Burunche’s Blog

2 Peter 2:1-2 “Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.”

There is an old Hollywood film called “Gaslight.” The story takes place at a time when houses were lit with gas lights rather than electricity. A wicked husband wants to drive his wife crazy so that he will have the chance to have her committed as insane and will have grounds to divorce her. The husband keeps gradually turning down the lights in the house and then denies that there is anything wrong when the wife complains.

What does this film have to do with Scripture? In this passage, Peter is not warning that false prophets MIGHT show up; he is guaranteeing that they WILL show up! Turn on the television to certain channels, and you will find an unending stream of self – styled prophets making all kinds of promises. Ostensibly, these people are Christians; however, much of the time they are preaching themselves far more than they are preaching Christ. The theology being preached generally stresses the wonder – working abilities of the prophet and employs Scripture only as a prop.

How can you deceive people? Just check out the tactics Satan used in the garden of Eden. Satan didn’t come in right away and advise Eve that she should rebel against God. Instead, Satan began by asking leading questions – “Did God really say You must not eat of any tree in the garden?’” gradually moving Eve’s mind further and further away from the truth. Finally, Eve chose to accept the idea that God really hadn’t meant what He said and anyway, the forbidden fruit was “good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.”

Notice some things about these false prophets:

1. They might begin as Christians but somewhere along the line, they begin to twist the Gospel to suit themselves.’

2. They secretly introduce heresies. Just as Satan did with Eve, false prophets begin by putting forth what seem like innocent propositions. But as the line of reasoning gradually develops, unwary listeners may find themselves being led further and further away from the truth.

3. Many people may fall prey to false prophets and this will give true Christianity a bad name. Years ago, there was a popular movement in evangelical churches called the “shepherding movement.” In the beginning, this movement probably was innocent and there were a number of popular Christian pastors who became part of this movement. But as things progressed, the movement devolved into a situation in which spiritual overseers were dictating every aspect of the members’ lives. Some overseers were also extorting money from those under their care. Many sincere pastors eventually recognized the danger of this movement, left the movement, and spoke out. Eventually most of the groups originally in the shepherding movement found far healthier groups with which to associate. Sadly, though, there were many people who were deeply wounded by the tyrannical behavior of some shepherds. Some of these people were able to find new church affiliations; however, others completely repudiated Christianity altogether.

How can you protect yourself from false prophets? Study Scripture for yourself. Before you begin to read the Bible, you can pray the prayer from Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” God loves to answer that prayer! If you ask God to help you to see His truth, He will gladly help you. Jesus said of himself that he was the light of the world. The apostle John wrote that “In him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank you that you ARE the one true light! Please help all of us to study your word and to learn your truths for ourselves. Open our eyes that we might see wonderful things from your law. And help all who read these words to truly know you as Savior and Lord and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. In your mighty and precious Name, Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 1:19 – 21 “We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

This might be one of the most beautiful statements in Scripture apart from the Psalms. Remember that Peter is writing to a mixed group; some of his readers are Jewish believers while others have no prior knowledge of the prophetic scriptures at all. This is why Peter wants to point everyone in the same direction.

If you have never delved into the prophetic parts of the Bible, you have deprived yourself of an incredible blessing! For one thing, the prophets told the truth without sugar coating. If God told the prophet Nahum that Assyria was going to be overthrown, Nahum described it in vivid language. When God told Jeremiah to warn the Jews that they needed to repent or they would be carried away captive, Jeremiah did it, even though he nearly died several times. Once you realize how much the prophets suffered, you realize that nobody in his right mind would just sit down to make that stuff up!

Many of the prophets didn’t even want to be prophets in the first place. When God informed Jeremiah that He had chosen Jeremiah to be a prophet, Jeremiah protested that he was only a child and he did not know how to speak. The prophet Isaiah had a vision of the Lord in the temple that literally left him speechless as he realized that he was a man of “unclean lips.” When confronted as to his authority, the prophet Amos informed those questioning him that “I was not a prophet, nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ (Amos 7:14-15)

But at the same time that God was using the prophets to warn His people, He was also giving them some of the most encouraging and stirring passages ever written. Here are just a few of the most comforting passages in Bible prophecy:

Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He never grows faint or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not faint.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”

If you look up these promises, read the context in which they were given. There is far more than a short devotional can possibly cover.

