July 6-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:12-14 (NLT), And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul doesn’t moan or complain about his circumstances. Instead, he is happy to report that the gospel is advancing in spite of his chains. There are two great outcomes. First, everyone knows why he is being guarded. His indictment is connected with believing and serving Jesus. The news has reached the palace guard which were a group of handpicked soldiers originally commissioned by Caesar Augustus. Paul was able to proclaim the gospel in Rome from inside prison walls. Instead of falling into self-pity, he took every opportunity to make the gospel known. The second way the gospel had advanced was Paul's imprisonment had emboldened other Christians in Rome to courageously share Jesus. Instead of being filled with fear, they found courage in Paul's example. Paul was chained, but the gospel wasn’t. The word was getting out. Throughout history, persecution has been used by God to spread the message and deepen faith. Paul’s difficult circumstances became his opportunity to witness. One of our church members was at a rehab facility recovering from a broken bone. She asked a medical tech if he knew Jesus. He said he did. She invited another person to join her Bible Study that met in her home. She was there less than two weeks and was sharing Jesus with everyone. Paul would be proud.

Relate it to your life.
Do I look at my difficult circumstances as an opportunity to share Jesus with others?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, make me aware of opportunities and give me courage to share You with others. Amen.  

July 7-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:15-18 (NIV2011), It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

Observe what it is saying.
Some rival preachers were envious of Paul and driven by their own selfish ambition. They thought they could slander Paul and gain a larger following for themselves. But there were other preachers who loved Paul. They understood that Paul’s circumstances were part of a larger divine plan. It wasn’t by chance, but by God's sovereignty he was where he was. In ways he could have never foreseen or orchestrated, God accomplished within the short span of 30 years the spreading of the gospel from obscure Judea to the center of the Roman Empire. Paul must have looked with a sense of awe at his situation as he confidently said, "I am put here." God was in this. God was with him. God was at work. Many faithful followers understood this and took their stand with him. The surprising point that Paul made about these two types of preachers is that motive doesn’t matter. Paul said even if some preachers don’t like him and are causing him trouble, he’s going to choose joy because the gospel is still being preached.

Relate it to your life.
Do I dare choose joy where “I am put” right now because I know God is with me and is using me?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You can take my situation and use it for good and for Your glory. Amen.

July 8-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:19-25 (NLT), For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul’s joy increased because he knew through the Philippians’ prayers the Spirit of Jesus was helping him. He was confident that he was going to be delivered and would never be ashamed because he will be bold for Christ. The result will be that his life will bring honor to Jesus, whether he lives or dies. Deliverance is the same word for salvation. His salvation is in Christ whether he lives or dies. He can be so confident in his deliverance because he is already living it. When he comes to trial and the verdict is read, there is the possibility he will be set free and will have more fruitful service for Christ. But if he is sentenced to death, he is comforted because it is a life sentence in Jesus’ presence. As he had already explained to the Corinthians, to be absent from the body is to be immediately present with the Lord. As soon as we die, we are with Christ until His coming and the final resurrection when we will enjoy our new bodies which come with a never-ending warranty. If Paul could choose, he would choose to go hang out with Jesus. But he says he is torn. He wants to be with Jesus, but he also knows it’s better for the Philippians if he sticks around to encourage them in the joy of their faith. Paul believed he would be released so that he could help them grow in Jesus, but he believed he would win either way.

Relate it to your life.
I want to stay and serve as long as possible, but I also look forward to my fantastic future!

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for delivering me by Your saving grace so that I win both here and there. Amen.  

July 9-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:19-25 (Same Scripture from yesterday)

Observe what it is saying.
Professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer at 33. He had just won a PGA championship. He wrote, "A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me even harder. I’m going to die eventually anyway, whether from cancer or something else. It’s just a question of when.” Before, Azinger lived for golf. Now all he wanted to do was live! One day, Azinger remembered what he once heard in a Bible study. “We’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We’re in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living." That led him to have hope through faith in Jesus Christ. Azinger recovered from chemotherapy and returned to the PGA tour. He later wrote, “I’ve learned that happiness is only temporary. The only way to true contentment is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ…” Jesus was the answer of peace and joy in the midst of the threat of death for both the golfer Paul and the Apostle Paul.

Relate it to your life.
There is only one ultimate source for joy in the midst of life and death.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the hope I have that leads to peace and joy when I face my mortality. Amen.

July 10-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:27-30, Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul spoke from his own experience. He was in prison, he was being slandered by other preachers, he was waiting to see if he was going to live or die. Whatever happened, Paul conducted himself worthy of the gospel. Whatever happened, he stood firm in his faith. So, he admonished them to do the same. Just as Paul had, they experienced opposition from their metropolitan city. Their values didn’t fit the pagan mindset and lifestyle. So, Paul encouraged them to stick together as a united front in the midst of opposition because they, like Paul, would be delivered. They already were. Paul gave them some news we would rather not hear. It has been granted that we are not only to believe on Jesus but to suffer on behalf of Christ. It should not be a surprise since Christian values clash with earthly values. There will be some form of conflict and suffering for everyone throughout their lives for various reasons, but believers must add opposition to their faith to the mix. So, in the midst of life’s difficult circumstances, we need to develop “Paul’s whatever” attitude. Whatever happens, I am sticking with Jesus. I am sticking with the fellowship of believers. I am confident I will be delivered one way or another.

Relate it to your life.
In living a “whatever attitude,” I choose to remain steady and faithful to my Lord Jesus.  

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me not only say this but live this when times become really difficult. Amen.

July 11-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.  
Habakkuk 3:17-18, Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Observe what it is saying.
Habakkuk had the same “whatever” happens attitude that he would find joy in God. A young African pastor who was martyred said, “I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I’ve stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of his and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power. I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he comes.”

