Archive for April 2010

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:6 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 30, 2010

1 Peter 4:6
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The message of the gospel is a message of grace, hope, and transformation. The power of the gospel stops a man in his tracks, causes him to realize his sin, and turns him to God. The gospel is not about being born into a Christian home, going through catechism, going to church, or being a good moral person. It is about life-transformation. Describing a person who applies the power of the gospel to his/her life, Paul says, “the old is gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The message of the gospel is not for this life only. Trust in this truth carries us from our human earthly state to our spiritual heavenly home. Even if the believer is judged before man, even if that judgment results in physical death, the human verdict is eternally reversed by the eternal God. Sin itself, and sometimes the sin of man, will kill the body. But the final consequences of sin will be overruled by the final Judge who replaces death with life.

The message of the gospel is the message of Jesus Christ, who “died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18a). Jesus, himself, was “put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18b). Those who follow Jesus follow him in death and life.

Father, thank you that the message of the gospel trumps sin and death. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Thank you that death, whether by natural causes or at the hand of man, cannot separate us from you love demonstrated in Christ Jesus. In our Savior’s name we pray. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:4-5 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 29, 2010

1 Peter 4:4-5
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

The non-Christian may conclude that your lifestyle as a believer is a bit peculiar. You are unwilling to check out the well-known websites and magazines. Heck, you even let Sports Illustrated know that you don’t want the Swimsuit Issue (Weird!). You work to discipline your eyes to “bounce” instead of fixate on a woman walking through the office (Are you sure you’re…like…OK?). You choose to go home or for a run instead of hanging out at Happy Hour, not because you’re a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (my mom would have been proud of you if you were), but because you’re smart enough to know where an evening can end up when men and women “share a few drinks” together (Prude!).

Don’t be surprised when the non-believer moves from thinking your decisions “strange” to heaping “abuse on you.” They know deep in their hearts that pornography and lust are wrong. They understand what’s on the minds of many who “share a few drinks.” They know the fear of waking up in the morning not being quite sure of what happened during the night. They know the emptiness of casual sex. And often disgust with self turns to disgust for others. They begin to understand that your choosing to not participate in these things is a judgment on their actions.

But the judgment that really counts is not yours. One day, all their actions will be exposed before God. Everyone will give an account before him. On that day, the believer will say, “O my God, thank you for your great grace.” On that day the unbeliever will say, “O my God…it’s too late!”

Lord, thank you for your grace. But for your grace “there go I.” And Lord, help us to live not with an attitude of spiritual superiority, but with sincere humility sharing with our lips and life the message of Jesus. In his name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:3 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 28, 2010

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do– living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

The believer has made a break with his past sinful lifestyle. Our old life “was crucified with [Christ] so that…we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6-7). The believer is a “new creation, the old is gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Peter’s list of vices is a repulsive reminder of our life apart from Christ. The sins listed above were not occasional places we visited. We were “living in” them. These offenses characterized our life and defined who we were. But now things have changed. We spent enough time in the past living like pagans, chasing after human desires. Now it’s time to follow hard after Christ.

It’s one thing to waste our past living in the land of sin. But it is another thing, a worse thing, to waste our years as a believer going back to visit.

Father, as your children, please don’t let us waste a minute of our life living today in the sins of yesterday. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:1-2 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 27, 2010

1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

As noted yesterday, the phrase “done with sin” does not mean that the believer will live without sin. The phrase means that identifying with Christ in suffering is a clear sign that we have made a break with the sinful life. As a result, that person does not live to follow his “human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

Suffering has a way of refining the soul. It strips away all the things we think are important and forces us to hold on to all the things that truly are. Tough times allow us to hear the voice of God more clearly and, thus, follow him more closely. C. S. Lewis well says that pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world.

Pain is never invited. Valleys are not something we look forward to. And yet, they provide the growth spurts of the Christian life. Suffering is never welcomed, but it is never wasted.

Lord, help us to be learners every day, not just in times of suffering. But when times of suffering come may we depend on you for strength and thank you for the growth that you will bring in the valley. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:1 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 26, 2010

1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

A cultural Christian with a half-baked commitment to Christ is not going to run up against much spiritual resistance. And even when they do, like the Israelites before Goliath, they turn tail and run. But if you are serious about following hard after Jesus, get ready for the battle. The enemy is actively working to make you fail and fall.

In today’s passage, Peter tells us to “arm” ourselves. The word refers to a soldier carefully putting on his armor before battle. The arrows will be flying. He wants to make sure he is ready and protected. Our armor here is an attitude, a willingness, to share in the sufferings of Jesus. Until we are ready to die for him, we aren’t ready to live for him.

The phrase “done with sin” doesn’t mean the believer, even one buckled up and following hard after Christ, will never sin. The phrase means that identifying with Christ in suffering is a clear sign that we have made a break with the sinful life, and we are all in! Are you all in? You don’t have to wait to for suffering to prove it.

Father, never allow us to treat our faith as a hobby. Never allow us to be satisfied with a half-baked commitment. Give us the desire to be all in, and the opportunity to demonstrate it every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:18 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 23, 2010

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit….

Man, here is a verse packed with good theology. Check this out.

    The Atonement: Christ died for sins once for all…. Jesus made amends for our sins and blotted out our offense. His work fully satisfied the penalty God placed on sin. The work of Jesus on the cross never has to be repeated.

    The Perfection of Christ: …the righteous…. Jesus was the perfect sinless sacrifice.

    The Depravity of Man: …for the unrighteous…. Our moral and spiritual nature is totally corrupt not in degree (no one is as bad as he or she could be) but in extent. No part of us is untouched by our sinful nature.