PRAYER: Father God, help us to study your promises and to realize that they are for us as well as for the people for whom they were originally given. Lord, please let your day dawn and let your morning star rise and shine in our hearts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Peter 1:16 – 18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

Peter wants to make sure that those reading this letter understand that this is first – hand information. These days the media generally is full of misinformation. Truth is difficult to come by, and fully reliable sources of truth are very scarce. Things were no different in Peter’s day. All you had to do to get rumors was to go down to the market and sit with one of the venders. Sooner or later, you could hear just about anything; and those recounting the stories would swear that they were telling the truth. Then there were all the fables surrounding the Roman and Greek gods, plus all the other pagan beliefs circulating. Social media may have changed over the years, but human nature has not.

Many years ago, there was a popular television program called “To Tell the Truth” that tested the viewers’ abilities to determine when someone was lying. Three different people would present themselves, each one claiming to be the same person with particular skills, attributes, or accomplishments. A panel of famous personalities would interview these three people, and then vote on the individual they thought was actually telling the truth. It was entertaining but also surprising how many times even this panel of “experts” found themselves deceived when the real person bearing that name would finally stand up.

Peter, James, and John were the three disciples Jesus took with him to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. These three men actually heard the voice of God affirming that Jesus was His Son in whom He was well pleased. Peter was an eye witness to Jesus’ teachings, his miracles, his trial, and his death and resurrection. Peter was one of the disciples Jesus sent out to preach about the coming Kingdom and to heal and to do miracles. By the time Peter was writing this letter, he had also experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. It was Peter whose very shadow could heal those upon whom it fell.

It is fascinating to realize that this is one of the few times Peter actually mentions his credentials as a disciple. Although Peter might have started out as a brash outspoken fisherman, the years have taught him a great deal. And of course, then there is the matter of crowing roosters we mentioned a few days ago. No, Peter has learned to be humble. And yet…. Peter wants to establish his credentials now. Why?

Remember, Peter is standing on the brink of eternity and he realizes it! Peter has no time to be vague; he wants to make sure that anyone reading this letter knows that what he is saying is true. And we should be grateful for his plain speaking.

What truths are you clinging to today? What is the foundation on which you are building your life? If you are trusting in anything that is not eternally true, then you are as foolish as the man who built his house on the sand in a flood plain. Ask God to show you His truth. You will never regret it.

PRAYER: Father God, please help all who read this devotional to seek your truth for themselves. Thank you for faithful witnesses like Peter, who have gone before us and who can testify to your majesty, your power, your glory, and your holiness. Let your truth permeate our minds and hearts. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Peter 1:10 – 15 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body, since I know that it will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.”

Now Peter is really looking over his shoulder! You can almost hear the tramping of feet as the Roman soldiers come to arrest him. Peter knows that his time is short, and he is trying as much as he can to stress the teaching he has just given on the building of Christian character.

Traditionally, if someone was moral and upright, they were said to have a good character and this was an admirable trait. Popular culture these days seems rather to reward the bizarre, the profane, the shocking, and the dissolute rather than moral rectitude. But here’s the interesting thing: when a crisis comes, people still naturally gravitate to someone who is of a good character rather than those who are only posturing.

On the other hand, someone who is said to be “a character, is generally a person who behaves in a joking fashion or someone who is always trying to do things a little differently. Some people are said to be characters because they fail to fulfill society’s expectations – for example, someone who becomes a hermit in the woods. Others adopt exaggerated forms of dress or makeup in a bid for attention. But there’s a big difference between “being a character” and having a good character.

