
Hello My Friend,
The Book of I Peter was written by Peter, about 60AD, and it was written to Christian exiles, scattered all over the world, being persecuted for their faith. The purpose of the letter was to teach them how to handle the persecution they were facing and deal with the situation from those outside of the Church. What we are to learn from the book is that our walk with Christ through suffering brings joy, honor, and the glory of God. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” – I Peter 2:20.
As Christians we are pretty good at being the light that shines Christ through our lives, but even the strongest Christian gets weary, discouraged, and uneventful at times, even when serving the Almighty Himself. Life has a way of dropping us to our knees, and that can take such a toll on our bodies. Peter wrote this letter when he was in Babylon, to all Christians, but specifically Gentiles, unlike other times when the persecution was in the church, this was happening outside. Peter encourages us to embrace trials gracefully because they will come.
“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” – I Peter 1:4-9.
“ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” When things are not going well for us that is when every temptation known to man comes crashing at our feet. You see, since the devil cannot have our soul so he will cause havoc with our flesh, but we can overcome every temptation with Jesus. We can be in this world without being of it, Peter explains why we are to respect those in higher authority without compromising our integrity.
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” – I Peter 2:13-16.
“put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” Let’s face it, the world, and quite frankly, most religions, are blind and ignorant to what is right and wrong, which is why we have the Bible. Let me tell you, common sense does not come easy to those who’s only agenda in life is to feed their flesh with every lust known to man, and this is why God made His Word available to all. Those who heed His Word and live by it are much more likely to keep themselves from further trouble than those who ignore it, even the saved.
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” – I Peter 3:12-16.
“but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Saved or not, we will all stand before Jesus and be held accountable for what we do in this flesh. Those who are saved and living sinful lives are just as responsible for their actions as the unsaved, if not more, while salvation is not taken away, they will be absolutely miserable in this life if it continues. Yet He is rich in mercy and always there for us, waiting for us to come to Him so He can make things right, remember, He is our physician. We must understand that every thing we do is personal to God, and sometimes we are even going to suffer living righteously, but it is much better to suffer having lived righteously than unrighteously.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” – I Peter 4:1-4,11.
“for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;” I spent the good part of three years facing the worse bout of depression I ever had, not being there for my loved ones, not doing much in the church, barely getting the devotions out, barely making $1000 a year, and yet God never gave up on me and nudged me until I came to my senses. You see, I thought that my suffering was due to my past, but in reality it was because I was not doing the things I use to do. Once I discovered that one, I cannot go back to the way I was before, and two, I could not do this all on my own, I snapped out of my depression, began enjoying life, and God began working in my life once again. We will not always be happy-go-lucky in our walk with Christ, but we can use the time of trials to just draw closer to God, especially in His Word and prayer, it really is our most valuable asset.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” – I Peter 5:8-11.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – I Peter 2:24.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank you for giving me the strength to never give up living my life with You. Things may not go as I plan, but You have a greater plan for me, and as long as I follow You and wait for You I know that everything I need and desire will come. When I am weak and weary, and want to give up, remind me that You are always with me, even when I mess up, and You will see me through and out of every bit of suffering I go through. I love You Lord and Father, and pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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