The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Jude, 2 Peter 1-3
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: Jude, 2 Peter 1-3
Over and over, infiltrators found their way into the New Testament church, and they continue to do so in the contemporary church. They seek to convince immature Christians that doctrinal up is down and down is up. They deny Jesus as Lord and reframe God’s grace as freedom to sin rather than freedom from sin. Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, said that these people were like reefs hidden just under the surface of the water. Hiding in plain sight, they are shipwrecks waiting to happen. It is telling that Jude, the brother of Jesus, and Peter, one of the Lord’s closest friends, did not cash in on their relationship to Christ in order to gain more credibility. Both made their claim to fame that they were servants of the Lord. Even in this subtle and easy-to-miss decision, they set themselves apart from the arrogant false teachers who were vainly trying to make much of themselves. Peter clearly understands that false teaching leads to foolish living. Good doctrine can and should lead to a life full of evidence of the gospel. Peter strikes a careful balance between God’s power at work in us and the necessity of our making the ongoing decision to live plugged into that power. We have been granted access to all we need to live a godly life through the knowledge that God has given us of himself. We have been given precious promises straight from the promise-keeping God so that we can live fully in his freedom. Truth obeyed is what sets his people free. Therefore, we have every reason to make every effort to live fully in this freedom in ever-increasing fashion. Unlike the hidden reefs, Peter, Jude, and the rest of the human authors of the New Testament were not making stuff up. They were eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus. Jude grew up with him; Peter had a front row seat to his years of earthly ministry. They knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophets had spoken of. They believed Jesus when he said he would return; future history was as secure as past history. The scoffers mocked the expectant believers. So, when exactly was he supposed to come back? He’s not slow; he is going to be right on time. In fact, these scoffers were being shown mercy in his delay, then were given time to repent. But why has he still delayed? More people are born all the time who die without knowing him. How does this math work? It’s not math, it is mercy. I am glad he waited until I was born and then born again. I am eternally grateful for the gift of life and the gift of eternal life. We may not understand it all; in fact, even Peter had some trouble understanding his buddy Paul’s letters. But we can be sure of this: God knows exactly what he is doing. He has his plan, and he has his timing. We need only to trust him in these and in every other way.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Persian Diaspora-that the millions scattered around the globe would encounter authentic believers and have opportunities to read the Word of God.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.