Matthew Gaither – Page 17

A Friend To Whom?

March 2, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

I’m concerned about the notion that Christians shouldn’t be friends with non-Christians. I don’t believe that all Christians feel this way but I think there are certainly some who do, and with good reason. Just look at James 4:4, for example: You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

At first glance it seems like James is offering us a stern warning about associating with the world. After all, friendship with the world is hostility towards God, right? Clearly there has to be a line drawn somewhere in our life that defines that which is Godly from that which is worldly. But if you look at James chapter 4 closely you will see that James is talking about the Christian who is living like the unsaved; that is a Christian who is ruled by his or her desires and lusts of the flesh instead of in submission to the Spirit of God. In other words friendship with the world in James’s mind is a heart problem that stems from putting “me” on the throne in my life instead of God Almighty.

But what about 2 Corinthians 6:14-18? Doesn’t that state the case a little bit stronger that we shouldn’t be associating with non-believers? Do not be bound together (unequally yoked) with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.“ And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

The key idea here is the phrase “bound together”. It speaks to something closer and stronger than just an acquaintance or even friendship. The Theology of Work website explains it like this: “When two animals are yoked together, they must move in lockstep. If one turns left, the other turns left also, whether or not it consents. This is different from, say, animals grazing in a herd, which cooperate but still have the freedom to move separately, and even to depart from the herd if they choose. If two animals—or, metaphorically, two people—are yoked, each is bound by whatever the other chooses to do. Two people are yoked if one person’s choices compel the other person to follow the same choices, even without their consent. A yoking is when either person is bound by the unilateral decisions and actions of the other… To be unequally yoked with unbelievers, then, is to be in a situation or relationship that binds you to the decisions and actions of people who have values and purposes incompatible with Jesus’ values and purposes.”

So now we know not to act like the world (James 4:4) and not to enter into unequally yoked relationships with non-believers (2 Corinthians 6) but where does that leave us in our relationships to those who are lost?

And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23) First of all, we need to be going where they are. And practicing avoidance of non-believers is not going to get us there. The master has commanded us to go out and compel them (compel actually means to “drive forcibly”, believe it or not) to come in to His house. The master’s house is where his family resides. It is an invitation to become a son or daughter of the living God and it’s a message He is sending with us to anyone who will receive it.

The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26) I really like this verse. How are we supposed to be a guide to our neighbor if we are in hiding and they can’t see what we are doing? The Bible calls us to be visible and visibly righteous! That means living an upright life and walking with God on a daily basis in a way that everyone around us can see. Then, when we encounter those non-believers and get to know them where they are they will see God in us and want to know why it is that we are different. Can we be a righteous guide to those we exclude and dismiss? Absolutely not and that is why we must include and invite at every possible occasion.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) One of the best ways to be a witness to someone is to be there for them when they need a helping hand. Jesus went about meeting the needs of the people and sharing God’s love and that should be our model as well. If we see someone around us who is “falling” then we need to be there to lift them up and meet their need. It is our privilege and responsibility as those who have been redeemed.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Perhaps the greatest evidence that we have that says we should be friends with the lost is Jesus’s death on the cross. He literally laid down his own life for the lost, they (we!) are that important to Him. Jesus spent his time with the doubting and the unbelieving, the sick and the needy. And he did it all with the knowledge that He would one day be given up for arrest and crucifixion by the very people that He was trying to save. Now is that friendship, or what?

What’s needed from us is a Christlike concern for all people. If our primary goal is to love everyone like Jesus did then we won’t have to fall back on legalistic interpretations of the Bible that try to enforce excluding others or turning our noses up at their behavior. No, we shouldn’t be acting like the unsaved and yes we should be careful about the types of relationships we enter in. Those are a given. But beyond that we should be willing to go wherever it takes, living visibly righteous lives, ready to meet the needs of those around us and showing the world what it really means to be a friend.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: friendship, ministry, salvation

The Search For True Purpose

February 9, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

Where do I fit in? What is my purpose here? For a very long time those were the questions I asked myself both about my life and my church.

I knew that I was saved. I knew that I was supposed to go to church. And for a very long time I convinced myself that was enough. As long as I showed up and filled my space on the church bench every Sunday morning I was more or less where God wanted me to be.