Relate it to your life.
When I am in the middle of a “whatever” happens situation, will I choose joy in Jesus?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, in “whatever” happens, give me such spiritual strength to stay faithful and fruitful. Amen.  

Our Mission Focus for the month of July is our School Partnerships.

We love our schools and we’re so thankful for the teachers, faculty, and staff who pour into the lives of our kids each and every day!

That being the case, we always appreciate the opportunity to be part of the great work they’re doing.

This month we’re collecting funds that will be used to support our school partnerships as we help meet needs and join in efforts that are helping to bless the lives of kids and families in our community.

Our current partnerships are with McGary Middle School, McCutchanville Elementary, Cedar Hall School, and Scott Elementary, and we’re excited to continue our relationship with them in the coming school year.

You may place a donation in the baskets located at the back of the Worship Center at our Main Campus, give online, or use the Blue Grass Church App in the iOS and Android app stores.

However you give, thank you for supporting the mission of God in the world.

June 29-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:3-5, I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

Observe what it is saying.
Paul’s heart was full of thanksgiving for the way in which the Philippians had become his partners in the gospel. The amazing thing is that Paul had spent only a short amount of time at Philippi, yet he had developed some of the closest friendships in his ministry. The word in the original language for partnership is koinonia. It’s a rich term that expresses fellowship in the life of Christ and the sharing of a common faith. In other words, Paul paints a picture of a closeknit friendship among believers. He believed that they were with him even when they weren’t together because they demonstrated in tangible ways that they shared in the work of the gospel. As we will find out later, that tangible support included their prayers, sending a representative and an offering to support his ministry. Paul was totally dependent on the generosity of others so that he could survive the hardships of prison life. These Christians had stepped up in a huge way to offer their loving care and support on several different occasions. Paul told them that his prayers of thanksgiving were filled with great joy. Whenever they would come to mind, it would trigger a feeling of happiness and a prayer of thanksgiving. How thankful are you for your friendships? Do you offer a prayer of thanks with joy whenever they come to mind?

Relate it to your life.
Who can I tell today that I am thankful for their friendship and that they bring me great joy?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for ____________ and their friendship to me. Amen.  

June 30-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:6, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul said he was confident that God who began a good work in them would bring it to completion. The good work that God began was bringing the life-changing gospel and their whole-hearted response to it. He reminded them that there was far more than just a beginning to their faith. It would carry them throughout their lives until the day of Christ’s return when their faith would then become complete. Paul wanted them to know they weren’t left on their own to defend for themselves. Even though Paul wasn’t there, God was with them through His Spirit to assure and strengthen them in their faith and life to the very end. As we’ll soon discover, Paul’s Philippian friends were going through some of the same trials he did when he was there, so they desperately needed to know that in all things, God was near and working for good. Paul wanted to encourage and spur them on with the assurance they would finish their faith in the midst of these great challenges. Throughout our lives, we all can use encouraging words in the midst of our difficulties. Is there someone in your world who needs to be reminded that God is at work in their lives, that God is working for good, that God loves them and so do you?

Relate it to your life.
Who can I encourage today with these words?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, make me an encouraging presence and voice for Your kingdom each and every day. Amen.

July 1-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:7-8, It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Observe what it is saying.
It was uncommon in Paul’s world to speak of such warm-hearted affection for others. Paul says he has them in his heart. He feels deeply for them and openly communicates that love to them. He says God is his witness how much he longs for them with the affection of Jesus. Just as he experienced and knows the love of Jesus for him so he loves them in the same way. He longs to be with them again. He had also experienced loving support from them in multiple ways over the ten years since he had first appeared on their riverbank. He said that whether he was in prison or presenting the gospel they had been sharing in God’s grace with him. When we have truly experienced God’s grace, we cannot help but share that grace with others. When loving actions are being freely exchanged, that’s when the church community is living out its best possible fellowship. In the family of faith, it is not enough to tolerate one another. In true Christian community, we miss each other when they are absent. We delight in one another when they are present. We yearn to be together enjoying and exchanging the same love Jesus has for us.

Relate it to your life.
How am I personally participating in the mutual exchange of grace in the church?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for showering me with Your grace over and over again. Help me to generously share that same grace with others over and over again. Amen.

July 2-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:7-8, It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Observe what it is saying.
Lucian wasn’t a believer. He lived around AD 180, and was jealous of the friendships that the Christians had in his day. He wrote, “It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator [Jesus] has put it in their heads that they are brothers.” That’s what Christian friendships looked like to an outsider. Do we have the same witness in our community as a loving, caring, giving, serving community of friends? Jesus said it this way, John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” It’s not by our perfection, but by our loving actions that make our witness shine. C. S. Lewis wrote the same in Mere Christianity: "Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less. This action-oriented kind of love is what Paul and the Philippians shared with one another. It’s what made them such great friends.

Relate it to your life.
What action will I take to show my love to a friend today?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this amazing family of friends called the church. We are at our best when we generously display Your love to one another. May Your Holy Spirit create in us what the first Christians had that was such a powerful witness to the larger community. Amen.

July 3-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:9-11, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul has already told them that he gives thanks in prayer for them. Now he tells them specifically what he asks God to do for them. This is a prayer for their spiritual progress. It’s a prayer that builds on itself. 
Love may abound
  In knowledge and wisdom
    To discern what is best  
       In living holy lives for Christ’s return.
          Filled with Jesus’ fruit of righteousness
  For the glory of God. 
This abounding love would increase in their friendship towards God, one another, Paul, and those who are in need of the gospel. It’s much deeper and richer than an emotional love. It’s a love based on spiritual knowledge found in God’s word which gives direction for us to love what God loves. And the purpose of such knowledge is so that we’ll have wisdom. Wisdom is the practical application of our spiritual knowledge so that we will discern between right and wrong and make the best possible decisions. We not only ask is it harmful, but is it helpful? We not only ask is it evil, but what good will it produce? We not only ask is it sinful, but what is my inner life revealing to me at this time?