When I was growing up on an Illinois farm, my dad was fond of assigning tasks that he claimed would build character. Most of the time, these jobs were difficult and sometimes unpleasant. Chopping frozen silage out of a pit silo on a morning when the temperatures was shivering from the cold and the prairie wind was whipping out of the northwest was one of those character – building activities. At the time, I failed to appreciate the finer points of character building; however, as an adult, I remain deeply grateful for every nasty chore I ever did. Dad was right; those chores did build character. I learned that work done under difficult conditions had its own rewards and that it was worth the discomfort.

Being a person of character demands that you continually gauge yourself. The Bible Proverbs 4:23 says “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” This does not mean that we must be engaged in unhealthy self obsessions; however, we must be careful to make sure that we do not needlessly expose ourselves to influences that will pollute our hearts and our minds. We should make time to study God’s Word, to memorize God’s Word, and to meditate on God’s Word. The more we focus on God’s Word, the less we will focus on ourselves and our desires and the more capacity we should have to care for others. Today, ask yourself this: am I merely a character, or am I building character?

PRAYER; Father God, please help us to concentrate on building character and not on being characters. Help us to grow to become fit children of your Kingdom. Thank you for your Word that enlightens, strengthens and guides us. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 1:5 – 9 ”For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, 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 and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

ISN’T FAITH ENOUGH???

WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE IF WE HAVE FAITH?

Remember, Peter knows that the sand is running through the hour glass and that he has very little time left. Given that pressure, Peter is compressing the lessons of his lifetime into short pithy phrases.

Peter’ answer to the question of “Isn’t faith enough?” would be another question: enough for what? Both James and Peter don’t think much of someone who piously sits around believing but whose beliefs have no effect on their lives. Remember, Peter is a fisherman, and fishermen believe in getting results. If you don’t have a catch to sell at the end of the night, all your efforts have been worthless. It would be a mistake to think that Peter was merely throwing out a list of virtues without having a specific order in mind. Let’s look at the list Peter has given.

1. Virtue” What is virtue? Virtue (Latin: virtus) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. (Wikepedia)These days there is very little emphasis on being virtuous; however, it is ironic that those who wish to behave in an unvirtuous fashion are counting on everybody else to behave virtuously! Nonetheless, a faith worth having should find its expression in moral excellence.

2. Knowledge – Someone who is knowledgeable is acquainted with facts, truths, and principals. Notice that nothing is said about fads or rumors. Someone who is morally good should also know what is true and what is not, and what are fundmental principals.

3. Self control – “Self-control is listed in the Bible as one of the Fruits of the Spirit – a sign that Christ is in us. If we let our desires lead our decisions, our lives (and our bodies) can quickly spin out of control. Self-control is a discipline that God grows in us when we continually choose to die to our flesh and live in Him. (Fifteen Bible verses on Self Control at soveryblessed.com) Ever encounter someone who knows a lot but who is obnoxious about how much he knows? Or have you encountered someone who is obnoxiously virtuous, so perfect that you just want to hit them? A believer who has self control knows that he or she has no need of showing off; to do so would dishonor Christ.

4. Perseverance -“continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness.” (www.merriam-websterlcom) If we are truly going to live out our Christian faith and not merely be “stained glass window Christians” who look good but who don’t do anything, we must have perseverance. Anybody who thinks a walk of faith is easy has never tried it!

5. Godliness – “Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/godly-godliness) As we persevere, we must have a goal towards which we are working, and godliness is that goal. People who had the opportunity to meet Mother Teresa were always impressed. Why? What was there about this tiny Albanian nun that made such an impression on world leaders? If you see Mother Teresa’s photos, you know that she was not particularly beautiful. But Mother Teresa spent a great deal of time in prayer communing with God, and that godliness was what attracted people from all walks of life to her.

