The Daily Dose

Silence the ignorance

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—  1 Peter 2:15

This is one of the “God’s will” passages in His Word, so you absolutely know what God’s will is in this situation.  You don’t even have to ask Him or pray “if it is Your will”.  God’s will is for us to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man.  All of them, from kings (president) to governors to police officers.  One of the reasons is that in submitting yourself, you can make ignorance silent.  Wouldn’t that be nice?

You might be thinking “Sure, that was easy for Peter to say.  He didn’t have to deal with the leaders we have today.”  Yes, that is true, but it is also true that the leaders at that time were not only persecuting the Christians he was writing to, but it was also killing them.  It is unimaginable to think that Peter said to submit to these authorities.  Yet he says the rulers are sent to punish evil doers and to praise those who do good.  He goes on saying that if you continue to do good as you are already doing, that will shut up the ignorant attitudes they were up against.

Today I want to encourage you to submit yourself to the governmental authorities.  Consider that they are here for our protection.  Also take time to consider what our world world be like if we didn’t have the government that we do have.  There are no perfect governments or people, but if we all do our part instead of always criticizing and complaining, we will help them to do their part better and silence the ignorance!  Start today by praying for our governmental officials to have wisdom to lead, then submit yourself to them by putting away all wrong attitudes and complaints.  Be thankful that we have the checks and balances in place to keep things from getting out of control and ask God how we can do more to help rather than make things worse.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Let God be Big

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your good works, and they will give glory to God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

So, the LORD showed me something this week about how I was not letting Him be big in my life.  What He showed me was a picture of me carrying Him in my pocket.  He was like my little secret and when I needed help, I would quietly ask for direction to navigate through life’s obstacles.  Then He showed me  how He wants to be big in my life by surrounding me and not just me, but a large area around me so that wherever I go, He takes over the entire place.  His love for all people shows up and completely changes the entire atmosphere.  So, when I go into work each morning, I don’t just walk in with little personal God in my pocket, I walk in with big God that came to take over the place and change lives.  When I go to the store, the same thing and when I go anyplace, big God shows up with me and that’s what everyone around me sees.

I wasn’t sure how this would work and how to make God big when I go places, but today’s verse gives me a starting point.  It says to live my life properly or upright in my neighborhood and wherever I go for that matter.  It says that if it looks like I did something wrong, it won’t stick to me because I do things God’s way and actually have that reputation.  Then it says, God will get the glory.  So really, my part is to do what is right in God’s eyes.  Watch at work not to get caught up in the bad attitudes and complaining, don’t talk the fear and unbelief that the world talks and be kind and generous in all my words and actions. In today’s world kindness and generosity are clear evidence that God is present.  Kindness and generosity are not common in the world’s attitude of having a right to be angry.  Putting away all malice and evil speaking puts a clear separation between us as God’s children and the people far from God.

Today I want to encourage you to let God be big in all areas of your life.  In your neighborhood, work and recreation, let your conduct display the love and compassion of God.  Commit each day to letting Him be big and watch how He shows up wherever you go and completely changes the your surroundings.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:11-12

A Royal Family

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

I am starting to pray this verse for my family and the church (body of believers) as the family of God.  If we ever get a revelation of who we really are in Christ Jesus, this country and world for that matter, would look a lot different.  A chosen generation?  A royal priesthood?  A holy nation and God’s own special people?  We are God’s people and we are special to Him!  He sent Jesus to buy us back from the clutches of the world so we can live life as overcoming children of God just as He originally made us in the beginning at creation.

So why do we still look so much like the world?  We talk like the world, criticizing, and complaining.  We are entertained by the things the world is entertained by and we even eat and drink like the world.  In Exodus we can read about the Israelites being led out of captivity into the wilderness.  But when they got there, they were still practicing some of the wicked ways of the Egyptians (the world).  That’s when God began to teach them how to live above the world’s standard, but time and time again, the nation of Israel continued to fall into their worldly sinful ways and they were forced to pay the consequences as a result of their choices.

So, let’s take a minute to think about being royalty.  What does that even look like?  The only reference I have is from TV or even watching the “royal” family headlines.  However, imagine that you are royalty and how would your life be different and separated from the world?  First of all, royalty almost always has more than enough money.  As far as I can tell they never consider it and definitely are not preoccupied with it.  Money is a tool that gets them the things they need and want in life.  Secondly, they don’t interact a lot with the outside world because of security reasons, and mostly because they don’t do the things that common people do.  Lastly, they have a higher standard of modesty, manners, and education.  Royalty exists for the people, but they live above the public because of their political position.

