Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 1 Peter 2:4-17
Set – Isaiah 38; 1 Peter 2
Go! – 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2
1 Peter 2:4-17
4 Come to Him—the living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious. 5 Like living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed. 6 For it says in the words of the prophet Isaiah,
See here—I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.
7 To you who believe and depend on Him, He is precious; but to you who don’t, remember the words of the psalmist:
The stone that the builders rejected
has been laid as the cornerstone—the very stone that holds together the entire foundation,
8 and of Isaiah:
A stone that blocks their way,
a rock that trips them.
They stumble because they don’t follow the word of God, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering 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 it.
11 Beloved, remember you don’t belong in this world. You are resident aliens living in exile, so resist those desires of the flesh that battle against the soul. 12 Live honorably among the outsiders so that, even when some may be inclined to call you criminals, when they see your good works, they might give glory to God when He returns in judgment.
13 For the Lord’s sake, accept the decrees and laws of all the various human institutions, whether they come from the highest human ruler 14 or agents he sends to punish those who do wrong and to reward those who do well. 15 You see, it is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish. 16 Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servants. 17 Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence God. Honor your ruler.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
When you see the wicked prosper at the expense of the good, it’s easy to want revenge on them. When you see the wicked getting away with their wrong doing, it’s easy to want to strike back and take justice into your hands. That isn’t My way. My word tells you to continue to do good. My word tells you to that vengeance is Mine. These verses in Peter tell you to obey all authorities I have placed over you.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I’m the one that allows authorities to reign. Whether in countries as dictators or elected by the populace, I’m the one that allows the authority to sit in their seat of power. It takes nothing for Me to change the course of events to prevent or change the outcome of elections, battles, coups, inheritances. I allow authorities to reign.
You might not like the person or people in power. They may be good or they may be wicked. It is not your place to judge their heart. Just remember, I allow them their place of power for a reason and I will judge their actions one day, not you. They will answer for what they do, not you. But you will answer for you actions and your behavior. So do what Peter admonishes in these verses.
Listen to authorities placed over you. It is better to suffer for doing good that because you deserve the punishment because of evil deeds. It is better for those around you to know your goodness than to think you are evil and should suffer because of it. Rulers have the power of life and death in their hands. If you die at their hands for your faithful acts of service for Me, others will know and bless you for it. If you die because you act like other criminals who deserve death for their crimes, who will want to follow Me because of your behavior?
Then do the things Peter asks as he concludes what you heard today. Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence Me. Honor your ruler. When you do these things you others will respect you in return. Even if they do not, you will still be doing what I ask of you and that’s what counts after all. You will live the life I want you to live in front of others so they will know you follow Me. By your actions, they will know there awaits you a better day, a greater prize, a kingdom without end.
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