6. Brotherly kindness – “Our God sets the example for us. Jesus says in John 5:17, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” We are driven by self-concern, and all too often, that concern degenerates into greed. That desire, however, must be overcome. We are to become like God. He is a Creator, and He works. A major characteristic of His Kingdom is that it is a producing, working, creating Family that sacrifices itself to give and to share.” (https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/5816/Brotherly-Kindness.htm)

7. Love – Why, if Peter has already spoken about brotherly kindness, does he feel the need to list love separately? Kindness requires one kind of aff”ection; however, true love demands a totally different level of commitment. Love is the highest expression of our faith and actually depends on all of these other graces for it to be able to work effectively. Christians have a phrase “sloppy agape.” This phrase can refer to people who claim to follow Jesus but whose main expression of their faith is limited to emotional outbursts without the steady progression described by Peter. Jesus had very little time for sloppy agape! When one would – be follower approached him, Jesus advised him that foxs had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but the Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head. (Luke 9:57-62) Another time, Jesus confronted a rich young ruler who claimed he wanted to become a disciple.  Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)

There are no easy shortcuts to Christian character and none of us can say that he or she has arrived completely until we join Jesus in heaven. But is the struggle worth it? Absolutely! For as we grow in knowledge and in grace, so does our peace with God. And that peace is worth giving up everything else, if we can only possess it.

PRAYER: Father God, help everyone who reads this devotional to be drawn to you. You know their needs, their hurts, their hopes, and the desires of their hearts. Lord, hear their prayers and let them truly know you as Savior and Lord and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Peter 1:1 – 4 “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (goodness.) Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

SIMON PETER IS BACK! And he’s looking over his shoulder, conscious that his time is even shorter now than it was when he wrote his first letter. One of the things that is remarkable about the opening greeting in this letter is Peter’s humility. Please remember, Peter was one of the original disciples. Peter was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter was in the Upper Room. On the day of Pentecost when the fire of the Holy Spirit fell, Peter was the one who preached and 3,000 people believed on Jesus Christ because of Peter’s message. If ANYBODY has the right to swagger a little, Peter definitely qualifies…… and yet…. Peter doesn’t.

Here Peter only mentions in passing that he is a “servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.” Having established his credentials, Peter then goes on to affirm that all other believers who have received the same faith that he has are equal in that faith. There are no second class citizens here. Long ago Peter got over feeling that he was special. Don’t you think that any time Peter heard a rooster crow, he would remember that terrible night when he denied knowing Jesus three times? God has a great sense of humor, and I suspect that for the rest of Peter’s life, God would have roosters crowing at just the right time to keep Peter truly humble! Can’t you just imagine it?

Peter, “Well, when I was in Jerusalem at Pentecost…” (Rooster crows,“Ur oo ur oo ooooo!”) Peter, blushing,“Um, well, never mind.”

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Peter is not only pronouncing a blessing here, but he is also stating a fundamental truth. The more we learn about God and Jesus His Son, the more we study God’s word and let it soak into our hearts, the more grace and peace we should experience in our lives. Does this mean life will become easier? Are you kidding? Generally, Satan attacks more viciously as he sees Christians growing in their faith. But God is able to give believers everything they need to withstand these attacks. That is why Peter says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (goodness.) Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

God rewards those who seek Him and they will never be turned away empty – handed. However, these rewards are not monetary but something far better; these rewards are spiritual treasures that can never be stolen. There is a reason that many Christians carry lists of God’s promises or memorize God’s promises. The more we study and memorize and soak our minds and spirits in these promises, the more peace we will have in our hearts.

In the devotional Hope for Each Day Billy Graham tells a story that illustrates the effect of these promises on our lives. “Years ago when I traveled to Europe to preach, I liked to travel by sea. I enjoyed the five days of relative quiet on the ship. On one of my voyages, Captain Anderson of the United States took me down to see the ship’s gyroscope. He said “when the sea is rough, the gyroscope helps keep the ship on an even keel. Though the waves may reach tremendous proportions, the gyroscope helps stabilize the vessel and maintain a high degree of equilibrium.” When we meditate on God’s promises, those promises will act like a spiritual gyroscope, keeping us on an even keel no matter what.

