FRIDAY, February 6th, 2009

Hey everyone! Great Job on the devotions yesterday, I think that we are really going to enjoy going through I Peter. I really wish that more teenagers were back on this... do you guys have any ideas on what we can do to get everone involved again? Let me know...

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:

Mrs. Wutka: Thanks for posting that testimony! That was a great illustration! I am so glad that our efforts and our fruit from the Lord will not devalue or fade away!
Michael: Very Interesting Hospital illustration. :) Do you hate hospitals or something? "...(unless they are brainless psycho losers that don't keep their promises)..."
McCue: Hey man, Election is a much debated topic, but it is definitely one that is undeniable. The fact is there are many passages that talk about election... (God electing or choosing who will be saved) There are some people with calvanistic beliefs who would tell you that God randomly chose certain people to be saved, and certain people to be cast into Hell... I do not believe this to be true based on the truth that God is Just, also there are several scriptures that explain that Christ wants "All to believe" I believe that scripture is clear that God did choose people to be saved. The Bible says this: "Whom He also did foreknow, he also did predestinate" in other words... the people that God knew would accept Him... (Because God definitely knows who would accept Him and who wouldnt) ...those are the ones that are the elect... I understand your thoughts about evangelism... I would wonder that too based on calvanistic doctrine, but the fact is: God makes it clear we are supposed to evangelize, and we do not know who is chosen or not (because we do not have the foreknowledge of God) so we must tell all, and some will receive Him and some will not. God knew all along who would accept Him and who would reject Him. Sorry so Long!
Lucy: Thanks for being faithful girl!

I Peter

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because “ All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.”
26 Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

I have already typed a lot today, so I will not go on for too long, but I want to share my thoughts on the first part of the passage and the last part of the passage.

First: Verse 13-16 make it clear that we are supposed to live a Holy life! Remember what Holy means? It means to be separate from Sin. God is seperated from sin, and if we want to be as close as possible to God we must also be seperate from sin. We must say NO! to our lust, and we must not be fooled by our ignorance. We must obey God and stay away from sin.

Last: Verses: 22 - 25: A continuation of the incorruptible passage yesterday... we see that the Word of God is INCORRUPTIBLE!!! It cannot be destroyed! The word of the Lord lives and abides forever!! That is great! I love the way Peter not only tells us something, but then he explains it with a great illustration. Peter explains to us that just like grass dies, and floweers die, we will die too!! But the fact is: God's word will never die! It endures forever. Wow! It sounds pretty important! Maybe we should make it a BIG PART OF OUR LIVES!!!! I know you have if you are getting into Gods word each day! Great Job! Keep it Up!

Pastor Lee