2012 Day 320 – 2 Peter 3

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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Verse 14 says, So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. At first glance it almost seems to contradict what Paul talks about with salvation through grace and not works. The big difference in Peter’s view comes from his concentration on the Christian life and of service. Reading letters by both men gives us a complete picture of how we should live our lives. We should know we are saved by God’s grace and nothing else. We should also live our lives serving and taking care of others just as Christ commanded when he spoke to Peter in John 21:17, The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” If we love Jesus then we will serve just as He commanded us.

2012 Day 319 – 1 Peter 2

14 Wednesday Nov 2012

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2 Peter chapter 2 is a bit on the gloomy side. Peter is trying to express the importance of not only following God, but also of not rejecting Him once you have been introduced to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Verse 20 says, If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. God wants a relationship with us. He wants to lead us and guide us and trust in Him. This is not to say everything will be perfect in the end, but at least we will be close to God; knowing we followed His leading and lived according to His perfect plan.

2012 Day 318 – 1 Peter 1

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

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When I first read verse 10, it gave me pause because it seems to say works, and not God’s grace is what gives us salvation. It says, Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall. But it does not say that. It is simply confirming how our actions should reflect our salvation and relationship with God. It also implies that by our actions we should show the change that comes from a relationship with God.

2012 Day 317 – Psalm 41, 64

12 Monday Nov 2012

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In today’s reading both chapters talked about God’s deliverance of David from his enemies. Psalm 64:10 summed it up for me, Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! As the righteous children of God, we can take refuge in Him, knowing He will never leave us alone no matter how bad things get for us. In all things we are to give God the praise He deserves.

2012 Day 316 – Psalm 9, 22

11 Sunday Nov 2012

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As I read Psalm 22:1 it immediately reminded me of Matthew 27:47 when Jesus quoted the first part of this verse as he was dying on the cross. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The verse finishes with, Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? The cries from Jesus were not from doubt, but as an urgent appeal for deliverance. The rest of the chapter takes us through David’s suffering all the way to a future day when God would deliver him from his suffering. As I read chapter 22 it also became an amazing description by David of the future suffering the Messiah would endure hundreds of years later. This chapter is a reminder of how God will never leave us. Our suffering has a purpose whether or not we ever understand the “why”.

2012 Day 315 – Psalm 6, 44

10 Saturday Nov 2012

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In today’s reading, there were no single verses that jumped out to me. However, I do feel there was a common theme regarding deliverance. My tendency is to react to a need without first going to God for my guidance. Sometimes God wants me to turn away and sometimes He wants me to turn and fight. No matter what I do, if God is not with me, I will ultimately fail. When there is anguish and you feel the need for help, God is always there by your side.

2012 Day 314 – 2 Timothy 4

09 Friday Nov 2012

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My apologies for posting this so late today. In reading this evening, what jumped out to me is verse 2, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. Always be ready to serve God in any situation. I need to always be ready and never wait until it is convenient. “God moments” don’t always present themselves clearly. We must always be ready when they present themselves to us and we must act.

2012 Day 313 – 2 Timothy 3

08 Thursday Nov 2012

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God’s word is our only real source of truth. Verses 16-17 says, 16 All Scripture is God‑breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Because the Bible is the inspired and trustworthy word of God himself, we must read it and apply it to our lives on a daily basis. The Bible is our test for everything that claims to be truth. If it does not line up with Biblical truths then it must be discarded because it is our safeguard against false teaching and half-truths. The more we are familiar with Biblical truths the safer we become.

2012 Day 312 – 2 Timothy 2

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

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The main point that jumped out to me this morning is found in verses 20-21, 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. In these verses Paul is urging Timothy to be of noble use for Christ. He is asking him to not settle for less than what God is offering him. The same goes for us, God wants only wants what is best for us and want to use us as instruments for His will.

2012 Day 311 – 2 Timothy 1

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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No matter what our circumstances, God does not want us to be fearful. He gives us strength and courage to face any obstacle. Verse 7 says, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self‑discipline. What caught my attention this morning is the word love. God doesn’t want us to bully our opinions into the world, He wants us to be confident about what we believe and where we stand. Most importantly, He wants us to show love throughout everything that we do and say as His ambassadors to this world.