Harmless

2 Peter 2:19b ...for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

The notes in my bible say this about verse 19, if we refuse to follow God, we will follow our own sinful desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want.  If we submit our lives to Christ, he will free us from slavery to sin. 

What has mastered you?  We all fall short and sin and can walk away from it forgiven and content.  But sometimes we have a sin that becomes our master even without realizing it.  We rationalize it, justify it and don’t think it is anything that would harm us.  I guess we need to ask ourselves, what comes between me and my Savior?  What do I crave that I can hardly go on with my day without having?  It may seem harmless, it may not really be a sin in and of itself, but how we use it in our lives, how we allow it to become an “idol” is where we need to take an internal inventory and truly decide if it is a sin that has mastered us.

This is when I praise God for always allowing me to run to Him, He is always there waiting with arms wide open, forgiving and loving us unconditionally.

Who will tell them?

2 Peter  2: 10b ff …those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.  Bold and arrogant, …Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.  They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.  With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed…

Bold and arrogant these people are.  Bold and truthful we can be.  As much as there is corruption in this world, the more we should be bold and truthful in our speech and living.  Divorce is on the rise, pride and arrogance rule people’s lives.  Often people are so easily entangled in the “everybody is doing it so it must be ok” scenario.  As much as our loved ones and fellow friends are enticed into this “world” we need to be bold and truthful with the gospel of Jesus Christ even more.

One Sunday I saw a man I had not seen in a while.  Not knowing him very well, I was shocked at the words coming from my mouth.  On the inside I was saying to myself, that was a little bold Elizabeth I can’t believe I’m saying this.  I was pleasantly surprised by his response and know it was the Holy Spirit speaking through me the very words he needed to hear.

When we ask the Lord to use us and take ourselves out of the situation, it’s amazing what He will do.  Speaking the truth without condemning, loving unconditionally and always looking for ways to be used by our Lord and Savior will bring amazing blessings and indeed change the world.

Stinky or Sweet

2 Peter 1:5-11  …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, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . for if you do these things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

There are times in our lives when life is “stinky” as my good friend texted me while I was sitting at Starbucks this week.  Things happen and we don’t always know how to respond.  Emotions start invading us and we don’t always react in the way we should.  These verses in 2 Peter remind me that no matter what happens we should make every effort to have faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in our lives.   It’s a long list, but having this knowledge will give us the strength and courage to possess the qualities God desires in us. 

Whether life is stinky or sweet, when we keep our noses directed towards Him it sure is comforting to know God will never let us fall.

The Real Deal

2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

Starbucks has the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted, it’s the real deal.  My home recipes don’t compare to the chocolaty goodness of one prepared at Starbucks, nor do any of the other coffee shops I’ve tried.

So often as we live our “godly” lives we make it all about ourselves claiming it’s for God.  Ouch, I’m guilty.  If we try to live a godly life without looking to God for divine power, it will be all about us.  God gives us EVERYTHING we need.  Trusting and believing even when life doesn’t make sense; loving and serving Him unconditionally is “participating in the divine nature”, it’s the real deal.

Thank you Lord, for your glory and goodness you offer to us.  Without your divine power and precious promises we would perish.  

Divine Power

2 Peter 1:3  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

As summer ends and the “new year” begins, we think of all the tasks needed to be done to prepare for the school year.  There is one thing we cannot do ourselves, one thing only God can do, empower us to live a godly life; we just need to be willing. 

Every few months Starbucks puts new signs up and promotes their product in a new way, something fresh to entice their customers and potential new people.  As I spend time with God reading His word, I absolutely love being refreshed and renewed.  Just as the product at Starbucks doesn’t change, God’s Word doesn’t change and His divine power is sure to entice in new and fresh ways no matter how many times it’s read.

So, how are you on the “godly life” scale?  Need a boost of His divine power? Be enticed by His word and be refreshed in His glory and goodness.

Suffering

1 Peter 4: 1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.  As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Suffering is tough.  It’s not something we long for, it’s not something we care to deal with.  When we suffer, often selfishness rises up, often we can’t see past the suffering to our God who saved us.  Sometimes we will do anything to avoid suffering, unfortunately the “anything” includes walking away from the will of God.  Walking through the suffering with God, though painful, keeps us from falling away from Him and the attitude He desires for us.

So, when suffering we have a choice.  We can walk through it with God, following Him faithfully or we can walk alone, avoiding His ways and attempt to be in control.  I’ve tried both ways and walking with God is unquestionably the way to go.  Of course, I would highly recommend an appointment with God  to talk to him, read His word and be “filled”.  When suffering, spending time with God is a must, how can we really walk with Him without spending time in His word, praying and listening.  Get away from the busyness of life, go to a Starbucks, or go to a quiet place and rest in Him.

If We

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed . . . in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. . . keep a clear conscience 1 Peter 3:13-16

We are all human, we are sinners and we make mistakes.  But if we strive to do good, if we suffer for what is right, if we keep a clear conscience, if we ask for forgiveness, we are blessed.  It’s these “if we” statements that can help us get through life focused on Him. 

When you are faced with a difficult situation, if we pray God will listen. When life happens and we want to give up, if we turn to God He will comfort us.  When words are thrown at us and we don’t know how to respond, if we seek God’s counsel and keep a clear conscience God will give us the words to say or the self control to not say anything at all. 

When we make a mistake, if we seek forgiveness, we will be forgiven.  If we look at life through the eyes of Jesus, peace will come.  And if you spend time with God at Starbucks or wherever, He will come and you will be blessed.