Relate it to your life.
I must live to do more than avoid evil but to fully embrace the total impact of Christ’s love in my life.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I pray this prayer to be a deep work among all who follow after You. Amen.  

July 4-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.  
Philippians 1:9-11, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Observe what it is saying.
The prayer reveals a twofold purpose. First, it is meant for us to live holy lives in preparation for Christ’s return. The very fact Paul prays indicates it requires the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit for us to be able live out the character of Jesus and bear His fruit. The second and ultimate purpose of living a fruitful life is so God will be given the glory and praise in all things. This is a profound prayer to offer for our friends that we dearly love. What if we not only prayed it in our personal prayer time, but prayed it over them in person, over the phone, or even in a text or email? You can personalize it, so they know you’re praying the prayer just for them. Would it not be a great image of the friendship and fellowship of the church to having clusters of people praying this over each other? If we want to elevate our friendships, Paul models that we offer thanks, encouragement, love, and prayers for each other.

Relate it to your life.
Deep growing friendships make it a habit to pray deeply for one another

Do something.
Lord Jesus, today, I pray this prayer for ______________. Amen.  

June 22-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 16:7-9, When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Observe what it is saying.
If you would like to journey into greater joy by elevating your attitude, then this next devotional series is for you. We will travel through Philippians, but first, some background information. The Apostle Paul traveled to Philippi on his second missionary journey. According to Acts 16, Paul tried to go a different way, but the Holy Spirit prevented him from going the direction he wanted to go. Have you ever found yourself there? You think you know best. You try to go a certain way, do a certain thing, and barriers are set up. The real challenge is to determine if the blockades are from God or from Satan. It’s difficult to know whether we should persevere through the barriers or should stop and wait on the Lord’s leading. There’s no quick and easy solution. It’s all about deepening our relationship with the Lord over time so that we understand His heartbeat, learn His voice, and discern His will. It is like best friends who grow close over the years knowing each other’s heart and finish each other’s sentences. We’re not told what the Spirit did to keep Paul from going the direction he wanted, but we’re told what got him moving in the direction God wanted. He had a vision of a man calling for him to come to Macedonia to help them. So, Paul understood this was God’s doing and went to Macedonia and entered the city of Philippi,

Relate it to your life.
I can expect God to lead me where to go and where not to go if I am spiritually in tune with His voice.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, make me a good listener and obedient follower to Your Spirit’s voice and leadership. Amen.  

June 23-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 16:13-15, On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Observe what it is saying.
Continuing with background information, we find Philippi was located along the main highway that led from Asia to the west. It was a leading Roman colony where many Roman soldiers had been placed to live so that Roman influence could spread throughout the area. This was Paul’s first major European city where he did missionary work. Soon after arriving, he joined a group of female worshipers who met for prayer by the river. There was no Jewish synagogue in town. It took at least 10 Jewish believers to have a synagogue so that tells us that there was little formal Jewish influence. At the river, there was a woman named Lydia who was a Gentile who believed in the Jewish God. So, Paul joined them and took the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus with them. God opened her heart, and she became a believer and was baptized and so was her household. She opened her home to Paul and his traveling companions. She was among the first converts to Christ in Europe and led her family to Christ.

Relate it to your life.
Like Lydia, would I have responded to the gospel and shared my faith with my family? Am I today?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to see my first mission field is my own family. Make me a positive witness. Amen.

June 24-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 16:16-18, Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

Observe what it is saying.
The background info for Philippians continues. Paul cast out from a slave girl an evil spirit of fortune-telling which was bringing a huge profit for her owners. Scripture is clear that fortune telling, tarot card readers, horoscopes, and other astrological practices are of the Enemy. If we avail ourselves to such, we’re opening the door for evil to enter into our lives. Paul set the girl free in the name of Jesus, but it put him in prison. The wealthy owners weren’t happy about losing their source of income. So Paul and Silas were arrested on false charges. They were whipped and put in stocks. That night they were praying and singing in prison when an earthquake hit, the doors flew open, but no prisoner escaped. The jailer thought they had and was going to take his own life, but Paul told him not to do so. He and his family became believers and were baptized. The jailer took care of Paul’s wounds and brought them to his home providing a meal. The jailer was overjoyed that he and his family had come to believe in God.

Relate it to your life.
What have I had to sacrifice to bring the joy of salvation to others?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me passion and courage to boldly bring Christ into my world. Amen.

June 25-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 2:2 (NLT), You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.

Observe what it is saying.
As we continue to look at background information, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about his difficult experience at Philippi. His time there left quite a painful memory. One would think, he would not have much good to say about that place or would ever want to go back, but it did not stop or distract him from his mission. He would return there again. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is the most positive and personal of all the letters he would write. One of the letter’s purposes was to offer his profound thanks for their generosity while he was in prison waiting for his case to be heard. Unlike our prison system, they weren’t provided with food. They had to rely on the goodness of family and friends to care for their basic needs. The Philippians demonstrated their love for the Lord by showing such care and concern for Paul. So, as we will find, this is a very encouraging letter. It is like a letter you might write to your best friend trying to elevate them to a new level of thinking, believing, and living. You have such love for them that you want them to experience the very best possible life in Christ in this world.  

Relate it to your life.
My faith in Christ should lead to my profound love for others expressed in goodness and generosity.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your overwhelming generosity of grace to forgive every sin I have ever committed. Motivate and move me to demonstrate that same goodness to those who are in need. Amen.

