Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Today's Passage : Today's Passage: Subject:Suffering as a Christian
Bible Verse:1 Peter 4:12-14
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."
Message:
T
he first sentence of today’s passage is a chilling reminder of what these people’s faith meant to them. When Peter speaks of suffering, we must remember he is addressing people who are in real danger of being dragged out and murdered, often in a gruesome manner. Imagine that you are faced with the possibility of being arrested at any time and, without a trial, transported to a sports stadium, where you and your church friends would be turned loose with a pack of hungry lions, while a crowd of cheering people mocked you.
How many of us would meet such a test of faith? Some, but not all; it is impossible to predict how people will react to extreme danger. But what would living under such a threat do to our faith? It would make us value our faith infinitely more. Those who must work hard or pay dearly for something, hold it more dearly.
We can give thanks that we live in a time and place where we will not be killed or severely persecuted; but there is a cost to our comfort, and that cost is less dedication. Like the children of rich parents, we lose toughness and drive.
But we do have a challenge, which is complacency. Christianity is being trimmed from society by degrees, slowly, as the government grows ever larger and ever more aggressively secular.
Peter asks us, “what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” We, all of us, must make an effort to support Christianity in every way we can: with our work, with our words, with our time. And, as Peter teaches us again and again, by our example: acting honorably in all things with an open profession of our faith.
Meditation
:
Prayer :
Let me not forget you as I go forth into the world this day, blessed Lord; may my every word be a prayer, and my every act be testimony to your love and truth, and may I know your presence every second of this day.
.Amen
|
Archives: |
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
Saturday, November 23, 2024 |
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 |
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 |
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 |
Thursday, November 14, 2024 |
Monday, November 11, 2024 |
Friday, November 8, 2024 |
Thursday, November 7, 2024 |
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 |
Sunday, November 3, 2024 |
Friday, November 1, 2024 |
Thursday, October 31, 2024 |
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 |
Monday, October 28, 2024 |
Sunday, October 27, 2024 |
Friday, October 25, 2024 |
Thursday, October 24, 2024 |
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 |
Sunday, October 20, 2024 |
Friday, October 18, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 |
Sunday, October 13, 2024 |
Thursday, October 10, 2024 |
Thursday, October 10, 2024 |
Thursday, October 10, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 |
Monday, October 7, 2024 |
Sunday, October 6, 2024 |
Friday, October 4, 2024 |
Friday, October 4, 2024 |
Thursday, October 3, 2024 |
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 |
Monday, September 30, 2024 |
Saturday, September 28, 2024 |
Friday, September 27, 2024 |
Thursday, September 26, 2024 |
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 |
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 |
Monday, September 23, 2024 |
Monday, September 23, 2024 |
Sunday, September 22, 2024 |
Saturday, September 21, 2024 |
Friday, September 20, 2024 |
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 |
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 |
Sunday, January 08, 2017 |
Saturday, December 31, 2016 |
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 |
Wednesday, October 05, 2016 |
Tuesday, October 04, 2016 |
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 |
Saturday, September 24, 2016 |
Thursday, September 22, 2016 |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 |
Thursday, September 25, 2014 |
Monday, September 22, 2014 |
Monday, September 22, 2014 |
Friday, September 12, 2014 |
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 |
Monday, September 08, 2014 |
Saturday, September 06, 2014 |
Thursday, September 04, 2014 |
Wednesday, September 03, 2014 |
Tuesday, September 02, 2014 |
Monday, September 01, 2014 |
Sunday, August 31, 2014 |
Friday, August 29, 2014 |
Monday, August 25, 2014 |
Saturday, August 23, 2014 |
Friday, August 22, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 |
Monday, August 18, 2014 |
Sunday, August 17, 2014 |
Saturday, August 16, 2014 |
Friday, August 15, 2014 |
Thursday, August 14, 2014 |
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 |
Saturday, August 09, 2014 |
Friday, August 08, 2014 |
Wednesday, August 06, 2014 |
Tuesday, August 05, 2014 |
Monday, August 04, 2014 |
Sunday, August 03, 2014 |
Saturday, August 02, 2014 |
Saturday, August 02, 2014 |
Friday, August 01, 2014 |
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 |
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 |
Sunday, July 27, 2014 |
Saturday, July 26, 2014 |
Saturday, July 26, 2014 |
Friday, July 25, 2014 |
Saturday, July 19, 2014 |
|
|