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1 Peter Chapter 2

You know that moment when you open the fridge and you’re hit with that smell? Something expired, something you kept meaning to toss but just kept pushing to the back? Peter opens chapter 2 with exactly that kind of moment. He names it plainly; deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, unkind speech. That’s the sour milk. And his point isn’t just ‘throw it out’, it’s ‘go replace it’. Get something fresh. Something worth consuming. Because you can’t grow on stuff that is rotten.

Verse 5 says, “He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God”.  Jesus is the cornerstone, in other words, the anchor of the foundation that God has set forth.  If you build your life on Him, you are secure.  If you ignore Him, you will trip over Him.  Typically if we have tripped, it means we have not obeyed God’s word.

Growing up, my Dad tested me with the ‘game’ called MERCY that I would go on to ‘play’ with my buddies in high school.  You know the one, you lock fingers, twist, bend, apply as much pressure as you can until the other person can’t take it anymore and finally cries out ‘mercy.’ The whole point of the game was to make someone surrender. But here’s what’s funny, the mercy in 1 Peter 2 works completely backwards from that game. Nobody twisted God’s arm. Nobody applied enough pressure to earn it. He just… gave it. Freely. And that changes everything about how we’re supposed to pass it on.  Peter reminds us who we actually are.  We are chosen, God’s very own possession.  Without Him we are nobody, but with Him we receive His mercy.

5 Ways we can show mercy today:

1. See people the way God saw you

2. Don’t Retaliate – Absorb

3. Live well toward people who dismiss you

4. Use your freedom to serve, not to protect yourself

5. Show up for people in low-status moments

The mercy in this chapter isn’t sentimental; it is costly and active.  It cost Jesus everything.  What Peter is describing is a community of people who received something they didn’t deserve and then turned around and passed it on.  Not because people earned it, but because that’s what mercy is.  The most natural place to start is usually the relationship closest to you where it’s hardest to extend.  That’s almost always where the chapter is pointing to.

Titus 3 calls believers to live with humility, gentleness, and readiness for every good work. Paul urges Christians not to be quarrelsome or divisive, but to show courtesy to all people. He reminds them that they too were once foolish, disobedient, and enslaved to sin. But salvation did not come because of righteous deeds they had done. It came because of the kindness, love, and mercy of God. Through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, believers are made new and justified by grace, becoming heirs of eternal life. Because this gospel is trustworthy, Christians should devote themselves to doing what is good and helpful to others. Paul also warns Titus to avoid foolish controversies and persistent divisive people, since such behavior damages the community of faith.

Titus 3 also teaches us to rest on God’s compassion rather than our own self-reliance. We are not rescued by discipline, strength, or moral performance, but by mercy. God’s compassion is the foundation; our good works are the fruit, not the cause, of salvation. Resting in His compassion means trusting that His grace is greater than our weakness. It frees us from striving to prove ourselves and allows us to live with peace, gratitude, and dependence on Christ. Instead of building our lives on self-sufficiency, we can live faithfully from the secure place of being loved and saved by God.

Nehemiah 9

My wife and I have grown up and now live together in northern Virginia. If you have spent more than a week in our stomping grounds, you will understand how bipolar the weather can be. Last weekend we were running in 80-degree weather and then Monday I was hunting turkeys while getting snowed on. The one thing I do love about this time of year is we start to get a taste of those summer nights. You know what I’m talking about. 75 degrees, windows down, and country music blaring down back roads. It’s on these drives that I enter the throne room and get to work with the Lord. A quarter of the drive I’m thinking about scripture, a quarter I am confessing sin & worshipping, and the other half of my attention is spent trying to stay on the road (Neh. 9:3).

We need to understand the context of what’s going on here. Nehemiah heard about his people who entered back into their land. He was grieved and asked to return to Jerusalem to put things in order. They rebuild the wall and in chapter 8 are revived by the Word of God. The people are now becoming obedient to God’s law because they are devoted to Him.

It is interesting what happens when you truly confess sin and receive God’s forgiveness. I’m not talking about the moment you prayed the sinner’s prayer and were saved. I’m talking about the Tuesday evening when you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and you get on your knees and ask God to forgive you of your sin. What happens is you feel this overwhelming sense of God’s mercy on you. When you reflect on your life you see God’s mercy all over the place. From childhood to adulthood to parenting to grandparenting, God’s mercy is in every season of your life.