Over time and with God’s help I have come to realize that treating church attendance like this is analogous to being in a marriage relationship in which you sometimes spend time in the same room with your spouse but never really actively participate or communicate with them. Even worse, your mind is usually elsewhere and and you are often thinking about leaving to go somewhere else as soon as possible.

How long do you think such a marriage would last? Not very long, I bet.

Thankfully, God does not divorce us due to our lack of attention and care. His love for us does not change or diminish based on our love for Him. He goes on loving us and desiring our best even when we are at our worst.

I genuinely believe that if we really are saved that God will not let us be content treating Him in such a way. His spirit within us softly and gently reminds us that we are His, bought by His blood and called for His purpose. That same spirit cries out for unity and intimacy with the Heavenly Father and that only happens when we make our relationship with Him a priority. Eventually that disconnect (between what we are doing and what the spirit within us tells us we should be doing) will cause us to be miserable.

While God does not want us to live like that He will allow us to make our own choice. And having been there myself I can tell you that it is so much better when we seek Him and His purpose and make Him number one in each moment. Once we start living like that God’s purpose for us in life and in His church will start to become clear.

According to scripture, we are the church. It’s not the building where the services are held and it’s not even the service itself. Those things should only serve to enhance worship and draw God’s children closer to Him. The church is you and me, the redeemed children of God and those who have been called according to His purpose.

We assemble because scripture tells us to but our purpose for assembly is so that we may encourage one another, teach and be taught and worship God together. Paul said it like this: What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. (1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV) (emphasis mine)

Each of us has a part to play when we assemble and that part depends on the spiritual gifts that we have been given and our own level of spiritual maturity. That is why it is so important that our relationship with our Heavenly Father be something that we cherish and nurture every single day. Only in this way can we find our true purpose and our place in God’s kingdom.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: 1 corinthians 14:26, finding purpose, relationship

What Kind of Gospel is This?

January 26, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

The gospel is the good news. It is the good news of God’s salvation of man through faith in Jesus Christ.

If you are reading this then hopefully, at some point along the way, someone shared with you the good news. Someone who cared enough to make sure that you knew that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that our sin and guilt could all be taken away.

I hope you understand how powerful and hopeful the message of the gospel really is. It contains all of the love of God for His creation and the price that He paid to redeem us and it is freely available for all who will believe. Clearly, it is a message that is worth sharing and worth being excited about.

¹⁴How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15 NASB)

I don’t know about you but when I think of sharing the gospel the first thing that comes to my mind is speaking the words. But according to Romans chapter 10 verse 15 the first, most important part is not the speaking and the words but the going. In other words, we must use our feet (and hands and body) before we open our mouths.

I can speak (and write) enough words to fill many books but unless my actions have already been preaching the news of God’s love and grace to those around me then I might as well not bother. My feet need to be headed in a good direction and my life’s purpose under God made very clear before I do any sort of speaking on God’s behalf.

The gospel message requires both components to be effective. Feet that go and a mouth that speaks. We can’t neglect either one in our mission to reach the lost. But the going and doing must proceed the speaking.

The message works best when it is delivered in person by someone who cares about the recipient. It’s not that electronic media or a sermon preached to a massive audience can’t have an effect in winning souls. These things can and do have their place. But the most effective (and I would argue, the closest to God’s heart) way to deliver the gospel message is from person to person, face to face with love and in truth.

What kind of gospel is this? A personal one. Jesus always saves the individual and speaks to every heart uniquely. And so must we. Let us always remember to be willing to go, enthusiastic about doing and ready to speak.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: gospel, romans 10:15

Who Is Bigger and Who Is Greater?

January 19, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

²⁰Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20 KJV)

I make a lot of mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes I make on a consistent basis is forgetting just how big and how great my God really is. And I don’t think that I am the only one making this mistake.

I believe that our churches are full of believers who, just like me, underestimate their God and King on a consistent basis. It’s not that we don’t believe in Him. It’s not that we aren’t saved by grace or a part of His great family. No, it is, I think, a lack of intimate knowledge of our God based on our lack of experience and time spent with Him.