June 26-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 1:1-2, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observe what it is saying.
We often read quickly through these introductory words because we do not think there is much value to glean. This salutation was a common writing style that was used in Paul’s contemporary world. It begins with the sender’s names, the recipients, and the greeting. Paul and Timothy weren’t coauthors but Paul included him. Timothy was a well-known leader who helped start and pastor some of the churches that Paul started, including Philippi. Timothy is now with Paul where he was in prison. We have heard about Paul’s dramatic call to Christ as he was on his way to persecute the followers of Christ, but Timothy’s coming to faith seems to be much quieter. Paul wrote to Timothy these words when he was pastoring at Ephesus, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” [2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT)] Timothy caught the faith that his mother and grandmother lived before him. Parents and grandparents, please do not underestimate that you are the most significant faith influencers for your children. Children and youth ministries are all vital support pieces, but your influence outweighs everything we can do in an hour or two a week many times over. Paul considered Timothy his spiritual son. It’s interesting that nothing is mentioned about his father’s faith, so Paul spiritually adopted Timothy and included him as a co-sender of the letter.

Relate it to your life.
I must never under-value or under-estimate my spiritual influence on the next generation.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit, give me wisdom and emotional intelligence to demonstrate the gospel to my kids and grandkids and to all who are watching me. Amen.  

June 27-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.  
Philippians 1:1-2, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observe what it is saying.
Paul identified themselves as servants of Christ Jesus. The word literally means a slave. Paul was once very successful in his Jewish leadership, but once Jesus turned his life upside down, he had a huge role reversal. He was not ashamed of calling himself a slave, a very derogatory title in any culture. When Jesus takes over, the greatest title we can bear is servant of the King. Paul spoke of the Philippians as God’s holy people in Christ Jesus. In other words, they are saints. We often reject this title because we do not feel we are worthy, and, it is true, we are not. However, that is the very point of the gospel. This title is given, not because of our perfect performance but because of Christ’s perfect performance on our behalf. We are holy as He is holy. Our status is His status. This is what we must believe about ourselves because anything less robs the gospel of its tremendous value. As the holy saints of God, we have been set apart for God’s glorious purposes. This is something to actively believe and adoringly behold.  

Relate it to your life.
If I am going to bring glory to God and fulfill His purposes, then I need to fully claim my identity as a saint.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I am humbled and honored that I am a saint because of what You have done for me. Amen.  

Start cleaning out those closets and attics!

We're having a Summer Rummage Sale in the Gym at our Chapel Campus on Friday, July 17th from 7am-2pm and Saturday, July 18th from 7am-Noon.

Funds raised from the sale this year will go to support Playground Updates for our Home for Your Heart School.

We will accept your donated items at the Chapel Campus Gym beginning Sunday, July 12 through Wednesday, July 15 from 9am-Noon and 5-8pm each day.

We don't have storage space prior to that time, so please hang onto your donations until July!  Please note we are not accepting TV’s or PCs due to disposal fees.

Volunteers are welcome and needed to help each day. Please click HERE to sign up for a time (or two) to volunteer!

If you have any questions, please EMAIL Nicki Blythe.

June 15-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 6:13, Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Defeat comes in many forms. We can experience it emotionally, mentally, physically, vocationally, financially, relationally, and spiritually. We might wonder, if Christ is living in me, why I am experiencing defeat in any part of my life? There are many reasons of which we do not have the space to delve into. However, our Scripture gives us a general answer that should be the starting point to experience overall victory in our lives. First, we are to offer ourselves to God. Through Jesus Christ, we are able to stand before God going from spiritual death to spiritual life. We are given Holy Spirit power making us into brand new people. Second, we are to offer every part of our being as instruments of righteousness. If we are defeated in any area of our lives, then it would seem to indicate that portion of our life is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our thoughts, emotions, decisions, actions, relationships, work, hobbies, spare time, finances, and conversations are to be instruments for God’s glory. To experience victory in life requires the full surrender of our total selves, including every part, into the hands of our loving Lord.  

Relate it to your life.
I can expect spiritual victory when I surrender myself under Jesus’ full authority.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, today, I give myself and any area of my life where I feel defeated to You. Amen.  
June 16-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
Wesley probes deep into our souls wanting to us to discern if we are living by Holy Spirit or by our own spirit. He is describing those thoughts and attitudes that reveal how much of the world is still in us. They are the result of being too earthly minded. If we are in a constant battle with one or several of these, then it reveals that not all is well with our soul. There is still work to be done. Even though we have been redeemed, we are still immature in our faith journey. This is true for all of us when we get started. As we grow chronologically from infants to childhood to adolescence to adulthood, we require different nutrition to match our maturity, so we need the same for our spiritual lives. These thoughts and attitudes will become less controlling as we make spiritual progress. As we consciously confess these areas needing special attention to Christ and submit ourselves to His Lordship, the Holy Spirit becomes more influential in our lives transforming us into the new creation we are promised to become.

Relate it to your life.
Whenever I notice any of these thoughts and attitudes begin to emerge, I know that something is going on deep in my spirit that needs special attention.  

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I surrender myself and all of my attitudes to Your cleansing grace. Amen.

June 17-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 13:11-12, And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: How do I spend my spare time?
Wesley addressed our use of money earlier, now, he addresses our use of time. As we are called to be good stewards of the wealth that God has entrusted to us, so are we to be good stewards of the time we have been given. When we comprehend just how brief life is, then we are awakened to the precious commodity of time. We cannot buy back lost time. We cannot go back and undo what we have or have not done with our spare time. We need to use our time as though the Day is almost here. The Day of the Lord’s return. The Day of our own death. The Day of the final reckoning. When we recognize the end is in sight, that helps clarify the vision of how we should live. We no longer want to waste time on trivial matters but spend all the more time on that which is of utmost importance. We want to be found faithfully enjoying and serving the Lord, spending quality time with our family and loved ones, and participating in activities that are healthy and helpful for our overall wellbeing. We become pickier in what we choose to do because we understand we have only such limited time to enjoy, so we want to use it wisely for the benefit of others all to the glory of God.    

