Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 124:1 If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,
3 then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us.
4 Then the water would have engulfed us;the torrent would have swept over us;
5 the raging water would have swept over us.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net; the net is torn, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Look at the last line. Think of all the places that you could go for help. Think of the many places that people could go for help. Now consider the magnificence of creation. A mighty oak; rushing river; a stirring storm; a strong mountain; a graceful bird. You can go for help to the one who made all these things. He is the Lord our help, the maker of heaven and earth.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Peter 1:1-15 – Christian Standard Bible
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, 14 since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me. 15 And I will also make every effort so that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for the youth and children in our church. Ask God to give us wisdom, courage, and perseverance in shepherding the next generation.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
In verses 12-15, Peter makes clear his intention to “pass it on.” Knowing that his time on earth is short, Peter will “make every effort” to remind his brothers and sisters in Christ of Gospel power and urge them toward Gospel practice. His hope is that, long after he is gone, they will still be able to quickly and easily recall these true and critical things he has said.
What would it look like for you to “make every effort” to “pass it on”? To your children? To the children or youth in our church? To a younger man or woman in the church?
This could be as simple as sharing with them your reflections through the devotionals this week (yes, your sin; but, more importantly, God’s power in Christ to heal and redeem it as you make every effort).