When you understand God’s justice system, you understand that God using Babylon to judge Judah was His mercy. He was cleansing the idolatry from the land of Israel and still had a plan for them instead of completely wiping them out. Nehemiah goes back through the major events in the history of God using Israel and if you look carefully, you will see a pattern. God works, Israel is amazed, Israel forgets, Israel sins, God warns & judges, Israel repents, God works and then the cycle starts over again. What do we notice about God through all of this? He is a patient, forgiving, & long-suffering God. Read the latter half of Nehemiah 9:17 with me, “But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.” Make that last verse personal. Through your whole life of ups and downs in your relationship with God you have been the one changing. Not him. He has not forsaken you. Let that Truth sink in. I don’t know what your thing is, but maybe you need to go on a windows down long country road drive and approach the throne of grace with confidence. Don’t delay. Read God’s Word, confess sin, and worship Him today.

Today’s Reading : Numbers 14

And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” - Numbers 14:6-10

Have you ever had an idea or a promise that you have held on for so long, only to see that it has been broken. Not by the giver, but the receiver.

Here is the  most powerful illustration of Numbers Chapter 14.  Imagine a couple has been together for several years. They have grown together and they have experienced life together. They plan on getting married. They go and look at rings. Then they have a long pre-engagement.  Then the groom proposes. But the bride does not accept the proposal. Both are broken,  both are dismayed.

This is the illustration that has happened in Numbers with God in the Israelites.  God has selected the chiefs of the tribe of Israel to go and view the promised land. This was to gain insight and to show them the goodness that is set up for them. The chiefs return back gives  a negative report.  Joshua and Caleb tried to persuade the people to come into the land that was promised. But the people revolt and they turn away.

One of the most touching aspects of this recount is God‘s emotions.

God is sad and hurt.

God wants to stop this hurt and pain by ending the people, but one of God’s best friends is Moses and Moses talks him out of the annihilation. Moses pleads to God and intercedes on behalf of the people. Because of Moses connection with God and his love for the people, God grants mercy.

This is not just any mercy, but a beautiful representation of the love of Moses and the love of God for the people.

The people rejected God to the fullness of their abilities for everything that he’s done for them. These individuals saw the promise and the miracles and still rejected God and wanted to return to their previous life.

Sometimes we have seen our promise and we are afraid of accepting it. Sometimes the things of the past are so comfortable that we cannot see passed the miraculous things in our everyday life that God has ready to give to us.

This is a true testament of God‘s strength and MERCY to us. At any given time, God could stop everything. He has the power to cease everything in an instant. But because of his love and MERCY, he gives us another opportunity. He gives us another opportunity every day. He gives us mercy every day. When we truly understand his mercy and his love, then how can we not give that same mercy  and love to others.

There are so many times that we want to return to our previous lives.

Our previous experiences.

Our previous bondage.

But God has given us the ability to see the promises that he has stored for us. He also has given us the ability through Christ to receive his mercy. Without Christ, we will not be able to receive his mercy.

As we go through this week, let us see if we can receive and give the mercies that God has given to us.

Be Blessed

Psalms 103

Last week, a friend reminded me of the benefits of a gratitude journal.  “Do it daily,”, she insisted.  It will change your life!

I believe that.  It will.  Gratitude re-focuses our energy, producing better results.  It’s been studied and documented, proven to be real.  Here is the formula:

Gratitude + Action = Results

“Shoot, that’s easy!  I’m going to try that,” is my response.

So, I do it.  And it works…mostly.  Something is still missing.  I don’t understand.  If I am grateful, my attitude has improved and I am getting better results, why is my life still dry?  Why do I feel just a little bit off?

The answer is simple, and obvious.  I saw it clearly in Psalm 103:1. David writes:

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Do you see it?  Twice he says it.  Praise.

The gratitude formula I was provided is wrong.  When I add action to gratitude, the focus is on me.  It celebrates who I am and what I have. I am elevated.  At the end of the day, however, no matter how thankful I am, I’m still haunted my weaknesses and limitations.  While I have better results, I still feel empty and dry.  What am I missing?  How do I overcome that?

 David shows us.  He uses a different formula.  It’s not gratitude + action, its:

Gratitude + Praise

Adding praise to gratitude shifts our focus from me to God. David’s praise is an external focus celebrating something outside of his own control. It’s the same for us.  With praise, we are eliminated from equation, and gratitude gets placed where it belongs, with the source.  God.

Another great thing about praise is that its not just past tense, its also future tense  Yes, we celebrate what God has done, but also get to celebrate what God is going to do.  Said another way, what God has done, God will also do.  Our weaknesses and limitations are no longer debilitating, they’re empowering.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

There’s one more part of the equation that David get’s right.  The ending.  For David, gratitude and praise do not produce a bigger kingdom, more money, or a better family life; i.e. better results.  They are about joy.