Relate it to your life.
How I spend my disposable time reflects the quality of my spiritual life.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me wisdom in my time management so I steward it as a blessing to You. Amen.

June 18-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Luke 18:10-12, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: Am I proud? Do I thank God that I am not like other people?
Wesley understood that pride can easily enter into our spiritual life and practices. Instead, of humbly coming before the Lord in worship and prayer, the Pharisee looked around at everyone else and proudly proclaimed his superior position of piety. This is the seduction of self-righteousness to elevate ourselves based upon performance and comparison to others. This proud way was the message that the Pharisees lived and taught others. It was a heavy and burdensome life to try to outdo one another in climbing the self-righteous ladder of success. Jesus revealed that He came to set us free from such a performance trap. In this story, He went on to tell how we all should see ourselves in worshiping our holy God, “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” Jesus then said this man went home justified before God because all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Relate it to your life.
To be found to be righteous before God in worship, I have nothing to offer but my sin and brokenness.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

June 19-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Ephesians 4:32, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. James 5:8-9, You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Is there anyone who I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment towards, or disregard? Do I grumble or complain constantly?
There’s a lot to consider in these two questions! They speak of the quality of our relationships with God and one another. They reflect how we are doing spiritually as we go about daily life, interacting with people and with the challenges that life itself brings. Wesley’s asking if “there is anyone who we…,” he indicates having one such person in our life is not healthy for our spiritual wellbeing. To feel any such ill towards anyone means we have not done the interior work that needs to be done to forgive them for any harm they have done to us. This comprehensive list causes us to pause to take careful inventory of all our relationships past and present to consider if this true for any of them. If so, why is it? What do we need to do to rectify it and have a positive attitude towards them? In the same way, we need to be honest and consider if we are grumbling and complaining often about someone or something in our lives. This also reveals an unhealthy spiritual interior of discontentment that needs to be investigated and corrected. The Lord is willing to help us if we will be honest, confess, and ask for His strength to do so.

Relate it to your life.
I need to take regular inventory to see where there is a broken relationship or growing discontentment.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to do the necessary work to bring healing to my soul. Amen.  

June 20-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.  
John 17:3, Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Is Christ real to me?
This is Wesley’s last and best question of all. Do not rush too quickly past this one. Let it sink in. if the answer is no, then confess Your sin, ask Him to enter into Your life, and fill you with His Spirit. If the answer is yes, in what ways is He real to you? Do you have the assurance that your sins are forgiven, that you have entered into eternal life, that you have a certain hope about your future? Is it your driving desire to please Jesus every moment of your life? Do you speak often with Him? Do you enjoy reflecting on what He has written? Do you desire more of Him? Do you desire all of Him? In Jesus’ prayer on the night before His crucifixion, He defined the quality of eternal life as knowing both Father and Son. This knowledge is more than an intellectual pursuit, but a pursuit of the heart. It is to be an all-in experience of participating in the dynamic relationship of the Father and Son’s love through the Holy Spirit.  

Relate it to your life.
Christ is as real to me as I learn to practice His presence in my life.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, by putting my trust in You as Lord and Savior, You have become real to me. However, I want more. I want all that I can have. I want to enter into the deepest knowledge possible. I want to experience all of You every day. I give myself fully to You. Here I am Lord, fill me with Your holy love. Amen.

June 8-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Psalm 37:4, Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: Am I enjoying prayer?
I think it is very telling that Wesley did not ask if we are praying or how much time we spend each day in prayer. Wesley understood the deeper connection that is available in prayer. It is not just a practice to use when we are in trouble or have a need that we cannot answer on our own. He is getting at the attitude behind the practice of prayer. Is it merely dutiful or joyful? Do we understand that prayer is our God-given way to enter into a conversation with the Lord who created all, is above all, and rules over all? To fully grasp the nature of this gift should motivate us to do as the psalm says, “take delight in the Lord.” The Lord is for us, not against us. He wants our best more than we want our best. He has powerfully demonstrated His extravagant love by sending His Son so that we might have the richest life possible. If it is not already true for us, what needs to happen for us to discover prayer as a joy-filled conversation with the Lord of lords and King of kings? Maybe, it comes down to the nature of our relationship with God. Because prayer is so intimately linked to a growing connection with Christ, to ask if we enjoy prayer is nothing less than asking if we are enjoying Jesus. If we know who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised us, then we cannot help but delight in the Lord and relish our time in prayer.  

Relate it to your life.
The attitude of my prayer life is a direct reflection of the quality of my relationship with Jesus.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, because of who You are, I want to enjoy every moment I am able with You. Amen.  

June 9-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?”
This question cuts to the chase. There is no dancing around this piercing request for a date and time! What is our answer? Are you happy because you have done so recently? Are you sad because it has been a while, or you cannot remember when the last time was that you did so? When we become Christ followers, we are given His Spirit who promises to empower us to be witnesses. The promise is that we will be a witness. Are we hindering the Holy Spirit from using us or does the Holy Spirit have full reign to use our mouths at any time He sees fit to share the good news we have encountered in Jesus? The truth is that our actions and our mouths are a witness for something. The question we must honestly answer is what we are being a witness about: our work, our activities, our kids, our grandkids, our hobbies, our gym time, or our Lord? How can we become more comfortable in speaking to others about Jesus? Peter gives us two preparations in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” 1. Worship Christ as Lord in your heart.  2. Prepare an answer ahead of time so you will be ready to go when the opportunity affords itself. When we do this, we will find increasing opportunities to speak our faith.    

Relate it to your life.
If I take my faith seriously, I understand I have no excuse not to be a vocal witness for my Lord.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me overcome my fear and courageously offer a kind word about You to others. Amen.

