Thursday, August 18,
2016, 6:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “As The Deer.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 1 Peter 4 (ESV).
For the Will of God
(3:18; 4:1-6)
For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the
spirit.
Since
therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of
thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to
live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for
the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles
want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking
parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you
do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they
will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For
this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though
judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way
God does.
When Jesus Christ was put to death on a cross for our sins
he took upon himself the sins of the entire world. For our sake God “made him
to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God” (2 Co. 5:21). Thus, when Jesus died on that cross, our sins died with him
and were buried with him. And, when he was resurrected from the dead, he rose
victorious over those sins. He did this that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness (See: 1 Pet. 2:24).
So, when we come to genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we are
crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are resurrected with Christ in
newness of life, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”
(Eph. 4:24; cf. Ro. 6:1-23). Our blinded eyes are opened and we are turned from
darkness (wickedness) to light (truth, the gospel, Jesus), and from the power
of Satan to God that we might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among
those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (See: Ac. 26:16-18).
Therefore, since we died with Christ to sin and we have been
resurrected with Christ in newness of life, if indeed we are in Christ Jesus by
faith, we should arm ourselves with this way of thinking always. In other
words, daily we should consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in
Christ Jesus. And, we should take into account that Jesus redeemed us, i.e. that
he bought us back for God with his blood, so our lives are no longer our own to
be lived for our own selfish and sinful desires. But, we should honor Christ in
all that we do, and live to please him in all ways. He is not only our Savior,
but he is our Lord (owner-master), and we are his bond-servants.
Too many people who call themselves Christians don’t follow
this teaching, though. They are taught that salvation is nothing more than an escape
from hell and a ticket into heaven, with not much in between. They are being
taught that nothing is required of us by God – no repentance, no obedience and
no submission to God’s will. Yet, that is not what scripture teaches. If you
read the New Testament from beginning to end you will find that there is one
common message throughout all these books, and that is death to sin and living
to righteousness; walking in the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh.
God’s grace is not a free license to continue in sin without guilt and without
remorse. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s
return (Tit. 2:11-14).
Yet, if we do as this says, and we do arm ourselves with
this way of thinking, and daily, by the Spirit, we are putting to death the
misdeeds of the flesh, and we are saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly
passions, and we are consciously living for God in obedience to his will for
our lives, we will be persecuted, even by those who call themselves Christians.
They will think this lifestyle is too radical, and that we shouldn’t take our “religion”
so seriously. They will even try to get us to go back to some of those sinful
ways so that we will appear more “normal.” They won’t encourage us in our walks
of faith, but if we do things in the flesh they may congratulate us. We may
even be kicked out of some fellowships because the leaders in those
congregations were taught by their leaders to get rid of people like us.
Serve One Another
(vv. 7-11)
The
end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for
the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since
love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without
grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of
God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in
order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him
belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We were not placed on this earth by God to please ourselves
and to acquire wealth and possessions and to engross ourselves in worldly
pleasures. This world is not our home. We are just passing through. Our home
(our destination) is heaven. All this we have come to call home is temporary. We
are not to live for this world but for eternity. We should always keep in mind
that God has placed us here for a purpose, and that purpose is to live for him,
to follow Christ, and to obey his teachings. Too many who call themselves
Christians live not much different from those who make no claims to faith in
Christ at all. This should not be!
If we are sober-minded today we are considered weird, as
though something is wrong with us. We are told to “lighten up” and to have a
good time, as though having “fun” should be our life’s goal. Now, I have a good
sense of humor. I love to laugh. I enjoy spontaneous and clean-cut (in good
taste) humor, but having “fun” all the time is not my life’s goal, nor should
it be the goal of the church. Church meetings don’t have to be “fun.” They need
to be inspired of the Holy Spirit, though, and Spirit-led, but so many are not.
So, what is love? Too many people have this idea that loving
others means we pacify and tolerate sin in the lives of those who call
themselves followers of Christ. But, that is not loving others. That is loving
ourselves, because we know if we speak the truth in love that people won’t like
us, and we don’t want to be rejected, so we say nothing, and we do nothing, and
by our silence we give agreement to their sin. May this not be! True love cares
more about others than it does ourselves. True love tells the truth, but in
love. It does not lie to people or try to make them feel good about themselves
in their sin. Love does not make excuses for sin nor does it ignore it. It does
forgive it, though.
God has given us the body of Christ that we might encourage
one another in our faith. Encouragement, though, is not just a pat on the back
or saying nice things to people. It also means to inspire, to urge, to nurture,
to persuade (push), to give counsel and to exhort. We are to use the gifts of
the Spirit given to us by the Spirit to help our brothers and sisters in Christ
to walk in the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh, to die to sin and
live to righteousness, to forsake their former way of living for sin and self, to
live for God, and to do his will his way. This is love! This is loving and serving
one another like Jesus loved and served us and gave his life up for us so that
we could go free from slavery to sin.
The Fiery Trial
(vv. 12-19)
Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as
though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you
share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory
is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer
as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers
as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins
with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
And
“If
the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the
sinner?”
Therefore
let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful
Creator while doing good.
Jesus said that if we follow him that we will be treated
like he was. We will be hated, falsely accused, mocked, rejected, and ostracized.
People will try to trip us up like they tried to do with Jesus in order to attempt
to discredit our ministry and the gospel message. And, our greatest persecutors
may not come from the world, but from within the worldly church, or more
specifically from within the institutional church. So, we should not be
surprised when we go through such suffering and persecution and rejection, even
coming from within the church and from church leaders. But, we should rejoice
that we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ and his gospel, and for our
faith. And, we should not shrink back or be afraid of what might happen to us,
but we should trust God with our lives, and rest in his love.
As
the Deer / Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth
after You
You alone are my
heart's desire
And I long to worship
You
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my
spirit yield…
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