1 Peter 2:19-25
New International Version (NIV)
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
It's strange how some people think that gifts should not be a part of Christmas, there were gifts all around baby Jesus, and He was a gift to the world. Last week I wrote about how we as Christians sometimes suffer, for God has a will, plan, and purpose, and suffering is part of that plan, though, through His strength we can do all things.
In the above scripture we read how Jesus suffered so that we might live, and that it wasn't the suffering, as much as it was about how He responded to it. Jesus, sinless and yet, He accepted their cruelty and pain, knowing that His loving Father was there, and He would never make Him suffer, without a greater good, for He was fulfilling the prophesies.
Jesus is our mentor, our example. We are here to show that our awesome loving God, would never make us suffer unless it was to better the lives of His Children. Our Father wants to work through us, so that we too can be good Shepard's, allowing His love and glory to shine so brightly, that those lost in the dark could come racing back to His loving arms, and those who never knew Him could see the Truth.
If we had a choice to be out on a limb with Jesus or safe in our house without him, where would we choose to be? I know where I'd be headed. We all have crossroads we come upon throughout our journey. At some of those forks in the road the choice was simple, while at others, not so much.
The great thing is, because Jesus walked as we walk, He knows what confusion, temptation, dilemma's, and pain we face; and therefore, since as believers we know He walked the walk, and that the power of God lives on the inside of us, all He asks of us, is to keep our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls on that fact. When we do that, it allows Him to use our bodies to shine His light and truth for all those who need see and hear. We are His vehicle on earth, as He sits at the right hand of the Father, we the believers are the body of Christ here on earth.
He left the Holy Spirit to guide us so we, His children, can fulfill the will, plan, and purpose He has for His one body. When we follow His path at that fork in the road than the consequences are on God. I say, a BIG amen to that.
Unfortunately, if we come to the fork in the road, and having read and know God's will, decide to go ahead and do it our way and see what happens; well now we are responsible for the consequences. Sometimes they are short term lessons, and sometimes they become a lifelong change. Are we willing to go for temporary fulfillment, over Eternal blessings? As a believer, we will lose the blessing He had planned for that obedience, as a non-believer that choice will add more punishment to their forever.
We all have a forever. Will yours be with The loving Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit in forever love and joy? Or will it be in the pit of hell that was created for Satan and his angels that chose him over God?
May this Christmas encourage you to be a gift for God, by sharing you're testimony and witnessing to at least one person who may have lost their way, or have never had the opportunity to hear about our awesome Savior.
I pray you and your families have a safe and loving Christmas filled with the joy, of not only our Saviors birth, but for His loving walk and sacrifice, for because of His fulfillment of the scriptures, we received Him, our greatest gift, and God's Grace made possible through His suffering and death on the cross. I lift this and all petitions up in the blood and name of our Savior Jesus Christ amen
I pray the below poem from my upcoming book, " Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" will inspire the rest of your week. Love, hugs and prayers Patricia xoxox
It's strange how some people think that gifts should not be a part of Christmas, there were gifts all around baby Jesus, and He was a gift to the world. Last week I wrote about how we as Christians sometimes suffer, for God has a will, plan, and purpose, and suffering is part of that plan, though, through His strength we can do all things.
In the above scripture we read how Jesus suffered so that we might live, and that it wasn't the suffering, as much as it was about how He responded to it. Jesus, sinless and yet, He accepted their cruelty and pain, knowing that His loving Father was there, and He would never make Him suffer, without a greater good, for He was fulfilling the prophesies.
Jesus is our mentor, our example. We are here to show that our awesome loving God, would never make us suffer unless it was to better the lives of His Children. Our Father wants to work through us, so that we too can be good Shepard's, allowing His love and glory to shine so brightly, that those lost in the dark could come racing back to His loving arms, and those who never knew Him could see the Truth.
If we had a choice to be out on a limb with Jesus or safe in our house without him, where would we choose to be? I know where I'd be headed. We all have crossroads we come upon throughout our journey. At some of those forks in the road the choice was simple, while at others, not so much.
The great thing is, because Jesus walked as we walk, He knows what confusion, temptation, dilemma's, and pain we face; and therefore, since as believers we know He walked the walk, and that the power of God lives on the inside of us, all He asks of us, is to keep our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls on that fact. When we do that, it allows Him to use our bodies to shine His light and truth for all those who need see and hear. We are His vehicle on earth, as He sits at the right hand of the Father, we the believers are the body of Christ here on earth.
He left the Holy Spirit to guide us so we, His children, can fulfill the will, plan, and purpose He has for His one body. When we follow His path at that fork in the road than the consequences are on God. I say, a BIG amen to that.
Unfortunately, if we come to the fork in the road, and having read and know God's will, decide to go ahead and do it our way and see what happens; well now we are responsible for the consequences. Sometimes they are short term lessons, and sometimes they become a lifelong change. Are we willing to go for temporary fulfillment, over Eternal blessings? As a believer, we will lose the blessing He had planned for that obedience, as a non-believer that choice will add more punishment to their forever.
We all have a forever. Will yours be with The loving Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit in forever love and joy? Or will it be in the pit of hell that was created for Satan and his angels that chose him over God?
May this Christmas encourage you to be a gift for God, by sharing you're testimony and witnessing to at least one person who may have lost their way, or have never had the opportunity to hear about our awesome Savior.
I pray you and your families have a safe and loving Christmas filled with the joy, of not only our Saviors birth, but for His loving walk and sacrifice, for because of His fulfillment of the scriptures, we received Him, our greatest gift, and God's Grace made possible through His suffering and death on the cross. I lift this and all petitions up in the blood and name of our Savior Jesus Christ amen
I pray the below poem from my upcoming book, " Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" will inspire the rest of your week. Love, hugs and prayers Patricia xoxox
The Forever Gift
If only we would listen,
to the voice that speaks within,
our lives would be much easier,
as He washes away all sin.
And not just the ones we know about,
but the one's we've yet to do,
for the Heavenly Father knows us all,
and wants to help us through.
The open gates that await us all,
who know Jesus is our king,
and the love, joy, and glory,
this forever gift will bring.....
Patricia VanDenburg
12/18/13
No comments:
Post a Comment