06/09          1 Peter 4:12-14 

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 

SUFFERING

Growth, real spiritual growth is intensified and expanded during times of suffering.  Do not fear.  The Lord is with you. 

06/08          1 Peter 4:10-11 

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 

JOY

You are equipped to be a joy in the world.  Do what only you can do.  Do it well.  Every day is a good day.  Rejoice and be the joy you were created to be. 

06/07          1 Peter 4:9 

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 

SHARE

We are blessed.  Our blessing grows as we help and bless others.  Be a blessing and receive a blessing.  Jesus is Lord. 

06/06          1 Peter 4:8 

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 

LOVE

Love one another.  Love each other.  Love!  Love doesn’t carp at others.  Don’t be snide.  Sarcasm is evil.  Be humble and caring.  People count with Jesus.  People must count with us. 

06/05          1 Peter 4:6-7 

That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead —so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 

END

The End of the World is coming soon.  The Lord will sum up all things in Christ and He will judge the living and the dead.  Follow Jesus.  Listen to Him.  Obey Him.  Time is short.  Jesus loves you. 

06/04          1 Peter 4:3-5 

You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5 But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

TRUTH

The Word of God brings us face to face with truth.  Do not look to the World to guide you.  Instead look to the Word of God.  Jesus is Lord and He is speaking to you giving you the wisdom you need to live a Godly life. 

06/03          1 Peter 4:1-2 

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 

REALLY?

We live in an instant society.  The idea of pain brings up images of things we really don’t want to experience yet the picture here is that real growth, real maturity is developed in suffering.  This is alien to our ears.  Lord I believe help my unbelief. 

06/02          1 Peter 3:22 

Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

ABSOLUTE

Jesus is in absolute control of all things.  He is fully man and fully God.  He is able to save you.  He brings hope to the hopeless, life to the lifeless and He loves you. 

06/01          1 Peter 3:19-21 

So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

EFFECTIVE

Salvation in Christ is completely effective in bringing you into the family of God.  Jesus paid it all.  Salvation is a grace gift.  Ask Jesus to save you and cleanse you from unrighteousness.  When you have done this Jesus saves you. 

05/31          1 Peter 3:18 

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

TRUST

We know the truth and we see it working effectively in our daily life yet we still do not trust.  When we trust the Lord we change.  When we trust the Lord we are affected by our sin and quickly turn from our sin.  Trust in the Lord and do the next right thing.  Then you will become more like Jesus day by day.  Trust in the Lord.