God’s power is a great power. The greatest power. And according to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians it is a power that works in us. Because His power works in us we can be assured of who God is. We can get to know His heart and His character because His very spirit inhabits us. As we spend time worshiping Him, talking to Him and letting Him minister to us we develop a stronger and better relationship with the God who redeemed us.

As our relationship with Him grows we are blessed and can in turn bless those around us. And when problems come against us we can be assured that God is bigger and God is greater than any of them. We will know, at that time, that God truly is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think. And we can marvel at His great work and bless His holy name through it all.

So I will ask you the same question that I am asking myself. “How can I know Him better?” “How can I better understand just how big and how great my God is?” Like this: By making my time with him sacred and unmovable. By prioritizing time spent in prayer and thanksgiving and by loving Him with my whole heart.

Lord, grant me the wisdom to seek you at all times. Grant me the will and the strength to follow wherever you might lead. Help me understand just how great and awesome you are and may all of your children everywhere learn more about you every single day. Amen.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: Ephesians 3:20, God is great

The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

January 12, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Everybody faces disappointment. It is a simple fact of life. If you live you will at some point be disappointed by someone or something.

Disappointment comes in many forms and from many places. They can be small or large. They can come singly or all at once. But come they will, whether we are ready for them or not.

Knowing this, we have two choices. We can choose to live life to the fullest, bravely and boldly and full of love as God intended. Or we can choose to live in such a way that we avoid all possible people and situations that might lead to disappointment in the future.

The thing is, avoidance is not God’s way. God embraces. God encompasses. God gives generously and liberally to all who ask. And so should we.

We need to be out there, in the world, showing God’s love to all and meeting their needs in His name. And if we live in this way then we risk being disappointed when we are rejected and especially when God’s free gift of salvation is rejected.

But thank God, we have a remedy. We must realize our disappointment is temporary. Any disappointment tied to this life will ultimately pass away when God takes us home to be with Him and all things are made new. We have that promise and no temporary defeat or setback in this life can diminish it. God won the victory and while there is much work still to be done, the outcome is assured. One day we will be with Him and there will be no more tears or sorrow, no more suffering or pain. Look forward to heaven, child of God. It will be glorious, indescribable and beyond all expectation.

This is our hope. But it is not only a future hope. It is a hope that lives and makes a difference right now, right here. Like Romans 5:5 says above, our hope does not disappoint (notice the present tense!). It does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured out directly in our hearts and lives through the gift of His Holy Spirit.

His Holy Spirit ministers to us and provides comfort and peace in times of trouble. His Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and directs our steps as we trust in Him fully. If we stumble and fall it is because we are not taking advantage of the wonderful gift that He has given us through His Spirit but even then He stands ready and willing to forgive us and re-establish us if we will confess our sin to Him.

Are you living in disappointment? Is your hope diminished? Have the troubles and cares of this life brought you down? Turn your eyes on Jesus and focus your heart on Him. Confess your failures and disappointment to Him and cast all your cares upon Him. He will never leave or forsake you and your hope is safe with Him. Come and see, Jesus never disappoints.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: disappointment, faith, hope

Does Your New Year Have A New Theme?

January 5, 2015 by Matthew Gaither

For last year the central idea or theme of my life was living in thankfulness. It is an area that God has been working on me for a very long time and it will continue to be something that I have to practice every day. If living in thankfulness is not something that you are focused on then I challenge you to start doing so right now. If you commit to doing so then I promise it will change your life for the better.

But this is a new year, and God has given me a new theme. It is an invitation and it is very exciting. It is simply this: Come and see!

God is asking me to come and see all that He is doing. His invitation is for a lifetime but it is renewed every single day. He says to me “this is a new day, come and see the wonder of my creation” and “this is a new day, come and see what I will do for you”.

This is the same invitation that He offered so many times in His book, the Bible. Remember the shepherds in the field that night so long ago? The angels appeared to them and said “Come and see the place where he is laid”. Recall the story of Abram, before God changed his name. The Lord said to him, arise and go to the country that I will show you (come and see what I have for you there!). Even the woman at the well received the same invitation. Jesus said to her “if you drink from my living water, you will never thirst again” (come and see the power of God’s word to change a life forever!).

Come and see! Come and see! Over and over when God meets us He offers us the choice to come and see. He never chooses for us (because perfect love never coerces) but always with wisdom and love He offers the chance at a new life. His power, if we let it, will bring that which is dead in us back to life. His power will mend that which is broken and bring hope and salvation to the those who have wandered in darkness for so long.