Gratitude + Praise = Joy

Jesus says it this way:

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Yes, he deserves our gratitude, but he has earned our praise.

Hebrews Chapter 4

Just 2 weeks ago I was reflecting on Moses coming down the mountain after a harsh discussion with God about the people asking for new gods.  Because of their behavior and unwillingness to share the faith of those that actually did listen to God, they were denied the ‘rest’ that was promised them.

For those of us today, God’s promise of rest is still very much on the table.  What we need to do, though, is figure out if we are really taking it seriously.  We can all HEAR the message but are we LISTENING??  Do we BELIEVE the words that we are listening to??  Our faith has to connect with the message for it to do anything.

Let’s think about this….God finished His work at creation and rested on the 7^th day.  This rest wasn’t just for Him, it was always meant for us as well.  If Joshua had fully delivered on that rest when he led Israel into the Promised Land, God wouldn’t still be talking about “a day called Today.”  But He is.  Which means the rest is still out there where we stop striving to earn everything and simply rest in what He’s already done.  BUT, don’t just simply coast along on this.  We still must make every effort to actually enter that rest.  We cannot follow the same pattern of stubborn unbelief that tripped up those before us.

Let us also never fall numb to the Word of God just being text on a page.  It’s alive, active, sharper than any blade ever made.  It cuts through all the noise, past our emotions, our rationalizations, right to the core of who we actually are.  Sometimes we may really despise this truth but we know deep down it exposes our real thoughts and motives.  Nothing is ever hidden.

Now,  that all might sound like a little bit of bad news, and it is, but here is the good news….there is someone in all of our lives who sits at the top, the Son of God!  He knows exactly what it feels like to be us.  He was tempted in every way we are, the full human life experience, and He never broke.

So don’t let yourself fade in the shadows.  We must continue to walk straight into God’s presence with confidence, the kind of confidence of someone who knows they are welcomed.  What you will find is NOT a judge waiting to lower the hammer, but instead the grace and mercy when you need it most!

I believe this chapter is essentially saying, stop white-knuckling life by trying to earn your way.  The rest God offers isn’t laziness, it is trust.  We all have a Savior that has been in those trenches, and we have all been given the roadmap to our spot on the bench right next to Him.

It is a privilege to write about one of the most popular and packed chapters in the Bible, often referred to as “the great 8.”  For those of us in the DC area who are Capitals fans, this is a better “great 8!”

Ironically, there are eight great lessons from Romans 8.

1. No condemnation in Christ
   For those who belong to Jesus, guilt no longer has the final word. Believers live under grace, not under condemnation. No matter how bad you have been, no matter how much we have sinned, belief in Jesus and His resurrection will free you from all of your guilt and pain.
2. Life in the Spirit versus life in the flesh
   Romans 8 contrasts living by sinful desires with living under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces life, peace, and obedience to God. Peace. Contentment. Thankfulness. A place in our lives where we all seek to be.
3. We are God’s children
   Through the Spirit, believers are adopted into God’s family. We are not slaves living in fear, but sons and daughters who can call God our Father.
4. Present suffering is real, but not ultimate
   Paul is honest that suffering is part of life, yet he says it is not worth comparing to the glory God will reveal. Pain is temporary; God’s promises are greater. This is hard, to say the least. Pain of loss, hurt, tragedy, can test our faith to extreme and sometime unimaginable limits.
5. Creation and believers are longing for renewal
   All creation is affected by brokenness and waits for redemption. Christians also groan, longing for the full restoration God will bring.
6. The Spirit helps us in weakness
   When we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. We are not left alone in our weakness. Pray for strength. Pray for discernment. Pray for the wisdom to know how to listen and how to take action, when it’s the right time.
7. God works through all things for His purpose
   This does not mean all things are good, but that God can work through every circumstance for the good of those who love Him. This to me, is the hardest part of faith. Why did that happen? Why did that not happen? It is the single greatest mystery and challenge to our faith.
8. Nothing can separate us from God’s love
   The chapter ends with one of Scripture’s strongest assurances: hardship, suffering, loss, or even death cannot separate believers from the love of God in Christ. We don’t have the words sometimes to say to someone who is enduring incredible challenges and tragedy. We continue to point to scripture that God never forsakes us. He always loves us. He always wants what’s best for us, no matter how horrible our circumstances.

Romans 8 is ultimately about assurance, identity, suffering, hope, and victory in Christ.

Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I pray wherever you are at today, in your life and in your faith, this reading brings you reflection and hopefully peace.