June 10-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
1 Chronicles, 29:14, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I pray about the money I spend?
This question conveys the idea that what we do with money is a spiritual issue. Like any other important decision we make, the choices we make in our expenditures have soul implications. Spending is a matter of stewardship. Are we careful to use what God has entrusted to us for the very best purposes? King David understood and clearly articulated this foundational principle of stewardship as he talked about the tremendous joy of giving to build the temple. As he did, we should recognize God as the owner of all things, and we are His workers. Just as financial advisors must be accountable to those whose wealth they invest, so we must see ourselves in the same light with the wealth God has entrusted to us. We desire to seek His counsel in how He wants His resources to be distributed because we know they are not ours. The intent is not to pray asking God to bless a decision already made, but to pray in order to seek His will in purchasing things beyond our ordinary needs. Are we proactive when we need to make a major purchase to ask God to lead and give us peace in making the best possible buy? Ultimately, we know God’s heart is for us to be generous with His funds in supporting the church and other worthy causes. Wesley famously said, “Earn all you can, save all you can, so that you can give all you can.”

Relate it to your life.
My spending habits reflect the quality of my spiritual life just as any other spiritual practice might do.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me wisdom in all my spending. I want my stewardship to be a blessing to You. Amen.

June 11-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Psalm 3:5, I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: Do I go to bed on time and get up on time?
Wesley challenges us to examine several areas of our lives, even our sleep patterns. He was known to practice disciplined sleep habits as his journals and letters confirm a consistent pattern. He typically rose at 4:00 a.m. and encouraged others to avoid late nights. He wrote, “Be sure to rise early… do not indulge yourself in sleeping too long.” He understood the spiritual value of orderly sleep was to provide the best spiritual and physical wellbeing to accomplish the work of the Lord. Too much or too little sleep was not healthy in accomplishing what God desired for His creation. We are to be good stewards of, not only, our money but our bodies so that we can make the most of the life that we have been given. Sleep is a gift that is to be cherished but not abused. God ordered our world for rest and renewal as well as work and productivity. Studies have shown that we can accomplish more when we have the appropriate rest. In fact, at times, taking a nap may be the most spiritual thing we can do to help our bodies recover. We sleep much better when we have confidence that the Lord is always at work sustaining our lives.  

Relate it to your life.
Since, rest was built into the order of creation, I need to make sure I follow God’s given pattern for my well-being.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of Your daily provisions so that I can sleep well each night. Amen.

June 12-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I disobey God in anything?
This question speaks of the present. Is there anything in my life that is contrary to Jesus’ instruction for how a Christian is to live? It seems to speak of that where we have an ongoing sin that has not been confessed and repented of. Many are confused that the grace of God does not require obedience to the word of Christ. Yet, Jesus said there are two parts to making disciples. They are to be baptized into the faith as the profess their allegiance to Jesus. They are also to be taught to obey everything that Jesus commanded them. God’s grace sets us free from our sin and makes us accountable to be obedient to the teaching of Christ. True grace empowers and motivates us to be like Jesus in every possible way. So, if we find ourselves disobeying God anywhere in our lives, it is time to stop now and confess it, turn away from it, and surrender ourselves anew to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who freely forgives all sin. We are given this beautiful promise in John 14:23, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”  

Relate it to your life.
Obedience to the Lord’s teaching speaks to the heart of Jesus’ love language.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, may I demonstrate my love for You by living by each word You have spoken. Amen.  

June 13-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.  
1 Timothy 1:18-19, Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Our conscience is God’s warning system to help us stay on the right path. If we wander off that path, the conscience works in convincing and convicting us to bring us back, but if we reject it, the results can be catastrophic. If we want to have the best-working conscience then it needs to be informed by Scripture. My conscience will be less effective if I do not fill my life with the light and love of Christ. Paul told Timothy to fight the battle well by holding on to faith and a good conscience. Our Christian faith walks alongside our conscience to provide protection from error and sin. Paul told Timothy earlier in the chapter his instruction was to command certain people not to teach false doctrine any longer. Paul said, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (v. 5) The goal of Timothy’s work was to be out love for the people and their spiritual wellbeing. The source of that love included a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. The conscience works with our hearts and our faith to check and protect us when we are about to go astray. When we insist upon going against God’s built-in warning system, the results will be costly.  

Relate it to your life.
A well-informed conscience is God’s way of speaking into and directing our lives for holy living.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep warning me through my conscience. Help me to listen and obey. Amen.

Calling all incoming 9th–12th graders! Get ready for an awesome summer of food, fellowship, and FUN at our BG STUDENTS Summer Hang Outs!

Join us on Tuesday evenings from 6:00–7:30 PM at the Chapel Campus (unless otherwise noted) for a chance to connect with friends, grow in your faith, and make some unforgettable summer memories. Each week will feature a different activity, so there's always something exciting to look forward to!

Summer Hang Out Schedule

• June 2 – Survivor Showdown

Put your skills to the test with team challenges and Survivor-style games!

• June 9 – Tie-Dye Tuesday

Create your own colorful masterpiece while hanging out with friends.

• June 16 – Game Night & Mic Drop (Blue Grass Main Campus)

Board games, karaoke, and plenty of laughs await!

• June 30 – Bonfire Bash (Pastor Ben & Liz Lovell's House)

Enjoy a summer evening with yard games, a bonfire, and great conversation.

• July 7 – Stars, Stripes & Sparks (LOCATION TBD)

Celebrate summer with a special fireworks night.

• July 14 – Summer Cinema Night

Grab some snacks and enjoy a movie with friends.

• July 21 - Soaked & Smiling

End the summer with water games and tons of fun!

• July 28 - Sweet Treat Adventure (LOCATION TBD)

Join us for an ice cream outing and a chance to cool off together.

