The city of Boise, Idaho estimates its annual cost for repairs due to vandalism at around $54,000. The Canadian province of British Columbia describes their vandalism costs as "in the tens of millions." Can you imagine what that number must be for the entire United States of America? With self-control and a fresh respect for the property of others, we could redirect a billion dollars into other worthy causes. People make things and then have to re-make them because of selfish, careless acts.
Our God is the Maker of heaven and earth. He is also their Re-Maker. Peter reminds us that the One who spoke the universe into place and formed this formless planet will one day have to demolish them and put new ones in their place. The sins of humanity have vandalized God's marvelous creation, and its re-making is also described as an act of judgment against the marring of evil. (v. 12,13)
As we stand in the midst of a sin-vandalized world destined for divine replacement, how ought we to conduct ourselves? What does life look like between the making and the re-making? For some, their lives as vandals will continue. They will continue to scoff at God, mock His truth and twist the Scriptures. They will deface the image of God and spray paint over the words of life, all to serve their own selfish desires. But those with self-control who respect the property of God will live differently. They will preserve and protect the sayings of the prophets and apostles and of the Lord Jesus Himself. (v. 2) They will live holy and godly lives (v.11) and pursue "peaceful lives that are pure and blameless." (v. 14) They will remain on guard and sure-footed as they traverse the rubble of vandalism. Between the making and the re-making, these will "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (v. 18)
And what will the Lord be doing in between His creative and re-creative work? He will be being patient for the sake of the vandals. "He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (v. 9) "the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved." (v. 15)
May the time afforded by the patience of God be filled with His unaltered Word and unfettered Spirit. May it be filled with the exemplary lives of growing Christians drawing many to lay down the tools of their vandalism and in repentance, take up the cross of Christ.
Pray: Thank you, Lord, for your patience. Thank you for reserving your judgment for some time in the future so that many might turn from their selfishness and toward their Savior. Help me to be one of the pure and godly; one who can be used as a tool in Your patient renewal process.
November 28 - 2 Peter 2:1-22 - You Are a Slave to Whatever Controls You
Do you know about the debate over "a carrot on a stick" versus "a carrot or a stick?" I had only been exposed to the image of a carrot dangling from a stick in front of an animal to lure it forward. Apparently, this image has been challenged, said to come from a mishearing of the latter phrase which proposes reward incentive or punishment incentive. The carrot is the reward and the stick (presumably for whipping) is the punishment. If this debate arose in English, I could even see where the "r" in "or" might be written in such a way as to be mis-read as an "n." The first phrase may have been born out of a sloppy rendering of the second.
Whichever phrase you believe is the 'correct' one, they both paint a pretty good picture of control. Some people are motivated by fear (the stick). Whenever fear pops up, that person turns in another direction, and so, fear becomes the thing that steers them. Some people are motivated by satisfaction. Whenever something shows up that they imagine will satisfy a desire, they pursue it. Again, the steering is done by the 'satisfier.' The scare or the lure takes control. Our text today says, "You are a slave to whatever controls you." Many are slaves to fear; others enslaved by their desires.
Peter observed that many of the false teachers of his day were slaves to greed and lust. These false teachers found that they could manipulate those who sat under their teaching. They were able to warp and deliver their lessons in such a way as to gain money or sex from their students. A good read is Richard J. Foster's book The Challenge of the Disciplined Life, which deals specifically with the lure of money, sex and power. These are good measuring rods to use when assessing a pastor-teacher-evangelist. What appears to be their approach to the use of power, their emphasis on wealth, their moral character? If there is a hint of manipulation, greed or licentiousness in their teachings, steer clear.
And what about us? What controls us? Is their something in our life that steers us with it's influence, either positive or negative? What, if dangled in front of us, will almost surely seize our attention and powerfully draw us in its direction, away from every other direction? Whatever or whoever can control us like that is our Master. We are slave to it.
Notice that Peter begins his letter by calling himself the "servant" of Jesus Christ. His friend, Paul, starts his epistles in similar fashion, calling himself a "bond-servant" or a "slave" of the Lord Jesus. Their 'carrot' is the Christ. The controlling factor in their lives is the Holy Spirit of God. The great and precious promises and the divine mandates drive them forward.
There is great reward for those who remain faithful; faithful to receive, obey and impart the true teaching of the Word. Shunning fear and greed and lust, let us all press on toward the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus. He is the true teacher. He is the Truth.
Pray: Teach me, O Lord, all the great promises of your Word and direct me with Your commands. Sustain me as a student and follower, a disciple, by your Holy Spirit. May my only fear be reverent awe of You. May my greed and lust be transformed into an insatiable desire to know You and to do Your will. You are my priceless reward.
