Wholesomethings In, Wholesome Things Out; Worthless Things In, Worthless Things Out

Read 2 Peter 3
Title in NIV: The coming day of the Lord.

Again Peter tells us to stimulate our wholesome thinking. How? Put wholesome things into your mind. Wholesome things in, wholesome things out. Worthless things in, worthless things out. Peter says read the bible, "recall the words spoken in the past", "recall... the command given by our Lord."

Peter describes people who put worthless things into their mind. He says they deliberately forget and follow their own evil desires. They are scoffers and mock the return of Jesus. These ungodly people are "being kept for the day of judgment and destruction...." Worthless things in, worthless things out.

God does not keep time like we do. Everything we do is centered around a calendar and a clock. I wonder what would happen if, for one day, we covered all our clocks. When I had a newborn baby in the house, time was of no concern. It did not matter the time, the babies needs needed to be met. Some days I would still be in my pj's at 6:00pm and I wonder where the time went. Wouldn't it be awesome to treat our relationship with God the same way. Being in his presence all day and not worrying about the time (time for tv, time to check email, time to read worthless stuff). We could be focused on tending to the needs of our souls and feeding our self often (every 2 hours in His Word??).

I look at what the world has become and long for Jesus' return. My timing would be premature, because God is patient and in that patience many will be saved. He wants everyone to come to repentance. He is giving everyone a chance. He has given me many chances-- glad He is patient and gracious and full of mercy. When he finally comes will you be filled with wholesome things or worthless things?

Since we can't make it out of this world alive (one of my husbands favorite sayings) what kind of person should you be? Like Christ and holy (wholesome things in). Hopeful in His return. Since the final fire is coming, what have you attained that can withstand the heat? Wholesome things withstand heat, worthless things burn up. So, be found righteous, spotless, blameless and at peace with God. Don't distort the Word of God for your own benefit..

In a previous post I said be carried along by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, Peter cautions us to "not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position." Peter says it is possible to loose your secure position (salvation) if you follow the sinful desires of your heart. In chapter 2, Peter describes a person who knew Jesus Christ and still gets "entangled in it [sin] and overcome... It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs..." (vs. 20-21). You can fall away if you do not put wholesome things in.

So, continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ and His grace (every two hours if possible- we are supposed to be like babes, right?). Grow in him for His glory. Put wholesome things into yourself and act on the wholesome things you put in your mind.

Blessings to you all!

Don't be Unknowingly Swept Away by False Teachers

Read 2 Peter 2
Title in NIV: Destruction of false teachers.

Verse one says that false teachers will "secretly introduce destructive heresies". We need to guard what has been entrusted to us (1 Timothy 6:20). 1 John 4:1 says, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." How will we know a false teacher? By their works and words. They will bring the way of truth into disrepute. That means to disgrace the truth or to give it a bad reputation or disfavor in someones eyes. False teachers will be greedy for a following and tell stories to win you over.

In verse four, Peter gives examples of those whom God did not spare because they followed the corrupt desires of the sinful nature and despise authority. The list includes angels who sinned he sent to the gloomy dungeons of hell; the ancient world full of ungodly people he sent a flood; Sodom and Gomorrah he burned to ashes. Verse nine says, God "holds the unrighteous for the day of judgment while continuing their punishment." The ungodly are bold and arrogant. They blaspheme. They follow their instincts, the flesh, instead of denying their instincts to follow God. They follow their idea of pleasure.

Verse 13 talks about the ungodly's blots and blemishes. Have you ever met someone for the first time and during your conversation red flags go up? You think something about this person's beliefs or motives are not right. I think that is a blot or blemish godly people recognize. Pay attention to the red flags, the 'gut' feeling. God may be trying to protect you.

Their eyes are full of adultery. They seduce the unstable. They are experts in greed. They have strayed from the straight path and followed wickedness. They bring forth destruction and death instead of living water. Like a mist driven by a storm that touches every thing, the ungodly may gently appear and softly light on the unaware. However, behind the mist is a down pour that will take you off the straight path if you are not on your guard.

Don't be swept away by flattery and pretty sounding words. Their words are empty and boastful to entice people. They promise them freedom, but it is the freedom that comes with a price-- a soul. They have no concept of freedom in Christ. They are a slave to their so called 'freedom' which is actually depravity. If they escape the corruption of the world-obviously they CAN escape- and again become entangled in the world and overcome, they are worse off than before.

LET'S END ON A POSITIVE VERSE!! Verse 7-9 says, "For if God... can rescue Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men ...if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials..." Thank the Lord he rescues us every day by the blood of Jesus Christ. Be on your guard. Be alert.

Next week is the last chapter of 2 Peter. Any suggestions for the next book??

