Fully Receiving Hope

 

Fully Receiving Hope

1 Peter 1: From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ—

To God's chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. ² You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.

 

May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

 

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Shopping for groceries in the new town was something I had to get used to. I had to find where this store kept everything. I navigated the aisles and finished up with a lot of groceries, since I was just moving into my apartment. “Would you like help to your car?” was a question I had never heard before. “Sure!” I replied. The bagger loaded my trunk and thanked me for shopping there.

 

• I felt that I received great service.
• I could not believe how friendly people could be.
• I was thankful I received help when I needed it.

 

Peter writes to GOD’s chosen people and wishes them grace and peace in full measure. He did not wish for a little grace and peace, but full and perfect grace and peace. This meant GOD would intervene during the troubles each of them were facing.

 

My Observations:

• Peace can only come from GOD.
• Grace can only come from GOD.
• Grace and peace can happen even when times are difficult.

 

Grace and peace can be elusive. I mean, circumstances continue to pop up that can rob me of my peace. Then I may fall, causing me to feel distant from GOD. BUT GOD sees what I am going through and provides grace and peace.

 

HE not only provides grace but says “MY grace is sufficient.” HIS grace is full, everlasting and perfect. There is no flaw in HIS grace. HE then gives me peace in the middle of the storm. This is perfect peace because it cannot be stolen. I am assured by GOD and I am glad for it.

 

Challenge

• What grace and peace do you think the writer was trying to convey?
• Have you ever received a little grace and peace?
• How did it feel?
• Can you ask GOD for HIS grace and peace today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD please provide this reader with YOUR grace and peace in full measure today? amen

Complete Conviction

Complete Conviction

1 Thessalonians 1: ⁴ Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own. ⁵ For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good. 

 

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“You could be jailed for proselytizing” was the stern warning given to us when entering a certain country. These words were a bit unnerving. About a week into the trip, someone from that country asked me about CHRIST, Do I pass up this opportunity?

 

• I could not pass up the opportunity.
• I had a lot at stake on earth, but more at stake in heaven.
• I had a strange sense of peace that no matter what happened, I was serving GOD.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy at one time, brought the Good News to the people and they accepted CHRIST as their Savior. They brought the message with words, power and the HOLY SPIRIT. But they did not stop there. They brought the Good News with “complete conviction of its truth.”

 

My Observations

• The Good News that JESUS died for my sins and was raised from the dead, just for me is important to tell to others.
• GOD wants me convinced that telling people about JESUS is the right thing to do.
• Each encounter of telling people about the Good News does not have to be confrontational, rather full of HIS power which is centered in love.

 

Love conquers all. I mean when I am convinced that CHRIST is the only answer, I act different. I do not worry about what humans think, say or do. GOD’s message is paramount and should not be stifled. Unfortunately, when I exchanged HIS powerful words for titles humans gave me, I found myself not able to reach people with HIS message, nor did I want to.

 

BUT GOD forgave me and gave me a second and third and fourth chance. HE did not beat me up for withholding HIS Good News, rather HE kept giving me opportunities to mention my beliefs. After a while I took the opportunity. I am glad GOD has given all of us the responsibility of spreading the Good News.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the writers were doing to be examples?
• Have you ever been completely convinced of something, so much so that you tell others about it?
• Will you have that same conviction, if not more, for telling people about JESUS and the Good News of HIS resurrection today?

So Much to Say

So Much to Say

Acts 20: ⁷ On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

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After returning from the day at the amusement park, I was elated. This was my first time visiting the wonderful, fun-filled location. The next day I went over a friend’s house. I had so much to say. Somehow I spoke on the subject for hours because we shared our varied experiences.

• There have been times when I was so excited about something, that I could speak for hours.
• There have been times when I sat with a group of people who were just as excited about the thing I was excited about.
• There have been times when I talked for hours on a subject simply because I was amazed.

Paul was about to leave so a group of people ate with him while he spoke. By now, Paul had been rescued by GOD on many occasions, so he had a lot to say. Eutychus, may have been excited, but was extremely tired.

While tragedy happened when he fell out the window and died, Paul proved the power of GOD by raising him from the dead. The humorous part of the story is Paul now had even more to say.

• GOD wants me to have an abundant life.
• GOD wants me to speak about past experiences I’ve had with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek new experiences with HIM, telling people about JESUS along the way.

Believing in JESUS is a wonderful start to an abundant life. I mean, it is the belief that changed my life into a person who seeks GOD daily. The rotten situations that I go through turn into testimonies of GOD’s power. I have nothing to brag about, only praise for JESUS who gave me purpose.

• Do you have an abundant life with GOD?
• What experiences have you had that people need to hear about?
• Will you tell people about the situations GOD has brought you through so they can do the same with others?

Full of Something

Full of Something

John 14: ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

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“Buying some clothes will make you happy” was one salesperson’s philosophy spoken to me. I went along with it and it did make me feel a little better. “Buying a new car will make you feel better” another salesperson said to me. I bought the car and did feel better.

Eventually the car needed maintenance. Then the cycle repeated. I still owed money on the car. I looked at my elbow and the clothes were getting frayed.

• One time I thought things would make me feel good.
• One time I followed the philosophy of getting more things.
• One time I felt great when I had things and miserable when I did not.

Judas, the believer, asked JESUS “How will you manifest YOURSELF to us and not to the world?” JESUS explains that if a person loves HIM, they would keep HIS Word. By keeping HIS Word, the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT would get excited enough to live inside of the person.

• JESUS made me similar to an empty vessel.
• JESUS wants to fill me up with HIS Word.
• JESUS desires that I open my heart to HIS guidance.

Keeping GOD’s Word is impossible for the world to do. With the emphasis on self and money and power, the world cannot listen to “Love one another.” GOD is not a philosophy, HE is GOD. HIS power, grace and love is beyond any human religion or attitude.

JESUS knows I will fill myself up with something. Will I fill myself up with HIS love and be hated by the world? Yes! Those who are blind will hate HIS love and complain about how HE guides me. I accept GOD’s guidance and will honor HIS home inside me.

• What philosophy are you filling yourself up with?
• Are you seeking GOD’s kingdom daily?
• Will you stop listening to the world for a moment and listen to GOD so HE will guide you today?