This morning, why not find just one promises in the Bible that really speaks to you and memorize it? I promise you will be glad that you did.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your promises! Thank you that once you say something, you never change your mind. Thank you that your promises are true and that we can count on them, no matter what. Help us to truly put our trust in you. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 5:12 – 14 “Through Silvanus (Silas), whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. The church in Babylon, (Rome) chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

Peter is winding up this first letter. Now we know that Peter will have the chance to write a second letter; however, Peter does not. At this point, Emperor Nero has come into power and is behaving more bizarrely each day. There are rumors of Christians being persecuted. The fledgling church is coming under attack. Peter likely feels that he is standing on the brink of eternity, with no idea how much time he has left to teach and encourage believers. And it is against this setting that Peter is closing this letter with these remarks.

1. Peter emphasizes that he has sent this letter by a faithful brother, possibly Silas. Peter wants those reading the letter to realize that this is not a fake message. Peter has a sense of urgency to instruct believers while he has the chance.

2. Peter himself has no idea how much time he has left before the Romans gather him up to kill him. Under such circumstances, this old fisherman is speaking plainly: he has communicated the message God has given him as well as he possibly can. Those reading this letter should accept it as coming from God, take it to heart, and use it to build themselves up in the faith.

3. Peter wants those reading this letter to realize that they are part of a wider community, even though they might be a minority in the particular city or town where they are currently living. Why have Zoom meetings become so popular during COVID – 19? We all need to feel connected.

4. Peter wants to emphasize that those who believe have been set apart by God and are therefore chosen and favored by God, no matter how terrible things might become.

5. Peter is speaking a blessing of peace over all believers who are following Christ Jesus. Blessings were taken very seriously in Peter’s day and this was the verbal equivalent of a hug.

Many cultures place a great deal of emphasis on saying proper good – byes. We have spent most of the last 32 years in Ghana, West Africa. Here transportation can be uncertain and fatal road traffic accidents are common. Not only are good – byes important, but it is also considered appropriate to notify friends when you have safely reached your destination. We just returned from a trip of several hundred miles to Accra, Ghana’s capital. Once we reached our home in the North safely, we called friends whom we had visited during the trip, as well as friends in our town who were anxiously waiting for our return. We needed to assure everyone involved that their prayers and efforts on our behalf were successful.

I’ve told the story elsewhere, but it’s worth re-telling. Near my home town of Altona, Illinois, lived an older farm couple. One rainy morning the husband returned from doing farm chores and tracked mud onto his wife’s freshly mopped kitchen floor. The wife fussed at her husband, and he gave her some kind of joking answer and left for Altona. Unfortunately, the warning lights at a train crossing in Altona were faulty, and the husband was struck and killed when a speeding train hit his pickup. For the rest of her life, that poor woman had to live with the knowledge that the last thing she said to her beloved husband of more than 50 years was to fuss at him about his muddy boots.

The Ashantis say “Nkwa hia,” “life is precious.” None of us have any control over the length of our lives. And this is precisely why Peter’s remarks at the end of this letter are worthwhile noticing. Peter is giving us an example. Today, while you still have the chance, write that message, send that card, make that phone call! If there is someone with whom you have a problem, do everything you can to bring it to a peaceful and blessed solution. And forgive while you can! You will never regret it.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for all the small parts of our lives. Help us to be as careful in these areas as we are with bigger matters. And Lord, help us to demonstrate love and concern and compassion to all those around us while we have the chance. Let us forgive and let go, but above all, Lord, help us to love as you do. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10 – 11 “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure (confirm) you, strengthen you, and establish you. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen. “

As I am writing this, riots and demonstrations have shredded many neighborhoods throughout America. Many have lost homes, businesses, and sometimes even their lives. Many more are appalled by the filth they are seeing in entertainment or on social media. America seems to be awash in a satanic onslaught! Where is God in all of this?

