Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him."
Prov. 30:5 "Every
word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." NLT
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
REJOICE.
May Devotionals
June 1 1
Peter 1:1-2
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to
God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the lands of Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father
chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have
obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and
more of God's special favor and wonderful peace.
CHOSEN
Jesus said that whosoever call upon His name shall be saved. If you have
called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your Lord
and Savior He has accepted you. He has forgiven your sin and made you a
part of the family of God forever.
June 2 1
Peter 1:3
All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by
his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again.
Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again
from the dead.
JOY
Suffering? Experiencing failure? Life not the way you would like? Stop
for a moment and count your real blessings. You are a child of God. You
have an eternal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ who gave
you the gift of eternal life by His death on the cross. Jesus is alive and
He will talk with you right now. Tell Him how you feel and claim your joy.
June 3 1
Peter 1:4
For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept
in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
WEALTH
A Texas wildcatter who had been extremely wealthy and extremely generous
lost everything. He lived in the YMCA for many years unable to afford
anything else. A reporter interviewing him asked “do you regret having
given away so much money?” The man said “no I don’t, because the only thing
that can’t be taken away from me is what I gave away.”
Your wealth is hidden in Christ for eternity and it will never disappear.
Store up riches in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy nor can anyone
ever take it away from you.
June 4 1
Peter 1:5
And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this
salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day
for all to see.
SALVATION
Salvation is a gift. Salvation is God’s realm. When I submit and from my
heart ask for salvation the Father is a gracious giver and protector of me.
“Whosoever will may come!”
June 5 1
Peter 1:6
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is
necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
JOY
Joy has nothing to do with this world. Joy is a spiritual gift given by
Jesus to His followers. We can claim joy in the midst of chaos. All around
us the outlook may be dim and yet in our hearts and souls we have joy.
Jesus is alive. He is coming back.
June 6 1
Peter 1:7
These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and
pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold and your faith is
far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong
after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory
and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
ETERNITY
Each one of us will see eternity sooner than we think. Tomorrow seems to
stretch endlessly. One day there will be no more tomorrows for we will
stand face to face with Jesus. My prayer for you and for me is that in that
day we will hear “well done my good and faithful servant.” Serve Jesus
now. Change now.
June 7 1
Peter 1:8
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see
him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious,
inexpressible joy.
SEEING
Seeing is believing so the world says. Believing is seeing so our spiritual
self says. We trust Jesus because He loved us. Love those you are with.
You will find as your love grows your trust of Jesus will grow. The Lord is
with you.
June 8 1
Peter 1:9-10
Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. This
salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They
prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they
had many questions as to what it all could mean.
TRUST
When we trust we change. We live in the face of insurmountable odds that
are literally overcome by our faith. We begin to live by eternal
principles. The constant swirls of negative opinions and worldliness no
longer have us in their grip. God has a plan from our life and is using
us.
June 9 1
Peter 1:11
They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about
when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory
afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen.
ACTIVE
The Lord is active in our life. He is seeking to guide us. We need to stop
and listen. We should refocus our hearts so that as the Lord speaks we
hear. Read the Bible as though our service depends upon it because it
does. Jesus will lead, guide and direct us but we need to be willing
servants.
June 10 1 Peter
1:12
They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime,
but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been
announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly
watching these things happen.
WATCHING
Angels are watching as your life unfolds. You are important to the Lord and
where you are is the most important place in the world. Each one of us is
unique. You and I count. The people we know and interact with each day are
the people we will have an impact upon for Jesus. Be calm. Claim joy and
peace. Jesus is Lord.
June 11 1 Peter
1:13
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special
blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.
SELF-CONTROL
As difficult as it may seem right now your life is not out of control. We
can exercise self-control by giving ourselves to Jesus. Use His strength.
Use His joy and peace. You are very worth in Jesus. Praise the Lord.
June 12 1 Peter
1:14
Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways
of doing evil; you didn't know any better then.
OBEY
Do what the Lord says. When you fail stop at the moment you realize your
failure, confess it, and change by doing what Jesus says. Obedience is
important. Obedience is one of the key elements in our growing relationship
with Jesus. Obey the Lord and you will enjoy real freedom.
June 13 1 Peter
1:15-16
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you
to be his children is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy
because I am holy."
HOLY
We are holy when we act like Jesus. Jesus loves people. To be holy we must
develop a strong and compassionate love for others. If we love people we
will act like Jesus.
June 14 1 Peter
1:17
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites
when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you
must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on
earth.
FOREIGNER
Our only claim on eternity is through Jesus. We don’t belong here for we
are but dust soon to be gone. We are to live as a foreigner where ever we
are on earth because this world does not belong to us. Our claim in Christ
lies in heaven. Now we see as thru a glass darkly but one day face to face
we will see what we have dreamed and prayed about all of our life.
June 15 1 Peter
1:18-19
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you
inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or
silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless,
spotless Lamb of God.
PRECIOUS
You are precious to the Lord. He knew all about you and still died for
you. He forgives your sin when you claim Him as Lord and Savior. Think
about Jesus for He is always thinking about you.
June 16 1 Peter
1:20
God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in
these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this
for you.
SPECIAL
You are special to Jesus. We live best in community and we live best
knowing that we are special. Being special does not preclude someone else
being special. Life in Jesus is not a win/lose event but instead a win/win
proposition. Rejoice because you and your life are special to Jesus.
June 17 1 Peter
1:21
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised
Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be
placed confidently in God.
