Daily Devotion (June 14, 2024)
1 Peter 3:8–12 (NKJV)
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
Are you prepared? Peter was writing to prepare Christians for a trial of persecution. Christians are not preparing for the worst to come, but the best.
The church, the ones called out of this world into the glorious presence of God are to be of one mind focused on Jesus Christ. The followers of Christ are to have compassion for each other. Peter says we must be tenderhearted and courteous.
Believers in Christ are to keep their minds focused on living a holy, righteous, and pure life. The follower of Christ must keep his mind focused on becoming just like Jesus not conforming himself to the world but to Christ. Followers of Christ are to keep their minds upon living holy, righteous and pure lives (Romans 12:1-2).
Persecution of the Christian has always been in this world. In America we have seen little of it. We are now seeing a growing evil in our nation. The world hates God and will do whatever is necessary to destroy the Church of God. Christians are not to respond with evil. Christians are to stand and stand firm in the love of Christ. As evil grows in this world Christians are to
Love, refrain from speaking evil and deceit. Christians are to turn away from evil and do good. Christians are to not just seek peace but to pursue it.
Being a Christian is more than just attending a worship service on Sunday morning. Maybe this is more of a bold statement than some would want to hear but, if you leave a worship service the same as you came then you have not truly worshiped God. A more important question would be, are you more interested in speaking the love of God or the vile evil of Satan. Go back and read verse 10. The Christian is not to speak evil or deceit. The follower of Christ is to turn from evil and do Good. The follower of Christ is to pursue and seek the peace of Christ. Go back and read verse 12. God’s eyes and ears are upon you.
Are you prepared for the trials and persecution coming? Look at how you live your life inside and outside of the church, the worship service of God.