I can’t wait to come and see all that He has for us in this new year! No matter how good or how bad last year was for you, it is over. It is in the past and you can’t go back and re-do it. All you have is today (because we are not promised tomorrow) and the same invitation from the same God who loves you so much. You have a new opportunity. You have another chance. You have the power to choose God’s way and then let Him show you how amazing every day with Him can be. God is waiting to do awesome things in your life, in your home, in your family, in your job , in your church and in your community. He just wants you to be there with Him. Won’t you come and see that the Lord is good?

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: god's call, New Year

Have You Ever Asked God Why?

December 15, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

I think every single believer has at sometime in their life asked “Why, God?” “Why is this happening to me”?

We see our circumstances and we feel the effects of fear, doubt, and worry as we desperately try to find a way out. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we are lonely or hurting emotionally. Sometimes we may even be in physical danger or suffering from life piling a whole bunch of trouble on us all at once. Regardless of the cause our first response is usually to seek relief as we repeatedly ask “Why?”

We have a word that we use in the South sometimes to describe something that is just off. Something that is weirdly messed up in a strange way we call wonky. “Now that is just wonky!” Your neighbors car won’t start because a squirrel decided to build a nest inside it and ended up chewing some really important parts while leaving acorn remnants all over the motor? That’s a pretty wonky story! (I promise this is related, bear with me)

Have you ever really thought about the circumstances surrounding the Christmas story? The whole thing could be described as wonky if you look at only the circumstances. Mary and Joseph have already been told that they are going to be the parents of God’s only son and they have been obedient in preparing for their life together. But then something happens that turns all of their preparations and plans on their heads.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

Mary and Joseph have to leave their home and travel (mostly by walking and on the back of a donkey) to Bethlehem because some Roman official got the idea that it was time to take a census. And of course when they arrive they can’t find a place to stay. Everything is booked. So they end up bedding down with the barn animals in the stable and Mary gives birth to Jesus and places him in a feeding trough that serves as his first crib. Do you think they, during all of this, ever asked God “Why?”

I think they did. I think they needed constant reassurance that they were right in the middle of God’s plan and that He was taking care of them despite their wonky circumstances.

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2 15-20)

Not only was God actively providing for Mary and Joseph during the birth He was also announcing the arrival of His Son to some very unlikely candidates at the very same time. Angels appeared to some very important shepherds in a field nearby (I say very important because God specifically chose these men to be the very first witnesses of the Christ child) who immediately left their fields to go and see Jesus. After seeing Jesus what did they do?

They “made it widely known” and “all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds”. God understood the importance of including “the least of these” into His plan and at that time anyone who was a shepherd was considered the lowest in terms of societal position. I believe God picked them specifically because He wanted the world to understand that everyone, no matter their station, was to be included in His plan. And it was “the least of these” that started the important task of telling the world about Jesus’ arrival.

Viewed from a human perspective the Christ child’s birth may seem to be a strange (wonky) series of circumstances and events. But viewed from a Godly perspective we see that God had a plan and carried it out using ordinary, lowly people who in turn did amazing things for God’s Kingdom. So next time you are tempted to ask “Why” instead ask “What are you doing, Lord?” and “How can I make sure that I stay in the middle of it so that you can use me?”

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: Christmas, faith, Luke 2

What is God’s Glory and Why Should We Understand it?

December 8, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Can we, as human beings, ever really understand an all powerful, ever-present God? And as part of that, can we identify and comprehend His majesty and glory? I say that we can and by doing so we can get to know Him better.

God’s glory is spoken of often in the Bible and in many church settings. But do we understand what that is and why it is a part of Him? Or is it just a word we read and then pass over without a second thought? Has “glory to God” become such a Sunday School term that we no longer consider what we are saying or who we are saying it to?

After much thought and prayer I have decided to define God’s glory as “the sum total of all that God is, all that He has done and all that He ever will do”. To be sure, this definition is attempting to put an infinite, perfect God into terms that a finite, imperfect human can understand and is therefore not completely accurate. But I believe it does point us in the right direction.