Be sure to follow the BG STUDENTS Facebook Page and keep an eye on the newsletter for weekly details, location updates, and anything you'll need to bring. Invite a friend and join us for an incredible summer—we can't wait to see you there!

Get ready for a summer full of fun at BG KIDS & BG PRETEENS! Starting May 31 through August 9, we’ll be celebrating with exciting Theme Sundays all summer long.

Each week will bring a new opportunity for kids and preteens to have fun, connect with friends, and grow in their faith.

From crazy outfits and fun activities to special surprises and themed experiences, you won’t want to miss a single Sunday this summer!

 Mark your calendars and join us for these special Theme Sundays:

• May 31 – Summer Kickoff: Hawaiian Sunday
• June 7 – Crazy Clothes Sunday
• June 14 – Stuffie Sunday
• June 21 – Career Sunday
• June 28 – Silly Hat Sunday
• July 5 – Family Sunday
• July 12 – Christmas in July
• July 19 – Mustache Sunday
• July 26 – Pink Flamingo Sunday
• August 2 – PJ Sunday
• August 9 – Bring a Friend Sunday

Be sure to watch the BG KIDS & BG PRETEENS Facebook page and newsletter each week for more details about the upcoming themes and special surprises. We can’t wait to spend the summer with you at Blue Grass Church!

Last year, we sent a team of youth and adults to join in the work that Mission Guatemala is doing to live the Gospel in the world. It was a powerful experience as we got to see what God was doing there first-hand.

While we're not planning to return to Guatemala this year, we want to continue to support Mission Guatemala in their ministry

Donations collected this month will be sent to Mission Guatemala and put toward their general budget to, among other things, help fund their medical clinic, nutritional programs for chronically malnourished children, community development projects, and vocational training programs.

Please prayerfully consider how you can give above and beyond your regular offering to support the work of God through Mission Guatemala. Go HERE to give online today!

Help bless Harper with a “Life on Record”

Our Blue Grass Church family has a special opportunity to encourage Harper Newport, a 16 year old young woman in our congregation who is battling a cancerous brain tumor, through a meaningful project called Life On Record—a collection of recorded messages from people who care about her.

We invite everyone in our congregation, along with family and friends, to take a moment to share a message of love, encouragement, Scripture, or prayer.

How to Participate

Call 1-800-437-3009
Enter invitation number 103129
Record your message
You might share:

A favorite memory
Words of encouragement
A Scripture or prayer
A simple message of love and support
You can call as many times as you wish during this 2 week period. The Deadline to record your message is June 30th.

Once all the calls are submitted, they’ll be organized and compiled into one collection and loaded onto a keepsake speaker for the family to keep.

This simple act will create a lasting gift for Harper and her family. Thank you for helping us surround them with love.

You can find out more about Life on Record and get tips on recording your message HERE.

If you need additional info, email Melody Pfeffer.
 

June 1-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 12:3-5, For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: “Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?”
The very moment we think of ourselves as better than others, we become proud, and thereby, a sinner and a hypocrite. Instead, Paul says we are to think rightly about ourselves with the faith we have been given. Individually, we are not the “all in all” answer to the world. God has placed us in His family with others to work well together. We do not have the same function but each of us have different gifts so that we can be a complete unit humbly serving together for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Paul goes one step further telling we will protect ourselves from becoming too self-absorbed when we acknowledge that we belong to each other and, in doing so, willingly hold ourselves accountable to the larger community.    

Relate it to your life.
When I make myself accountable to the community of faith, I will keep my pride in check.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to fully avail myself to the community You have given to keep me grounded. Amen.  

June 2-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 5:3-4, Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?”
When the church was blossoming in its early days, one of the marks of their dynamic spiritual health was generosity. Several believers were giving away their stuff in order to care for the many needs among them. Ananias and Sapphira joined in on the fun, but they, evidently, did so for more than the altruistic motives of selfless service. They sold land. They gave money, but they kept some of the proceeds for themselves. They lied about it. They said they gave all the proceeds. They rightly could have kept some of the proceeds for their own needs. They did not have to exaggerate their claims. God revealed how much he detests deceit by taking out both Ananias and Sapphira. He was sending a message to the early church that the Body of Christ was to be pure and holy. What they did not understand was that they were not only lying to the apostles but to God Himself. They allowed Satan to turn their good intentions into an act of deception that cost them their lives. This story reinforces how serious God is about truthfulness among His people.  

Relate it to your life.
As a follower of Jesus, I must choose honesty and refuse to lie or exaggerate.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me a pure heart that speaks and acts without deceit but with absolute truth. Amen.

June 3-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley    
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:13, A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 20:19, A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Trustworthiness is foundational to strong relationships. If I cannot be trusted to hold confidential information, then what value do I hold as your confidant? Gossip is portrayed as sin throughout the Bible since it destroys people, reputations, and relationships. Look at the list of sins in which it is included: 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” Instead of this, the hallmark of a true friend is one in whom you can share the secrets of your heart and have the absolute assurance it will not go any further. Obviously, if a person’s wellbeing or someone’s wellbeing is at stake, then there is legal obligation to tell others. The second proverb warns us not to associate with those who are always ready to talk. If they are willing to talk to you about others, they will be willing to talk to others about you so keep your distance!

Relate it to your life.
I can be trusted as far as I can keep confidence with others.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to keep a tight rein on my mouth so I speak only what is helpful and good. Amen.

