Bible Study: December 20, 2007
Hello My Friend/Guest,
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." (Psalm 84:11-12)
It is Thursday December 20, 2007 and today we are studying the book of II Peter. Please read, II Peter 1 -- 3. In Today's Reading we will learn about God's many forms of grace; false teachers; and the certainty of Christ's return.
The book (letter) of II Peter was written by Peter to the Christian exiles, probably the same group listed in I Peter. His purpose was to warn them of the danger from within the church, such as apostacy (rejecting belief) and false teaching.
This second letter begins with one significant thought: God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue (goodness). Peter's key thought is that a life of godliness is made possible by the exceeding great and precious promises from God. That we may be partakers of the devine nature and escape the desires of the world. "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. " (II Peter 1:1-4).
It is of utmost importance that we recognize we are the Body of Christ, and as you grow with Him a new life begins. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:5-11). When you accept Jesus into your life whether you realize it or not, you begin to change. It starts by you giving time to God, then your faith strengthens, you become wiser, you learn to resist temptation, you become more patient, the list goes on and on. Life just gets better and better as the big world out there becomes smaller and less desirable. Those struggles that you go through no longer wear you down, but strengthen you.
God has given us the freedom to choose to let "affliction" work for us or against us, this is the great gift of free will. Whether we choose to belive in Him or not is our choice, but rest assure, He knows who will and will not follow Him well before we even exsist. Count it a blessing that God has chosen you to endure your struggles with Him instead of alone. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (II Peter 3:17-18).
Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for blessing me with a new day here on earth and thankl you for the many blessings you give me each day. My Lord, bless us with a steadfast heart, one where no unworthy affection may drag us down, an unconquered heart, where no tribulation can wear us out. Bless us also with understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you with complete trust. Take my heart, dear Lord, and hold it in the palm of your hand. May it beat with the pulse of you. Shine your light into the very depth of my heart, and may your light shine through the windows of my soul so that I may be used as a beacon of light to lead others to you! In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.
Have a wonderful day/night.
God Bless,
Christina