God is Spirit and God is perfect. We are flesh and we are imperfect. We literally cannot comprehend God without major outside help. And because God’s glory surrounds Him and is part of Him it is inseparable from Him but also too vast and wonderful for us to bear. In Exodus Moses asked God to show him His glory and this is what God said:

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (Exodus 33:19-20)

Moses could not look on God directly but only on the afterimage of His passing. God had to hide him in the cleft of a rock and then cover the rock with His hand in order for Moses to survive the encounter. (Read Exodus 33:21-23). This same God who desires to make Himself known to us is also very dangerous to us because of our fallen, fleshly nature. So in that respect God’s glory presents a big problem to us that was marvelously solved by the coming of Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh.

The writer of Hebrews had this to say:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Jesus is God’s glory and God’s character made flesh! Here then is God Himself in a form that we can understand and comprehend. Although Jesus was fully man and born of woman He was also fully God and the exact representation of the nature of God the Father. God’s glory is shown to us by Jesus Christ and we can begin to understand all that God is and all that He has done through our relationship with Jesus. When we say “Glory to God” what we are really saying is “Praise Jesus who I understand as God!”

This is the season of Advent when we talk about and celebrate the coming of the Christ child. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Jesus Christ in bridging the relationship between God and man. Jesus is God that came to meet us and the only way that we can understand the character and nature of God. We can get to know our creator and the awesome, perfect God of the universe because of Jesus Christ. God’s glory is revealed in Him and we must know Jesus to know God.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: glory, Jesus, praise

Thoughts on Thankfulness

December 1, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Thankfulness as a way of living has been my theme for some time now. Some days I am more successful with this than others. It’s been easier this month with the Thanksgiving season upon us but that still does not lessen my responsibility to be mindful of my blessings. As I sat down to write this week I seemed to have a jumble of ideas all centered around thankfulness so I thought I would collect them here.

1. Being thankful is God’s will for me. (1 Thes. 5:18)

2. Thankfulness is like armor. It protects me from bad attitudes, greed and envy.

3. Thankfulness alleviates depression. Count your blessings!

4. Pride can destroy thankfulness (when I am proud I feel I deserve more instead of being mindful of what I already have been given)

5. My thankfulness should be expressed often, verbally and by my actions.

6. I should be especially thankful for those that God has put closest to me: my family and my church.

7. Because I am thankful I am compelled to serve the Lord out of love for Him.

8. It is still difficult to be thankful for trials and tribulation but I am starting to understand how God uses those to shape me into a usable vessel for Him.

9. Difficult people are a blessing from the Lord that I should be thankful for.

10. The gift that I am most thankful for is my salvation and the hope that the Lord has given me for eternal life.

I hope that this month has caused you to think about all of the things that you are thankful for. I hope that you understand how important it is to be thankful at all times and in all things. I would ask you to stop and think of all the things that God has done for you and the ways that He is working in your life and then give Him praise for it.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: blessings, praise, thankfulness

The Words That Make Me Most Thankful

November 24, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

I have a living hope, a hope that does not die and does not fade. My hope is in Jesus and the work that He has already done for me. My hope relies on the power of God and and I am so thankful because I know the He never fails and never falters.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1: 6 – 9)

I am thankful for the faith that God has given me because it is a gift from Him. To my Heavenly Father, my faith is more precious than gold or jewels and it is His desire to refine it to perfection. In order to do this He allows various trials to come in to my life that test me and strengthen me as I rely on Him. Trials and tribulation are not comfortable but the end result is a life that gives praise, honor and glory to God. In this I rejoice because I know that the ultimate expression of my faith is found in the salvation of my soul through Jesus Christ my Lord.

¹⁷And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1: 17-21)

I will continue to call on my Father who loves me and sent His only Son to die for me. I know that I have been redeemed at the highest possible price and that I must conduct myself in a way that pleases Him as I walk through this life. God’s ultimate expression of love was shown through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who God chose before the foundation of the world. Before I knew Him he loved me and provided a way for me to be with Him forever, both in this life and beyond. I have been reconciled to God and made right with Him through that one precious, glorious act and I can do nothing but be eternally thankful to Him who saved me soul and redeemed my life.

Thank you, Father, for your words that always bring life!

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: 1 Peter, salvation, thankfulness