For Your Benefit

For Your Benefit

1 Peter 1: ¹⁰ It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ's Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

 

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Collecting information about me and my family, the administrative assistant smiled and went away. Not thinking anything of it, I got back to work. Later I found out that she used the information to provide a special gift for my family.

 

• I was excited!
• I felt great that this was done for us.
• I never thought I could be thought of in a special way.

 

Peter spoke about something very special that was given to mankind through the prophets. The announcement that JESUS would come to save humanity was given to prophets. Some may have felt special and others may not. But it wasn’t for their benefit that the message was given, rather it was for us.

 

My Observations:

• GOD revealed the solution to all of humanity’s problems when HE gave the prophets the prediction of JESUS.
• JESUS fulfilled every prophetic message through the suffering HE endured.
• Even the angels are confounded over the action of JESUS.

 

Love of humans that is so strong that it made JESUS die for us is confusing. I mean, there is not a single human that would give up everything, be blamed for all problems and become the one and only sacrifice to save the world. BUT JESUS did.

 

HE did take on your sin and mine. HE knew HE was the only one who could walk sinless as a human, but remain powerful as GOD. Confusing? Yes it is, but it is this powerful love that you and I benefit from. I am grateful that I am loved deeply by GOD.

 

Challenge

• What revelation did the writer speak of?
• Have you ever wondered why JESUS would do what HE did for you?
• Will you take some time to praise GOD for what HE has done and is doing in your life today?

Generous Benefits

John 4: ³¹ Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

³³ Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵ Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶ Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷ Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

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“Turn them on” were the words I seldomly heard, but they came out of the owners mouth this time. As I saw the lights come on and heard the machines whir, I was filled with excitement. My bowling alley job finally had benefits. I joined in and bowled as much as I wanted to that day, for free!

• I have received some great benefits on various jobs.
• I have been given some wonderful benefits, but I had to work for them.
• I have enjoyed some delightful benefits and sometimes I became more demanding because I thought I “deserved” more.

The disciples tried to get JESUS to eat. Little did they know they were in for a lesson. JESUS introduces them to a different kind of food. This food was to be eaten eternally. HE was speaking of HIS favorite currency, namely people.

• JESUS wants me to go out and bring people back to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to reap HIS harvest where I did not plant the seeds of HIS wisdom.
• JESUS wants me to open my eyes and see someone who may be seeking something and point that something to HIM.

Seeing a plentiful harvest for GOD takes open spiritual eyes. Instead of complaining about “those” people, GOD may want me to pray for them. HE gives me opportunities to reap a harvest every day.

Each person I pass can be prayed for. Some may even stop and listen to the words GOD puts in my mouth at the right time. I am grateful GOD guides me to go get HIS harvest.

• Are you working hard for your “benefits?”
• Are you concerned you do not have any benefits?
• Will you ask GOD to open your spiritual eyes and allow HIM to give you the right words to bring many people to HIS harvest today?