Bible League: Living His Word So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.— 1 Peter 2:1 ESV Our verse for today moves forward from the teachings the Apostle Peter put forth in the first chapter of his letter. He wrote that Christians have been "ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers," that the price of the ransom was "the precious blood of Christ," that our souls have been purified by our "obedience to the truth," and that we "have been born again" (1 Peter 1:18-23). Given these teachings, our verse for today follows logically. As a result of all this, we should put away all the sinful behavior that would seem to contradict these truths. There should be, in other words, a consistency between what we have become in Christ Jesus and what we actually do in life. No one is totally free of sin, but the goal is to show what we are in Christ as much as possible. Indeed, it's because no one is totally free from sin that Peter felt the need to tell us it should be put away. The Bible has a number of different ways to express this truth. It says, for example, that we should "cast off the works of darkness" (Romans 13:12). It says that we should "put off your old self" (Ephesians 4:22). And it says that we should "rid yourselves of all such things" (Colossians 3:8 NIV). In summary, it says that we should stop doing all the sinful things that are unbefitting someone who has become a new creation in Christ Jesus. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Putting away the works of darkness, like the ones Peter mentions in our verse, is not something that is done in our own power. Although we have a role to play in the process, although we are the ones that put away sin, we can't do it on our own. We need the help of the Lord. That's why King David prayed for help after he committed adultery and murder. Like him, we should pray, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 45, 46, 47 Isaiah 45 -- God Calls Cyrus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 46 -- The Idols of Babylon NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 47 -- God's Judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Colossians 3 Colossians 3 -- Put On the New Self; Instructions for Christian Families NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.Insight Because God was guiding his ministry, Paul wasn't doing anything that God hadn't already planned and given him power to do. Similarly, God told Jeremiah that God had called him, even before he was born, to do special work for God. Challenge God knows you intimately as well, and he chose you to be his even before you were born. He wants you to draw close to him and to fulfill the purpose he has for your life. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Lamentations 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God's warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day! Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.Psalm 13:1,2 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? • How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 27:9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Psalm 91:15 "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. Psalm 145:18,19 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. • He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Psalm 46:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 62:1 For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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