    Reconciliation:     …to bring you to God…. Our sin separated us from God. We needed someone to bring us back into fellowship with God.

    The Substitutionary Atonement:     …He was put to death in the body…. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus died as our substitute.

    Resurrection: …but made alive by the Spirit…. If Jesus was not raised from the dead our “faith is futile,” we “are still in [our] sins,” and “we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). But because of the resurrection we will pass from death to life (John 5:24).

That’s a lot of theology for such short verse!

Father, thank you for the work that Jesus did for us. Words cannot express our gratitude. Help us to thank you with our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:17 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 22, 2010

1 Peter 3:17
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

When we follow hard after Christ, parts of the journey will involve suffering—some type of persecution for our faith. Peter’s tongue in cheek statement goes like this: If you are going to suffer, make sure you suffer for the right reasons.

Today, I hear a lot of Christians talk about suffering for Christ…so, let’s make sure we are on the same page as Peter.

    • If you perform poorly on the job and take a pay cut, that’s not suffering for Jesus. That’s called poor performance.
    • If you are late for work every day and get canned, that’s not suffering for Jesus. That’s called irresponsibility.
    • If you have an affair, repent, and your spouse stays with you but doesn’t forgive you after the first month…or two…or three, the unpleasant situation is not suffering. You are experiencing the process of repentance.
    • If you blow up your marriage and lose your family, the regret you feel is not 1 Peter 3:17 suffering. It’s called living with the consequences of sin.
    • If you go to prison for a crime you committed, that’s not suffering for Jesus. That’s called justice.

When you follow God’s will and suffer, you’ll know it. But until then, don’t mistake sin for suffering.

Father, none of us want to suffer. But help us to have the courage to do what you call us to do. And give us the strength to keep following you even in the face of suffering. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:15-16 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 21, 2010

1 Peter 3:15-16
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

A recent Barna study reports that almost 4 in 10 (37%) professing Christians who don’t go to church stopped attending because they were hurt by people in the church. On the website About.com, the question was asked “Why don’t you attend church?” One person’s comment summed up the thoughts of many others. He or she wrote, “Because from what I can see, the church makes no difference at all in the lives of the believers who go there, except to possibly make them more judgmental and mean.” Now, I have been around long enough to know that if we in the church confront an adulterer with his or her adultery, that can be deemed as “judgmental and mean.” I have also been around long enough to know some Christians are judgmental and mean, and Jesus seems to make little difference in their lives. The sad truth is that many inside the church are keeping many outside the church.

Believers must be prepared to stand up for Christ and communicate the main points of Christianity. And…they must act and speak with “gentleness and respect.” Remember you used to be the person who didn’t “get it.” Apart from God’s grace, you would still be that person.

A few years ago, I had a guy tell me, “I’m a Calvinist. I’m just not mad about it anymore.” I love that line. But certainly it doesn’t apply only to Calvinists. Whatever persuasion of theology you most closely adhere to, you really don’t need to be mad about it. Your most passionate conviction can be shared with gentleness and respect…no, your conviction must be shared with gentleness and respect.

Lord Jesus, help me to demonstrate to a watching world that you do make a difference in my life, not just for eternity, but for right now as I do marriage, parenting, drive down the road, handle disappointments, deal with the pressures of my job, handle my finances, and wait in a long line at the grocery store when I am in a hurry (when am I not in a hurry?). And when you graciously give me the chance to share my faith, help me to share the deepest conviction of my heart with gentleness and respect. In your name I pray. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:15 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 20, 2010

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect….

Our passage today is often quoted in the context of apologetics—the branch of the theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity. Certainly, we should always be prepared to explain the main points of Christianity. So the truth from this passage certainly applies to apologetics. At the same time, context ultimately determines meaning. The context here addresses a coming persecution where the recipients of this letter may have to suffer for their faith. Peter exhorts them to stand firm for Christ, and be ready to profess him as Lord even in the face of suffering.

Facing threats or suffering for our faith is foreign to American Christians. Most of us have never had to fear imprisonment or death for professing Christ as Lord. The eye-rolling of an acquaintance, being taking off the list of a dinner party, or, in extreme cases, strained relationships with extended family is about as difficult as it gets. It is one thing to defend the faith over a cup of coffee in restaurant with an agnostic. It is quite another thing to say “Yes, I am a follower of Jesus” knowing the authorities will take you away for saying those seven words.

So…two take-aways from this passage. First, know what you believe. Every follower should know why they are following Jesus. Second, pray that if the day ever comes where your confession would result in persecution, you will be ready to say, “Yes, I am a follower of Jesus!”

Lord, give us the courage to follow you no matter the cost. May our confession be confident and sure. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:13-14 | Devotional

Posted by ronmoore on April 19, 2010

1 Peter 3:13-14
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”

In today’s passage, Peter quotes from Isaiah the prophet. It is helpful to place this quote in context. Isaiah wrote,

The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…Isaiah 8:11-13

It is way too easy for us to get caught up in the fears of the world. We obsess over everything from the government to the economy. If there is not something today to get us riled up, we borrow from the unknowns of tomorrow. We live in a day when people, even believers, live in fear.

But as believers we are not to buy in to the fears of the world. We are not to “fear what they fear.” Our focus is to be on the Lord Almighty, the One who is holy. If we are going to obsess on anything, it should be the fear of displeasing the eternal God. For “he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.”

Father, each one of us has a limited about of time here on this earth, and a limited amount of energy. May we invest our time and energy on the things that count for eternity. Help us to not buy into the fears of the world. Help us, instead, to honor and obey you alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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