Well, God is still where He always has been, still on the throne of the universe. God is not running around wringing His hands and wondering how He is going to deal with all this mess. God has perfect peaceful solutions, but it takes people who are willing to stand for righteousness to carry out those solutions and to be people of peace at the same time. Being a person of peace is a guarantee that sooner or later, someone will be offended by your refusal to fight back.

Standing for righteousness is a risky business. Sometimes it might cost far more than we anticipated. But all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for men of good will to do nothing. We must speak out and we must pray. But is all of this new? No.

Consider the ancient city of Corinth. Corinth was located on an isthmus between two major bodies of water and was a major trading port. Everything was available in Corinth, including every kind of sin imaginable. Slavery, child prostitution, sex trafficking, drugs, alcohol… it was all there in Corinth. And yet, there were Jesus followers in Corinth who were willing to stand up for their beliefs and suffer the consequences.

Christians in some parts of the world have always suffered. Consider Sudan, where some Christians were even crucified, Nigeria, India, and other areas. Jesus even referred to this that last night he spent with his disciples. John 15:18 – 20 records Jesus’ warning: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well…”

The good news in the midst of this is that we will not always suffer. The God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ has promised that He Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. What do we mean when we say that God is gracious? We mean that God is forgiving and that He blesses us, even though we don’t deserve it. WHY does God do this? Because of the blood sacrifice Jesus made of Himself on the cross at Calvary. It is the glory of God that He was willing to allow His only Son to make that sacrifice, and that glory is eternal because nothing can ever damage it or cause it to fail or to fade away.

There are all kinds of cynical proverbs about promises and those who make them, but God is a faithful Promise Keeper. God never goes back on His Word. So if God is promising to restore us, to confirm us as His children, to strengthen us and to establish us, He will do exactly what He has promised. But we must realize that this process may go on both in this life and in the next. There are poor villagers in Northern Nigeria who have been slaughtered in their churches for their faith. But we are only seeing the sad part of their story and not the restoration.

The Great Restoration is described in Revelations 7:15 – 17 “They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

While we are coping with daily problems, it is tough to realize that we all actually inhabit eternity and that our daily decisions have eternal implications. But one day we will stand before Jesus. None of us is righteous enough to earn our way into heaven, no matter how much we have sacrificed or suffered. But if we accept what Jesus has done for us in shedding His blood to take away our sins, we will be accepted into heaven and restoration will begin, a restoration that will last for eternity.

PRAYER: Father God, help those who read this devotional to seek you and find you. And let them truly know the joy of knowing and loving you. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1Peter 5:8 – 9 “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”

I have horrible news! THERE IS AN ENEMY OUT THERE AND WE ARE ALL TARGETS! To make matters even worse, we were born as targets, targets for attacks by Satan.

Jesus told his disciples that he saw Satan fall from heaven “like lightning.” What caused Satan to be cast out of heaven? Pride! Arrogance! Believing that he was equal with God when he wasn’t. What opens us up to Satanic attacks? Pride, arrogance, and believing that we can be our own gods.

All this time that Peter has been stressing on humility, he has been aiming toward this one point. If we humble ourselves and follow the Lord, He will protect us. But we must realize that Satan is out there just waiting to catch us off – guard.

Several years ago, we were friends with a pastor who was kind, loving, an excellent teacher, and a caring shepherd of his members. But one day while cruising the internet, our friend accidentally landed on a pornographic web site. Instead of putting controls on his computer and getting out of that website as fast as possible, our frined stayed and watched…..and eventually found himself addicted to online pornography. Through the love and care and support of his family, he was eventually able to beat this horrible addiction, but in the meantime, he had developed the cancer that eventually killed him. One question that cannot be answered is this: did the addiction to online pornography weaken our friend’s immune system so that he was more susceptible to developing cancer? St. John wrote in 3John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.”

