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In todays reading of 1 Peter 3, Peter gave godly advice to husbands and wives with guidance on suffering for righteousness sake. He gave wise instruction on how to grow in grace and live a godly life.. and he encouraged them as he encourages us.. to live in harmony with our Christian brothers and sisters.

But, there is one more piece of godly wisdom that Peter wants to share to all who know Jesus. No matter where we live or what our life-circumstances may be, as God’s children, we should be ready to answer anyone who asks us about our faith in Christ and our trust in God.

This brings me to a very personal experience I had…

In 1992, I had graduated from Bible College and lived in a small apartment, while I was teaching preschool and leading a before/after school program. This was my first experience of complete independence. I was visiting Churches in my new town and deciding what would be a good “fit” for me. After visiting one particular church, I received a phone call. I still recall the sinking feeling I had while on the phone with the caller. My stomach still falls and my cheeks turn red just thinking about the conversation and my answer to the question she asked me. Because of this, I am not sure I have ever shared this incident with anyone. But, the verse we read  in 1 Peter 3 puts that phone call in perspective and reminds me of a HUGE lesson I learned that day so many years ago…

ALWAYS BE PREPARED
TO GIVE AN ANSWER
TO EVERYONE
WHO ASKS YOU!

1 Peter 3:15…”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”

The kind lady asked me a few preliminary questions about my beliefs and then asked me, “Well, Stephanie, can I ask you why you think you will go to Heaven when you die?” I do not even remember thinking, I responded quickly with, “I will go to Heaven because I am a good person, I go to Church, and I always try to do the right thing.” (Did I mention I had already graduated from Bible College?!?!?!) I think I literally felt shame as I heard her respond to me.  She said, “Stephanie, I am sure you are a good person and do good things, but, that is NOT going to get you into Heaven. You get to go to Heaven because Jesus Christ died on the cross FOR YOU and has forgiven you of your sins. Not because of anything you have done or can do.” I still can picture myself on the corded phone sitting in the little corner of my apartment listening to this lady. I agreed with her and then ended the phone call quickly as I was too embarrassed for this lady to know anything else about me. I felt so much shame right then and there! I know that my answer did not change anything God felt for me on that day (Thank You Jesus for Your Grace and Mercy on me)!!  And, I still know that I would have gone to Heaven, because in my heart of hearts I knew what the lady said was true. But, guess what???? I was NOT prepared with an answer! Nobody had flat out asked me that question before! We think we will answer the right way, but will we when we are put on the spot???

I am much better sharing my experiences with people and how God has worked in my life. I can share an event and the Hope that I had in Christ and how the answers came (usually never as I expected). But, am I ready with direct answers to questions others may have about my Hope in Jesus? I learned from this phone conversation over 20 years ago, that I must prepare myself daily to be ready with an answer. To be ready, I must ask God for daily wisdom. I also, must daily fill myself with His Word, so that I know and can recall Jesus’ Love and Hope that He wants me to share with others. God wants to use us daily to share our Hope that we have in HIM. Are you ready with your answer?

Today’s reading:  1 Peter 2, Psalm 30

When you meet someone new, or are asked to introduce yourself, what do you say? How do you describe who you are?  Do you talk about your job, your family, or your hobbies?

Both of my children are in middle school this year, Annika in her first year of middle school, and Freddy in his last year.  It has been an interesting first two weeks as we’ve been helping Annika make choices about extra-curricular activities.  Okay, maybe more challenging than just interesting.  See, she’s never met an extra-curricular activity she wasn’t interested in, and she wants to be good at EVERYTHING!  As a parent, I want her to have the opportunity to try a variety of different things.  It is my hope she’ll eventually discover the intersection of her abilities and what she enjoys doing…something she loves and will be passionate about pursuing.

Over the course of the last two weeks, Annika has either participated in, or asked to try, gymnastics, diving, Japanese, basketball, game club, circus, the school play and the flute.  Did I mention she is 10 years old and just starting middle school?  She has a genuine interest in these activities, but she is also swayed by what her friends are doing.  She wants to be in the mix, she doesn’t want to let her friends down, and certainly doesn’t want to pass on something she might later regret!  She is simply trying to figure out who she is in this new middle school environment.  Can you identify with her situation?  I can think of countless times over the course of my 44 years where I’ve stopped and reflected on these same questions – Who am I?  What defines me?  How do I want to be described?  What is my brand?

As I was studying today’s assigned reading, 1 Peter 2:9-10 made me stop and think about Annika.

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.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).

More than finding her passion, I want Annika to know her value isn’t determined by her skills, abilities, or the activities in which she participates.  She has worth because of what God has done for her.  He chose her!  The scripture says, you are a chosen people…God’s special possession.  Unfortunately life will still bring her disappointments, regardless of what activities she chooses.  But trusting Jesus is the wisest choice she will ever make.  He will never let her down.

For in Scripture it says:  “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).

