This shows how powerful the word of God is by its self.

1Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 3:7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

In this passage the word “likewise” causes me to take pause as ask to what is Peter referring to. Like what is my question. I believe he is drawing parallels with what he stated at the end of chapter 2.

In chapter 2 he is talking about being treated unjustly. For example he mentions that we are to honor masters that even if they treat us wrongly we are to show them honor by being subject to their authority (2:18). In doing so we receive honor from God & show his excellencies (2:9) to the world. Peter says the reason we should do this is because Christ Jesus suffered unjustly for us (1 Peter 2:21) leaving us an example that we should follow in he steps. (2:22-23) “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

Then in chapter 3 he say to wives “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. So just as at times we a called to glorify God by suffering unjustly, and as Christ who suffered unjustly entrusted Himself to God so are the wives to submit themselves under the authority of there husbands trusting God as they “adorn themselves by a meek and quiet spirit.”

So the Peter turns to husbands and says likewise or just like Christ entrusted Himself to God and as it states in verse 2:25 He became the shepherd & overseer of our souls. Christ looked upon us as sheep as saw our need to be led and nurchered as a shepherd does his sheep. Like that husbands should be the shepherd or overseer of our wives and homes looking out for & taking care of just as Christ Jesus denied himself to take care of our souls. We are told to dwell with our wives in an “understanding way.” Husbands need to take the time to understand their wives. To understand that they are the weaker, though not inferior, vessel. Husbands to “watch over” and take care of their wives as one that is fragile and delicate. Just as Christ has done for us.

Peter goes on to say that wives are the heirs of the grace of life together with the husband. What an opportunity so show forth Christs submission and His caring shepherding love that we have in the covenant of marriage. As we mutually submit one to another in love. And as each Husband and Wife both as sinners look to Christ as what he has done for them to draw strength to be like Jesus and learn to be like Him to our spouses even when we feel we are being treated unjustly. There is no greater place to show forth the love of God than in the marriage relationship.

Dear Lord,

I come to you as one that so desparately needs your grace. You suffered and died for my sins my offenses against you. When you were reviled against you did not answer back but kept entrusting yourself to the One who judges righteously. This day Lord I need your work in my heart to cause me to respond to wrong against me in the way you responded to my wrong against you. What glorious grace and kindness you have shown me. Help me to dwell with my wife in an understanding way. You have given me such a precious treasure. Please forgive me for the times that I have not treated her as the weaker vessel and have been harsh and not understanding. I thank you for the work you have done in my life stripping away the layers of selfishness and pride. Oh how your ways have brought life to our marriage. Thank you for my wife Lisa. She has been such a dedicated and submissive wife. May I show her the care that you have shown for me. May I do this to bring you the honor and glory you so deserve. May I listen to her seeking to understand her and not jump to selfish conclusions. Please continue you sanctifying work in my life so that I may be the husband & father you have called me to be. I owe all to you. In Jesus name, amen.

1 Peter 2:4-11 ESV As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” (8) and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (10) Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (11) Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Prayer,

My Father, You are most gracious and wonderful. You called us to yourself to the praise of your glorious grace. Today I come to Jesus as a living stone, a solid foundation. Though he was rejected by men Father, in your sight He is chosen & precious. Your love for Him is so beautiful, thank you for including me in the elect and granting me repentance so that I could begin to see all the glories of your son Jesus Christ. May the things I do this day be built upon the finished work of the cornerstone Jesus Christ. I need your strength, I need your grace so that my sinful heart will not lead me away from the beauties of Christ. May the life I live today proclaim the excellencies of your glorious grace & sanctifying power. You called me out of darkness into you marvelous light. Cause me to walk this day in that light. Let me see the way I go. May I be sober and vigilant and stand against the work of the devil. Jesus you came to destroy the works of the devil, destroy them in me. Lord, there was a time when I was not one of your people, once I was without you and without hope in this world, but because of you magnificent grace and mercy I am now a child of God! You are so good!