We need humility to protect ourselves! Sometimes our very virtues can become failings if we are not careful or if we trust ourselves too much. Remember that Peter told Jesus that he, Peter, would never desert Jesus; yet, only a few hours later, he denied knowing Jesus three times. If we trust in ourselves and pride ourselves on certain virtues, those are the very things that may trip us up.

When Peter advises us to be watchful, he means that we should watch ourselves, not others. Many people are more than ready to correct others while they are blind to their own failings and shortcomings. And sometimes priding yourself on how humble you are can also become an inverted form of self – worship that leaves you open to spiritual attack.

How can we resist the devil? First of all, if you find yourself in a place of temptation, LEAVE! Temptations are not to be played with. Second, when the temptation is mental, the best thing to do is to call on the Name of Jesus and ask Jesus for help. The hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” puts it well: Have we trials and temptations, cumbered with a load of care? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.” There is power in the Name of Jesus. When we believe in Jesus and trust Jesus, we have access to that power. When we are tempted or assaulted, we can call on the Name of Jesus and He will help us.

We must realize that our brothers throughout the world are also suffering and that many of them are suffering far more than we are. Temptations and trials should cause us to have pity on others and to pray for them, not just to focus on our own problems. Praying for others not only puts things in perspective but also helps lift our burdens.

Finally, we must realize who Jesus really is. Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord of everything. Jesus is the Supreme Commander of the Angel Host, the Lion of Judah. We are not calling on some wimpy stained glass image but on the One who holds the keys to hell, death, the grave, and eternity. Call on the Name of Jesus. He will never disappoint or fail you.

And finally, this is my prayer for all who are reading this devotional:

Jude 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity.” Amen!

AUGUST 30, 2020

1 Peter 5: 6 – 7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

As I am writing this, Hurricane Laura has just passed over the Gulf Coast. Some parts of Louisiana have seen a great deal of destruction. Years ago, we lived in New Orleans while I was doing my Master’s degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. We actually lived on the West Bank, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans and only 4 blocks from the levee that kept the Mississippi from overflowing the entire area in which we were living. It was shocking to look west and see large ocean – going ships majestically moving up the river with their superstructures stretching higher than the houses below the levee. To be in New Orleans when a hurricane threatens is truly to know fear! You will have to travel east over causeways or west over causeways or north across Lake Ponchartrain over ….guess what? A causeway! And these causeways stretch for miles over swamps, streams, and lakes. Our escape plan was simple: if we were threatened, we planned to go north into Mississippi as quickly as possible.

Interesting enough, despite the fact that a break in the levee would have flooded our ground floor apartment completely, we actually lived without fear. Why? We believed that God had brought us to New Orleans, that God had opened up the chance to rent this apartment, and that God was going to take care of us. We literally had to cast our anxiety on God, but we did and God did take care of us completely.

Here Peter is continuing his theme about the need for personal humility. If we are puffed up with pride, God can’t exalt us because our pride will block him from doing so. The only way we can qualify for God to exalt us is if we acknowledge Him as God and humble ourselves before Him, worshiping Him and trusting Him.

How can we possibly know what God might have planned for us? We might have some very small while God has something much bigger in mind. Mary McLeod Bethune was born to former slaves in South Carolina in 1875 and began working in the fields at age 5. But Mary was a woman of great faith. Before her death in 1955, she had risen to become the founder of a college and a college president, a civil rights leader, a member of the “Black Cabinet” for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and an inspiration to millions. Nobody looking at that 5 year old little girl in a cotton field could possibly have predicted what she would become….but God knew.

We all need to take a close look at ourselves. Are we relying on ourselves, or are we trusting in God? Are we strutting around all puffed up, or are we willing to remain humble? Are we trying to dictate to God what He should do with our lives, or are we willing to trust that He can do magnificent things. Mary McLeod Bethune’s example should point the way. Humble yourself and God will exalt you.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that your plans for us are far more wonderful than anything we can possibly imagine. Thank you that you are truly sovereign and that you know all, see all, and love us in spite of ourselves. Help us to humble ourselves and to trust you. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.