POWER
We serve a great God with limitless power. His power is directed towards
you so that you may live a life of service that results in great honor to
the Lord and eternal joy and peace for you. Our service to the Father is a
reflection of our partnership and trust in Him.
June 18 1 Peter
1:22
Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters
because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the
Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with
all your hearts.
EQUALITY
Jesus breaks down the barrier walls that sin and evil create. The Lord is
our Savior and strength. We are beloved and victorious in Jesus. Because
of His love for us we can love one another.
June 19 Psalm
136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good! His faithful love endures forever.
LOVE
Do you love me? So many people ask this question or think it everyday. One
may feel they are unworthy, especially if the object of our questions
doesn’t know what we have done. Amazingly our conscience will accuse us,
“if you knew.” Jesus knows everything we think and do. He still loves us.
HE KNOWS and HE LOVES YOU.
June 20 1 Peter
1:23-25
For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your
earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this
new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of
God. As the prophet says, "People are like grass that dies away; their
beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers. The grass withers, and
the flowers fall away. But the word of the Lord will last forever." And
that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
LIFE
Jesus gives us life. This life begins now and lasts forever. Our life is
real life. Whoever we are wherever we might be we know that we are loved
and valuable.
June
21 1 Peter 2:1-2
So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be
good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave
pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your
salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that
you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
ACTIONS
Our actions represent who we are. We should think about what we do and how
we do it before we act. We are not alone and we do not just represent
ourselves. As a result of our new life in Christ we have become ambassadors
of the Lord. Our thoughts should be am I doing things the way Jesus would
do them?
June
22 1 Peter 2:4-5
Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was
rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. And now
God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's
more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that
please him because of Jesus Christ.
GROW
We will grow in Christ because the Lord is active in our life. We can
become more like Jesus because the Lord is shaping us. Change is afoot.
Jesus will not leave us adrift nor will He abandon us as we seek to serve
Him.
June
23 1 Peter 2:6-8
As the Scriptures express it, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a
chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be
disappointed. "Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those
who reject him, "The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become
the cornerstone." And the Scriptures also say, "He is the stone that makes
people stumble, the rock that will make them fall." They stumble because
they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that
has been planned for them.
CHANGE
Do you want to change? Surrender yourself moment by moment to the activity
of the Lord Jesus in your heart and life. Change is a choice. Lord I want
to change. His activity in you will change you. Don’t worry or fret
because His change in you will guide you closer to Him.
June
24 1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom
of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can
show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into
his wonderful light. "Once you were not a people; now you are the people of
God. Once you received none of God's mercy; now you have received his
mercy."
USABLE
God is at work in you. He will make you useable and useful. As you do your
daily Bible reading let the Holy Spirit enlighten your heart. As you pray
be confident that the Lord is listening and that He will answer you.
Therefore you can live with the confidence that the power for living a Godly
life is available for you.
June
25 1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn
you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very
souls. Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if
they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and
they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.
ACTIONS
Our actions and words communicate to others what we believe. Tragically
what we believe is often much different than the way we act. We are
responsible for the way we act. What we do impacts those with whom we have
daily contact. Pay attention to what you say and do. Make sure that you
are surrendered to the Holy Spirit and He is controlling you.
June
26 1 Peter 2:13-16
For the Lord's sake, accept all authority the king as head of state, and
the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who
do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your good
lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you. You
are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil.
You are free to live as God's slaves.
FREEDOM
Spiritual freedom comes through personal surrender. Pride must be
relinquished and we must die to self. We are called to evaluate the life we
are living. Ask the Lord Jesus to change you so that you can be useful and
usable in His service.
June
27 1 Peter 2:17-18
Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters.
Fear God. Show respect for the king. You who are slaves must accept the
authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you not only if they are
kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.
SURRENDER
We are called to surrender. We are to surrender our pride and selfishness.
The old saying “if it doesn’t matter who gets credit, there is no limit to
the good we can do” is still in effect. We are most effective as a kingdom
leader when we are on our knees before Jesus. We are to pray, prepare and
perform. Recognition is not our goal in kingdom service. We do what we do
for Jesus.
June
28 1 Peter 2:19-20
For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you
patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being
patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right
and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you.
WELL DONE
Do the next right thing. Serve Jesus with a joyful heart. Our lives are
hidden in Christ with God and we are called to see the world through
spiritual glasses. Give your anger, pain and failure to Jesus and He will
enable you to keep on.
June
29 1 Peter 2:21-23
This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who
suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned,
and he never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted.
When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the
hands of God, who always judges fairly.
JUDGMENT
Judgment begins with us. I do not fool Christ. I can take my case to Him
and He will carry me through the suffering in this world. I can also
remember that time here is just an interim to eternity. Nothing lasts
long. Everything we do for Jesus lasts for eternity. Learn from your pain
and call on Jesus name to give you the power to survive.
June
30 1 Peter 2:24-25
He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we
can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his
wounds! Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to
your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
LIFE
Joy and peace are available for us from Jesus. We ask Him and He will give
it to us. He also gives us power to do the next right thing. We are no
longer dead in our trespasses nor are we enslaved to sin. In Jesus we have
the wisdom to follow the right path straight to Him and into eternity.
February 2007 Devotionals
March
2007 Devotionals
April
2007 Devotionals
contact Clay:
clay@lifesongs.com
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Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
NASB Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New American
Standard Bible, copyright 1975. All rights
reserved by the Lockman Foundation.
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