November 27 - 2 Peter 1:1-21 - Adding It All Up
Sarah Pardee married William Winchester in 1862. Winchester was the manufacturer of the "Gun that Won the West," the Winchester repeating rifle. When William died, Sarah became the heiress to a 20 million dollar estate. Sadly, the death of her husband came soon after the death of their infant daughter, Annie, a loss that had thrown Sarah into a deep depression. In this severe state of grief, Sarah sought out advice from a medium whose strange assessment and counsel for Mrs. Winchester's depression initiated the building of what is now known as The Winchester Mystery House. A small eight-room Victorian in San Jose, California became a sprawling mansion containing 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens. Briefly put, the construction of the house was supposed to preserve the life of Mrs. Winchester. As long as the building work continued, Sarah's life would continue also.
Of course, building a house is NOT the way to eternal life. Sarah Winchester died and her legacy is one of sad superstition and spiritism. Rather than adding windows and doors and other architectural elements, today's text suggests we build more meaningful elements into our lives. Peter writes ...
"make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."
Just like a construction project, one phase builds on the previous.
Begin with the foundation of faith. Sink the cornerstone of Christ and let everything else in your life rest upon Him. Christ can be the basis for everything because He has shown Himself to be so good. Imitate His goodness. And after committing yourself to a life of good, commit yourself to study to learn more about your great, good God. This is the knowledge we add. And as we add knowledge of His Word, pride can sneak in with its Pharasaism. So the next phase of building must be self-control. We must know how to use that knowledge wisely and under the Spirit's control.
Faith, goodness and knowledge under divine control is a manner of living that must be persevered in. Can't live like that short-term or in spurts; we must persevere. With an enduring character like this, we begin to reveal God to others. Godliness comes and adorns the structure of our lives. Then, even as God acted in the best interest of others with mercy and generosity, so too will we demonstrate His affection toward others. A life constructed like this becomes other-oriented. And the ultimate expression of this Christ-like lifestyle is true 'agape,' self-sacrificing love.
Unlike the misguided counsel of a Boston medium to a vulnerable Sarah Winchester, this building program from the letter of Peter will indeed lead to eternal life.
Pray: Builder of the Universe, help me to fashion a life worthy of your goodness and mercy toward me. Guide me away from false prophecy and hollow counsel and found me firmly in your Word and Spirit. Take me through the phases that will produce a life that reflects keenly my Architect.
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| Sarah Winchester's Obsession |
Of course, building a house is NOT the way to eternal life. Sarah Winchester died and her legacy is one of sad superstition and spiritism. Rather than adding windows and doors and other architectural elements, today's text suggests we build more meaningful elements into our lives. Peter writes ...
"make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."
Just like a construction project, one phase builds on the previous.
Begin with the foundation of faith. Sink the cornerstone of Christ and let everything else in your life rest upon Him. Christ can be the basis for everything because He has shown Himself to be so good. Imitate His goodness. And after committing yourself to a life of good, commit yourself to study to learn more about your great, good God. This is the knowledge we add. And as we add knowledge of His Word, pride can sneak in with its Pharasaism. So the next phase of building must be self-control. We must know how to use that knowledge wisely and under the Spirit's control.
Faith, goodness and knowledge under divine control is a manner of living that must be persevered in. Can't live like that short-term or in spurts; we must persevere. With an enduring character like this, we begin to reveal God to others. Godliness comes and adorns the structure of our lives. Then, even as God acted in the best interest of others with mercy and generosity, so too will we demonstrate His affection toward others. A life constructed like this becomes other-oriented. And the ultimate expression of this Christ-like lifestyle is true 'agape,' self-sacrificing love.
Unlike the misguided counsel of a Boston medium to a vulnerable Sarah Winchester, this building program from the letter of Peter will indeed lead to eternal life.
Pray: Builder of the Universe, help me to fashion a life worthy of your goodness and mercy toward me. Guide me away from false prophecy and hollow counsel and found me firmly in your Word and Spirit. Take me through the phases that will produce a life that reflects keenly my Architect.
November 26 - 1 Peter 4:7-4:6 - It Is No Shame To Suffer for Being a Christian
12 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 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
November 25 - 1 Peter 3:8-4:6 - A Completely 'Other' Way of Living
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind.
Sympathize with each other.
Love each other as brothers and sisters.
Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
9 Don’t repay evil for evil.
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
That is what God has called you to do,
and he will bless you for it.
Sympathize with each other.
Love each other as brothers and sisters.
Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
9 Don’t repay evil for evil.
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
That is what God has called you to do,
and he will bless you for it.
November 24 - 1 Peter 2:11-3:7 - Do the Right Thing Even When It Hurts
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
November 23 - 1 Peter 1:13 -2:10 - Holy, Holy, Holy
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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