This scripture says we are a royal priesthood.  What we know about the priesthood in the Old Testament is that they were set apart from the rest of the nation.  They did different things than everyone else, and they were held to a higher standard.  2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”  God calls us out to be different, not because He is trying to keep good things from us that the world has to offer.  On the contrary, His desire is to give us the very best of all He has.  That’s why He gave us Jesus so we could have things like divine protection, health, and direction.  He knows that we can live a better life by not being loaded down with the cares, weights, and distractions that the world has to offer.  In this way we are an example to the world of what being part of God’s family is really like and the joy and peace that is only available by living a separated, child of God life.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your own life.  Take a deep look into your heart to see if there is any part of the world that is holding you captive.  Set a higher standard for yourself to walk out the path of righteousness that God has planned for you and then ask Him for the grace to do it.  Even though God wants the best for us, He will not force it on us.  God gave us the choice.  We can choose the path of the world that is leading to destruction or the path of life leading to blessing.  So, choose God and His ways today. 

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Your choice

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Chosen by God and precious to God!  That’s what each one of God’s children are to Him.  We have been chosen.  Chosen to be His spiritual house, His dwelling place.  A body for Him to live in through His Holy Spirit.  To occupy and form a nation of God filled people.  God inhabited people.  This is hard to get my head around and definitely requires faith to grasp.  God wants His people to be full of Him so that He can have an entire group/nation/military of God filled people.  Right here and now in this life.  This is why the passage says being built up into a spiritual house.  It’s happening right now.

Now I’m not saying we are God possessed, we do have a choice.  We have a choice to work with Him and be a part of His miraculous plans for these last days here in this world.  However, it is a choice that must be made on purpose to be an active part of His plans.  It’s a partnership.  God being the senior partner, of course.  That makes us the junior partner.  We partner with God by making ourselves available to do His good works.  This is not to obtain salvation, for that is received by accepting Jesus sacrifice for our sin.  He became the first born of many brothers.  The choice is yours and the choice in mine.  Choosing to fill up with God is to choose to put God in.  Into our lives and into our hearts through our eyes, ears and mouth.  The choice is to look at, listen to and speak more of God thoughts, aka God’s Word.  Spend focused time with Him.  Decide to make His agenda the priority of your life.  Not just what you think it is or should be, get the plan directly from Him.  It’s not a guessing game or a puzzle.

Today I want to encourage you to choose to fill up your life with God!  Make the priority of your day to spend time with Him and ask Him to direct your day to fulfill the plan He has for it.  Each morning as you start your day, pray a prayer something like this:  “Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus name and I am making my body a living sacrifice to you today by offering it up to You for you plan and purpose.  Lead me in your path of righteousness and empower me to follow everywhere that you are leading.  Show me how to prioritize your work over any selfish desires and I will be watching for opportunities to share Your love with all those who come across my path.”  Let’s start today to become more aware of whose we are and why we live and breathe.  Don’t let your enemy steal all God has planned for you to accomplish in this life.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:4-8

The lens of God’s love

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 1 Peter 2:1

This is pretty much where our world is . . . full of malice/hostility, deceptions, envy/jealousy and evil speaking.  We live in an angry society that has pretty much come to the boiling point.  Between the news, social media and day to day activities, you cannot even go outside of your house without hearing some angry words.  Whether it’s neighbors that are upset with one another over some trivial matter or at work with people getting into each other’s space.  We won’t even get into racial and political disputes.  Everyone wants to fight for their rights to be right!  What is really sad is when you see this angry attitude creeping into the church, the body of believers in Christ Jesus.  Many Christians have gotten to the place where they will accept nothing less than perfection from others.  At the first sign of imperfection, so called “Christians” can be some of the most intolerant, hypocritical people around, I’m sorry to say.

Let’s stop that!  By following verses 2 and 3, we can be different than in the past and the rest of the world for that matter.  If we become like newborn babes desiring the pure milk of God’s Word, we will grow up in these areas.  Jesus made it very easy for us to know what the right thing to do is.  He said: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have love you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)  We can use this direction to guide us in our actions and responses to those around us.  Ask yourself, “how do I inject love into this situation?”  When we begin to look at the world through the lens of God’s love, we will gain a whole new perspective of the possibilities.