Good Morning! Today, I am excited to share a guest post from my friend Elizabeth Giger. I met Elizabeth at Eastview Christian Church through music ministry. A few weeks ago she shared a devotion that moved my heart and stirred my soul. She spoke a truth that I needed to hear that day!  When I asked her to write a guest post for Bible Journal, she graciously agreed.  I hope you enjoy her beautiful post and I pray you are moved by the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Reading: James 3

Our words have power.

It was so from the beginning.

The Word spoke and it was done. The Word breathed and life was bestowed.

We are created and we have His image and like our Father, our words make things happen.

Just as His words go out and do not return empty, we cannot throw heedless words to the wind. Just as all He speaks has deliberation and purpose, so should we have careful thought bolstering what we say. So should we speak with wisdom, with peace.

Too often we talk, we rant, we fill up the air with our words. And our words are not of grace.

When we who pray the Lord’s Prayer also write ugly in online spaces, when we who sing of God’s love also snip at our family at home, when we who praise His servant-love also speak short and proud to those who serve us,we pump poison into our world.

We forget that those on the receiving end of our arrows are just as beloved as we. When truth is forgotten, we who are called to reign and serve, to glorify and praise, we set the name of our King afire in the eyes of this world.

Words exist for a different purpose.

God’s Word created man. He created man and then God’s Word became a man. He put on flesh and dwelt among us.

The Word incarnate.

The Word came so that the incarnation can continue, so that our lives can become incarnate, the whole of life an incarnation of the Word.

The Word came to be wisdom and peace, and that is what we should speak into our world, with our mouths and with our lives, into this space we are given to influence.

So speak with wisdom and with peace rather than with poison and with fire.

Our harvest of righteousness is waiting.

Art credits: Holy Night by Antonio da Correggio; Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Jan Vermeer; all other photos copyright by Made Sacred 2017

Today’s guest post is by Elizabeth Giger who writes weekly on her blog, Made Sacred  (madesacred.com).

 

Today’s reading is Heb 12/Ps 20

Discipline is Loving?

Heb 12 is so full of powerful and meaningful messages, I am having a hard time deciding what to focus on today. The first few verses seem to be taught often and memorized by many that have grown up in a church.  I would guess because the writer is so clear in giving instructions to help us continue to grow in our faith. Strip off the weight that slows us down, especially sin, so we can run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Him. Then in verses 3 and 4, we get a bit of more specific help that is not talked about or quoted quite as much as vs1-2. vs3-”Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. vs4-After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.”  So if you are feeling tired in your “race” right now, think of how Jesus was treated and then killed and maybe your struggles don’t seem quite so severe. It is a very sad and difficult way to be encouraged, but it actually does help. When we take our focus off of our own struggles and think on far harder and more unfair circumstances than our own, our difficulties seem smaller than they felt before we considered Jesus. It changes our mindset enough to help us have the grit to continue striving for what we are aiming at.

Next we move into a section of verses dealing with God’s discipline. I’m pretty sure that it’s not news to any of us that discipline is painful and unpleasant. Why does something have to be painful or unpleasant for us to learn from it? Discipline doesn’t sound very loving so why does God choose to use it? Below are several reasons God brought to mind to help me see His love and protection in discipline.

*We are stubborn and strong willed people who don’t very often learn well from others mistakes. Most of the time we need to live through a situation to actually own the lesson.

*God uses discipline to set us on the proper path. We very rarely wander on our own to the best things for us. We prefer the easier path with less friction. God is trying to train us in His right way of living because He cares for us.

*God wants us to be more like Him so he uses discipline to shape us and change us. We will usually choose the simplest and most pleasant path possible which leaves us very much the same as when we started…selfish. God’s discipline is always intended to direct us to greater holiness. Holiness is about making God bigger, not ourselves.

*Sometimes God uses discipline to turn us away from harm. We are so narrow minded and self centered that sometimes God has to use discipline to get us to look outside of ourselves and see a bigger picture. We forget that His view is so much broader than ours and that He knows more than we do. I think we often miss seeing things He is protecting us from because we can’t see past the end of our own noses.

Last, I couldn’t help but wonder what benefit or up-side there is for God in disciplining me. The answer, I think is none. There is no benefit for Him. The only motivation for Him investing in me is His love for me. It takes more of His time and energy to teach me a needed character trait or a new attitude, but because His love is so much bigger than I can understand, He actually WANTS to invest in you and me. Today, I am overwhelmed by His love and desire not only to save my life, but to go beyond rescue, and actually take the time to help me change. Vs 8-If God doesn’t discipline me as He does all of His other children, it means that I am illegitimate and not really one of His at all. My heart is melted today that God wants me to be one of His children. The truth is that I am worth filthy rags to Him without Christ purchasing me, washing me clean and working in my heart to make me more like Him. The Creator of the universe, the One who stops the waves on the shore, the One who calls the sun up every morning, the One who fills my lungs with air,  sees value in my filthy rags, and wants to rescue and change me. “Thank you” is too small. I can not express my gratefulness this morning.