I realize by your word that I am in a war. A war against the passions of my flesh. Let me not let down my guard but stand fast in the strength that you give. Help me to keep this wartime mentality and not be entangled in the affairs of this life. I all to well know the weakness of my flesh. I have succumbed to its siren call too many times. Lord I once again identify myself with the death, burial, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. I consider myself dead indeed to sin but alive to you. Since you have made this blessed way that I can come to you as one that is now by the spirit made alive to you, let me walk in a way that is pleasing to you. As a pilgrim and a stranger in a foreign land let me set my affection on you and you glory. Glorify your name in me this day.

I heard a well known preacher the other day say that the gospel is like a mulligan. God gives you a second chance another go at it. When I heard that I thought thats not right. Is God a God of the second chance? Is that all we need? We messed up now we need a second chance? My problem is not that I need another “chance” my problem is that I’m a sinner incapable of even “hitting the ball” God could have given me a million second chances & I would have blown it every time!

Oh the gospel of Jesus Christ it so much better than that! I was a hell deserving, hell bound sinner. Jesus came and (using the golf analogy) played the perfect game. He hit a hole in one on every shot!!!! And that with all the power of satan blowing against him. Hebrews 4:15 ESV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Jesus came to this earth (Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law) and lived the perfect life he never sinned! Heres where its so much better than getting a second chance; he takes my scorecard, the one with all the sins on it, and he atones for it on the cross. In return He gives me His perfect scorecard and puts my name on it as if I was the one who shot the round. He said my score is now yours!!!! How amazing and awesome is that!!!! 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

What an amazing, wonderful, merciful gracious God he is!!! Don’t be ashamed of the gospel, speak it, proclaim it, shout it out from the housetops!

Here is the true goodness of Christmas and its better than being given a mulligan:

Galatians 4:4-5 ESV But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 3:10 ESV

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

What about you?

Have you ever lied? If yes then your a liar.

Have you ever stolen? If yes then your a theif.

Have you ever used Gods name in vain? If yes then you’ve used the name of the God who gave you life and used it as four letter filth word to express disgust. Blasphemous!

You’ve broken God’s law. Over & over.

Galatians 3:11-13 ESV Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” (the law doesn’t make us right it proves our guilt!)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”–

Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) lived the law for us and bled & died on the tree (cross) for our sins (lawbreaking) then rose again on the third day proving that he was who he said he was.

Would you repent (turn from your sin & attempts at self-righteousness) and receive the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ & eternal life with Him in heaven forever!!!

John 3:16-17 ESV

16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 Peter 1:21-25 ESV(21) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.(22) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,(23) since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;(24) for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, (25) but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

After reading this passage the question I get is; How is having our souls purified by obeying the truth of Christ relate to sincere love?

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love…”

Our souls are purified for love (gr. philadelphia brotherly love when we are saved we are brought into the family of God as sons of God we are brothers) it was for this reason we are purified (saved) for love and its a sincere or unfeigned (real) love as you would have for your own family.

Since that has happened Peter says here then do it “love one another from a pure heart” what He has empowered us to do we should & will do.

since

this connects to the previous command to love one another.

you have been born again, we should, can & will love one another since we have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God

The new birth that is wrought by God is brought about by something real & ever abiding the word of God, so the love that is produced will be sincere and pure & uncorrupted.

1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1Jn 4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

For; connecting to previous thought on a real & abiding love All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, A love that is a fleshly love does not abide is not a true sincere love as this passage speaks of. The love that comes from God is unfeigned not put on but sincere real, genuine because its based on the abiding word of God.

but the word of the Lord remains forever.

“But what’s the point of making such a big deal out of the Word’s permanence? The point is that when you are born by someone’s seed, you take on the character of that seed. It constitutes your nature. And what Peter wants us to see is that the seed that created us, that caused us to be born again, was the Word of God that is imperishable, living, abiding, and lasting forever. And therefore that is who we are. We are forever. And what is it to believe this? It is hope.” -John Piper

The theme of this chapter has been hope. v3 he caused us to be born again to a living hope… When our hope is in God & his sovereign work of salvation it sets us free to love with a genuine, sincere love!

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

The word, the gospel that was preached brought about the faith that believed that belief brings about obedience to the truth and produces a truth and lasting love for Gods people.

This brotherly love is a great point of the assurance of our salvation.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1Jn 4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Joh 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

True, sincere, unfeigned Love is a distinguishing mark of the children of God.