Be Carried Along by the Spirit Today

Read 2 Peter 1:12-21
Title in NIV: Peter's approaching death.
The Holy Spirit's inspiration of Scripture.

Peter, knowing that Christians were firmly established in the truth, knew they still needed reminding and refreshed in the truth. That is true for me, I know. It is easy to get discouraged. I need reminding that God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comforts (1Cor 1:4). It is easy to gossip. I need reminding to build others up (1Thes 5:11). It is easy to judge and look at someone different and think, "what were they thinking?". I need reminding God's love covers all (1Peter 4:8). I could go on and on, but the point is: if we are not reminded daily and saturated in the Word, our first thought, our first word, our first action will be of the flesh. We need to keep our Spirit refreshed so our first thought,our first word and our first action will be in-step with the Spirit and not our flesh.

Peter said, "I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body..." We need to be refreshed daily in the Word. It won't happen naturally. You won't have 10 min for the Word. You have to MAKE time for the Word. Satan is here stealing all your time with silly stuff like finding your keys, spilt milk (literally--I have kids), kids fighting, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, Glamor Mag, American Idol and on and on. Where is your heart? (as I've said before, these things are not bad unless they take time away from God, then they are sinful)

What better informant than an eyewitness who was with Jesus. Peter heard the voice of God from heaven when he was on the mountain with James and John (Mt 17:6). Peter saw Elijah and Moses on that mountain. Peter says he realized prophecy of Scripture came about by God. Prophets were carried along by the Holy Spirit as they wrote and we will do well to pay attention to them.

The Spirit can carry us along too. Is. 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." That is what the Spirit can do for us if we allow it to carry us along and strive eagerly to keep in-step with the Spirit. God has not stopped carrying his children on his wings. Sometimes I think we stop climbing onto His wings. We think we can do it our self.

This week, NO-today, make plans to soar with Jesus and see where he can take you. Plan to be carried along by the Holy Spirit. Walk in what God has planned for your life.

Blessings to you!

Confidence in God's Promises

Read 2Peter 1:1-11
Title in NIV: Making one's calling and election sure.

First Peter was written to believers to encourage them against persecution from outside the church. Second Peter is written to believers to encourage them against persecution inside the church. Yes-- inside the church. We need not get so comfortable in our church that we let our guard down to Satan's schemes. He uses our Brothers and Sisters against us.

Lets consider these situation: If your loved one gets a rare disease, what would you do? If you had to move to a new town because of work, what would you do? If you were asked to give a speech, what would you do? You would gather knowledge about the disease, town or topic, right? Peter says, God "has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our KNOWLEDGE of him..." (vs. 3). Just like the situations call for knowledge so we can battle them, our life requires knowledge of Jesus Christ and his qualities to "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (vs.4).

Peter tells us we have precious promises. Do you know (knowledge) what they are? I challenge you to write a promise every day and then live like you believe in that promise. For example, Hebrews 13:5 says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Live like you have a savior on your side that can do all things at all times and in every situation. I just saw my Great Aunt in a nursing home. I made the comment, "You will be with Jesus and all the singing angels one day where there is no more pain." Her comment was, "I hope so." How sad I thought. Live like you believe the promise that you are forgiven (Acts 10:43)and He will never leave you. Also, 1 John 4:12, "...if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." Live like you are desiring complete love in your life and love the unlovable-- they are your brothers also.

Peter says to add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in increasing measure. That statement, "in increasing measure" tells me to choose to learn about these qualities continually. Peter says having these qualities "will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vs.8). Peter says if you "don't have them, [you are] nearsighted and blind and have forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins" (vs.9).

I love the promise in verse ten. You can make your calling and election sure. Your calling is a divine summons, a strong impulse or inclination that God places in your heart for him. Your election is God's chosen people for himself. Verse ten says, "For if you do these things, you will never fall...". What an awesome promise to live in. I know someone who loves the Lord, who reads the bible daily, who really tries to live the way God wants, but this person lives in defeat. This person is not confident (sure) in God. This person doubts God loves them and even worries about being saved. Verse ten's promise should give her and you confidence to approach the throne of grace so that you may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). Living in this promise does not mean you will never be tempted, or that you will never sin, or that you will always make the right decisions. But when we continually refoucus ourself on our foundation (Christ) our promise is secure. You have to gain knowledge, you have to put forth effort to continue living as a chosen son or daughter of God. You have to come back to him always.

Always cling to Jesus, even when you fail...he already did the work of forgiveness in your life...accept it with joy and live like you are forgiven. As we cling to Jesus, we will have the desire to gain knowledge of the qualities mentioned and not just knowledge but also living by those qualities. If we cling to Jesus we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Further study:
Philippians 2:12
2 Corinthians 13:5