Today I want to encourage you to put away all malice, hypocrisy and evil speaking.  Begin to look at every situation as a test of your love and grace toward others.  You may not be able to change the world and their reaction to every circumstance, but you will be able to change your world and influence those around you.  Let’s be like the Apostle Paul and look at others with the determination to not know anything about them except salvation in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1Corinthians 2:2)  Let’s recognize that our job in any relationship is to turn hearts toward salvation in our LORD Jesus.

Today’s scripture reading 1 Peter 2:1-3

   God’s Word is eternal

“But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”  1 Peter 1:25

God’s Word is eternal and relevant in all of today’s circumstances.  The same words that were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries ago, can give us direction and comfort today.  The same words that David and Solomon wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can give us wisdom and encouragement in our everyday lives.

It’s the reason why I can say today that God’s Word is where your peace is!  God’s Word is where your comfort is and God’s Word is where your wisdom for the future is. When David was being pursued by his own son trying to steal his kingdom, he penned these words. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance/approval.”  (Psalms 42:5)  David encouraged himself when he was depressed and saddened at the circumstances surrounding him.  He stirred up the words of God on the inside and allowed those words to strengthen his spirit.  The entire Psalm 42 are the words given to him by God to speak over himself in a time he was forced to leave his home for a season.

We have just come through one of the most difficult trials our world has seen in a long time.  It felt like a time of retreat and withdraw.  However, we have come out with renewed strength, strength in our faith, strength in our hope, and strength in our peace.  Like I caterpillar flying out of its cocoon as a new butterfly, we have emerged with new life and energy knowing that God has great things planned for our future. So, continue to encourage yourself and others with the eternal words from God our Father. 

Today I want to encourage you to look at God’s Word in a whole new light.  See it as a relevant source of strength and healing in whatever you are facing in life.  Spend time looking up and committing to memory passages on peace, faith, and the eternal love of God.  Some suggestions would be Psalm 91, Psalm 103, and Psalm 112.  I know that an entire chapter seems like a lot to memorize, but simply reading it out loud every day for one month is one of the best ways to learn God’s eternal Word.  Believer me . . . it’s worth it!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Rest in His grace

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:13

This verse builds on yesterday’s passage and shows us how we can greatly rejoice in life even while going through life’s difficulties.  It says that we are to “gird up the loins of your mind.”  Simply put: pay attention to what you are thinking about and focused on.  It tells us to steer our thinking toward God’s grace and then park it there.  We are to remain focused on the grace of our salvation in Christ Jesus.  This takes some practice.

Think about it, when you are doing your day to day activity, you are mostly focused on that, especially if your time is spent with other people.  However, the first chance your mind gets, it defaults back to what ever you are concerned about.  Maybe it is what you are going to be doing next, maybe it is about something that happened earlier or maybe it is something you are afraid is going to happen.  The point is, your mind is always going, and it is up to you to control where your thoughts end up. 

So, initially, you have some training to do.  First you have to recognize that your thoughts are trying to take you some place.  Then you have to decide where you want to go in your thinking.  For example, if you are worried about something, your thoughts will always take you back to that worry.  Not only that, your thoughts will guide you through all the possible outcomes from not so good to the worst possible.  Your mind is always going, and always creating ideas.  You must come to the point that you are directing those creative ideas in a positive direction.  This is why todays scripture says to take control of you thinking and make your default thought be resting/at peace in His grace that has you covered for every circumstance you face.

So today I want to encourage you to first of all consider what your default thoughts are.  Are they going toward a positive, grace filled direction?  Or are they always heading to the fear of what could happen in a negative way?  Begin today to take authority over your thoughts and purposefully direct them to God’s grace.  Choose a verse to turn to every time you notice your thinking going idle and let that be your thought process in the down time. Today begin to greatly rejoice at the possibilities of what God’s grace can accomplish in your life! Now that’s something to focus on!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Get excited

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 1 Peter 1:6

Have you ever been excited about something?  Something you were looking forward to?  Maybe it was an event like a wedding or holiday?  Maybe it was a dream vacation to check off your bucket list?  Or maybe it was and upcoming birth of a new baby?  While these are all wonderful things and worthy of our enthusiasm, we can be left in total “let down” when the anticipated experience is over.   There is, however, something we can get excited about every day we are here in the world.  Something that can inspire and propel us through each day.  Something so anticipated that it becomes the very reason for our existence.  That is the incorruptible inheritance in our salvation in Christ Jesus.

This is something to truly get excited about.  It is what to keep our focus on each day, especially in those days when we are not so energize by the everyday activities or rut that we often get into. Below is a list of just a few of the benefits of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.  Some in this life and some in the next.  Keep in mind that this is a very short list.  There is so much more to it, in fact the list is limitless.