Love is the right response to what God has done for us.

1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

I am seeing this over & over through scripture God does His work then we have our response. He serves us then we serve him in response.

This continues in the next chapter more response to all the glorious truth of Gods work in saving us. Chapter two starts out with Therefore… That’s where I’ll start tomorrow.

Father, in light of all you have done for me cause me to love as you have loved me. Though I am unlovable you chose to love me anyway. You sent Jesus to bleed & die and purchase my salvation. Oh let your perfect work continue. I confess that my love for self at times out weighs my love for you and others. Let your word grow in my heart. Break up the fallow ground of my heart so that you word will be as the good seed that will grow and produce the fruit of love. Help me to place my hope for all this in you & your work. I must considered myself dead indeed to sin but alive to you this day Lord. I need thee this day. May your name be glorified by the way I love this day.

1 Peter 1:10-21 ESV
10. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
11. inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
12. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
13. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
15. but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16. since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
18. knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
19. but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
20. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,
21. who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1 pe 10-21

v 10 This salvation given to me by Jesus Christ was sought after by those before. The Prophets searched diligently looking for him or how God would show His grace.

They were moved by the spirit of Christ Peter says they were serving us (the elect) these great things the gospel now revealed. Since it was the spirit of Christ in them was He not even graciously serving us then? What grace! That he would serve us as it says in Phillipians 2 “He took on the form of a servant”

V 13,14 Therefore prepare your minds for action.

Since Jesus has done all of these things for us, we as ready soldiers should be preparing our minds for action. Soberly, that is having a mind that is clear resolute, decisive & disciplined ready at all times to go. Fixing our hope completely on the coming Christ & the day of his appearing.

My prayer,

Lord I come to you in the name of the blessed savior Jesus Christ, thanking you & praising you for choosing to save me through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Because of you working LORD, I am seeing the precious gospel the things the prophets diligently searched for & the angels long to look! Who am I but a worm, yet you are so gracious that you save a wretch like me!

Lord I need your grace today to prepare my mind for action. I confess that my thoughts & motives are not always pure, so I look to the cross & the sacrifice that was made for me & once again consider myself dead to sin but alive to God! Wash me clean with your words let my mind be renewed let my heart be right toward you.

May I today through the power of the Holy spirit you have given me pull in the loose ends of my thinking to gird up the loins of my mind. Oh how I desperately need your gracious work in this. The past 24 hours my mind has had lustful thoughts pulling & tugging trying to lead me away from you. Thank you for prevailing over my flesh. Truly you are doing a work. I didn’t just roll over under the pressure but I found your grace is truly sufficient. Today I realize that the war is still on but my hope & confidence is in thee. Oh how I long for the salvation that will be revealed at the coming of Jesus Christ!! What joy what freedom! Until then let me continue to grow as a child in holiness. You my Father are infinitely holy I long to be like thee. You command me to be holy I need your work in me.

During this time I have here on earth let me have the soberness of mind to conduct myself in fear realizing you are going to judge my work. May this ever be present before me. Much too long I have lived to satisfy my flesh change me blessed Lord.

I thank you Jesus that you have redeemed me not by futile ways that came from my ancestors but you have redeemed me with you own precious blood. You were that perfect spotless lamb that took away my sins. Oh God thank you for revealing this to me! Through you I am a believer, you gave me the faith that i have believed with. You are so kind!! Father, you raised Jesus from the dead & gave Him glory so that my faith & hope would be in you oh God. I am so glad that I don’t have to trust in my ways or abilities. Thank you for you sovereign grace!! May you name be forever praised!!!

I plan on purposing to have daily alone time with God. One thing I have been doing is writing down thoughts I have while reading scripture. I am currently studying The epistle of 1 Peter. My reading plans this year is not to read huge quantities of scripture but to take my time to really familiarize my self with the book I’m reading.

If you choose to read any of this don’t expect good grammar I not spending alot of time on that I’m just sharing what at sometimes may seem like random thoughts. Any comments or criticisms you wish to give are welcome.

I have also resolved to write out prayers that are in response to the scripture I am reading. My desire is not to impress but that maybe a little of the “fire” that the Lord has ignited in my heart  may catch on to you & His name be more glorified!!!