All things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Victory over sin (Romans 6:14)

Death has no sting (1 Corinthians 15:55)

God’s Spirit lives inside of us (Romans 8:11)

Godly wisdom (James 1:5)

Can talk directly to God through Jesus – prayer (John 14:6)

Divine protection (Psalms 91)

Eternity in heaven with our Savior and Heavenly Father (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Crown of glory with your name on it (2 Timothy 4:8)

No more tears (Revelation 21:4)

No more death (Revelation 21:4)

New heaven and earth – Incorruptible and undefiled (1 Peter 1:3)

Today I want to encourage you to make your own list.  Spend some time looking up scripture on the promises God has given in His provision for salvation.  Write them down, then each morning when you get up and feel less than passionate about the day, choose an item from that list to meditate that day.  I guarantee you will have much more joy than you would without it.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:4-9

He is happy

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

This is something I am turning my focus to on purpose.  It is something I have never really given any thought to, but it is very significant.  It is the fact that our God and Heavenly Father is blessed.  What does that mean?  Not to get in too deep, but the word blessed is translated from the Greek word makarios that means happy.  (I’m not a Greek scholar, I just googled it)  So, this is what I want to focus on today and what I believe God our Father wants us to know about Him.  He is a happy God and He is a happy Father.  I don’t know about you, but happy has never been a word that came to my mind when talking to or thinking about Him.  I often think of words like holy, just, perfect, loving or gracious and full of mercy, but never happy.

So let’s think about this for a minute.  If God is happy, that means He is not mad at us when we sin, He is not disappointed in us when we miss it and He is not sad when we cry.  It seems that His happiness is not dependent on our behavior in anyway.  That’s a relief.  We do know that He feels compassion for us and cares for us, but nothing we bring to Him alters His character of happiness.  So, according to this scripture, His blessing/happiness has given us a living hope through Christ Jesus‘ resurrection form the dead.  Yes that’s right, God’s happiness gave us Jesus as our hope for life.

This word blessed (makorios) is the same word that Jesus used in Mathew 5 in His sermon on the mount.  He goes through a list of attitudes that are present in a blessed/happy person.  Such things as: poor in spirit –  recognizing our need for God, mourn – sorrowing to repentance, meek – submitted to the Holy Spirit, hunger and thirst for right standing with God, just to name a few.  By following this list in Matthew 5 we too can take on the happiness of God regardless of the outward circumstances.

Today I want to encourage you to consider God as a happy Father.  Don’t let your preconceived and religious ideas limit your vision of your loving, happy Heavenly Father.  Think about it this way:  In this world when you approach someone to talk to them or request something from them would you rather they were in a good mood or a bad mood?  This morning when you talk to God, remember He is happy and He is always in a good mood and you cannot in any way change it.  It’s really not too far out there to think of Him being happy.  Where else would happiness come from?  Meditate this idea today and see if you can come up with any other passages that talk about Him being blessed/happy.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Peter 1:1-3

Cover a multitude of sin

Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.  James 5:20

This is a hard one . . . turning someone from the error of their ways.  How do you do that effectively?  I think we would all love to and probably have attempted to help others in the past find their way back.  Certainly, we start with prayer and ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that turns the heart.  However, verses 13-16 in this chapter give us some direction on what to do as we experience different things in life.  Things such as:  if you are suffering, then pray.  If you are cheerful, sing psalms.  If you are sick, call for the elders of the church and let them pray over you and anoint you with oil.  Certainly, these things will work for someone that isn’t so close to God also.  If they are suffering, they can pray, if they are happy, they can be thankful and if they are sick, they can go to church for prayer.  We can encourage those around us who seems far from God to do these things when they are hurting.  This reminds me of the scripture in Romans that says:  Don’t despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads people to repentance? (Romans 2:4) 

God’s goodness is the greatest thing we can share when we want to help someone find their way back to God.  To point out where they are sinning or missing it, may only result in bringing out an attitude determined to prove you wrong.  Most people don’t like to be told they are wrong.  I know I don’t, but if you tell me that I am loved, that will definitely impact me differently and help me to want to know more about my loving Heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to share the goodness of God with those around you.  First of all, look at how His goodness has touched your life and then be willing to help others see when it has touched theirs. Most people think that the good things in life are because they did something right or maybe a coincidence.  Gently help others to see that all good comes down from above from the Father of lights with whom there is no variance. (James 1:17)

Today’s scripture reading: James 5:19-20