June 4-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 6:16-17, Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

Observe what it is saying.    
Wesley’s Question: Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
In a time where slavery was prominent, Paul used such imagery to communicate what we were before Christ came and what we are when Christ has come into our lives. Christ set us free from slavery to sin and death so that we could become obedient to righteousness. The kinds of things in which Wesley lists that we can become enslaved to are not sinful in themselves. However, any time we allow anything to master us, we have become enslaved to it. Wesley was opposed to extravagant clothing. One of our church’s founding families wrote about an encounter with Wesley in England as a child when Wesley asked her on Easter Sunday if that was a bonnet she was wearing. He was not for such attire! We may not agree with such radical thoughts of dress, but the point is that we cannot allow our hearts to become captured by anything in this world except for Christ Himself. We cannot let the pursuit of clothes, people, work, or good or bad habits keep us from fully submitting ourselves to Christ. Jesus said we can only have one master at a time. Paul wrote in Romans 6:22, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Relate it to your life.
I need to take inventory of my life to discover if I have become enslaved to anything but Christ.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, please remove every earthly master in my life so that I am fully submitted to You. Amen.

June 5-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 3:17, If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Each of these are defined by self. Wesley seems to be asking us to evaluate how self-absorbed we are. How much time do we spend thinking only of our own reputation, our own needs, or making ourselves look good before others. The focus of the Christian is to be on Christ who calls us to look to the needs of others. As John writes, if we have the means to help others but fail to do so, then how can we say God’s love, that Christ Himself is dwelling within us. The very focus of Christ was never upon Himself but upon how He might heal, help, and save others. He said He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life away as a ransom for others. True followers of Christ will be the most selfless persons on the planet. Our very purpose is to find all the ways we can be a blessing to others with words, actions, and gifts. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Relate it to your life.
Being self-absorbed is the greatest obstacle in following Jesus who asks us to lay down our lives for others.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me Your vision which takes my eyes off myself and places them on You and those You love. Amen.  

June 6-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.  
Psalm 1:1-3, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Did the Bible live in me today? Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
For us to be able to answer the first question, we have to answer the second question honestly. If the message of Scripture is going to be infused into my daily life, then I will be spending time in the Scriptures knowing what they say, and, even, more importantly, getting to know the Holy Loving God they speak about. The question does not ask if we are merely reading Scripture, but if we are giving it time to speak to us. When we reflect on its message, it does its work to convict, correct, and train us in righteousness. This Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of those who take time to let God’s word speak into their lives. Such people will be fruitful and prosperous in all that they do. Because they are living by God’s holy standards, they will excel in life. They will produce the kind of character that stands out from the corrupted way and will be seen as those who can be trusted. They will be valued and sought out above others for in them will be found that which no one else has unless they have God within them.  

Relate it to your life.
When I take time to let Scripture speak into my life, it adds tremendous value to everything I do.  

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me not merely go through the motions but allow Your Word speak into my life. Amen.

May 25-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:11-12a, Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

Observe what it is saying.    
In regards to the knowledge of the final judgment that is coming to all people and creation, it should impact the way we choose to live today. Peter calls believers to be characterized by holiness and godliness. Holiness combines the ideas of moral purity and being set apart for God’s special purposes. Holiness is the primary attribute of God that describes His absolute purity and the fact that He is set apart as unique and sovereign over all other beings both on earth and in heaven. Godliness is a life that is totally-oriented toward God’s nature and purpose for mankind. Through the influence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it increasingly models the life of Jesus in all of our actions, reactions, and relationships. As we remain spiritually alert and wait for the day of the Lord to come, we are to actively pursue the holy presence of God. Biblical waiting does not mean we idly sit back but is an active participation in the kingdom mission to prepare the way for the Lord to come to the lives of others. For the believer, to “look forward” to this day means it is not a day to dread, but a day to eagerly anticipate that we will get to share in all things being made brand new and beautiful again.

Relate it to your life.
When heaven is on my mind, my daily life increasingly will reveal the attributes of the Lord Jesus.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to live into the holiness and godliness to which I have been redeemed. Amen.  

May 26-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:12b-13, That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter repeats what he said earlier about the destruction of the heavenly elements by fire on the day of the Lord Jesus’ return. However, as believers in Christ, we do not have to worry about this celestial catastrophe for it is a necessary step for the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where believers will live forever. This will be the place of perfect righteousness where nothing will be able to contaminate this beautiful and holy union of heaven and earth. This is what we long for. This is what we live for. This is what John saw in the Revelation he was given. “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Relate it to your life.
We have the most fantastic future ahead if we put our faith and trust in Christ and keep walking with Him.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, what a beautiful place the new heaven and earth will be! Thank You for the glorious promise that we will get to enjoy this eternal home forever and ever enjoying Your holy and loving presence.  Amen.

May 27-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:14, So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Observe what it is saying.
“Looking forward to this” refers back to the new heaven and earth we saw in yesterday’s devotional. Christians should eagerly anticipate the day when all things will be made new and beautiful again. As we see this world falling apart around us, we should often think about and long for this day to come. Since this is our destination, we should live now as we are going to live forever. We will be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This should be our driving desire each and every day to be found holy and pure. When we do sin, we can be stand blameless before God because we have confessed and repented of our sin and enjoy the forgiveness of God. Our peace with God comes through the gift of Christ who interceded on our behalf by taking our sin upon Himself. Romans 5:1-2a, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” This peace will last for all eternity because of the grace of God we have accessed by faith in Jesus alone. There is no other way to enjoy this peace but through the great and glorious gift of salvation offered to us through Jesus’ loving and sacrificial gift to us.  

Relate it to your life.
To have the assurance that we have peace with God through Jesus gives us deep peace today about our future.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I give you praise for what You did so that I can stand before God in total peace forever. Amen.

May 28-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:15-16, Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Observe what it is saying.    
Peter returns to this thought of the Lord’s patience in waiting to return to make all things new. When that day happens, it will be too late for anyone else to turn to Him. However, because He waits to culminate all history, more people will be included in the eternal home of heaven and earth. It is interesting that Peter gives a shout out to the Apostle Paul. He indicates that Paul wrote the same kind of message that he is writing. Peter admits that Paul writes some challenging things to understand which less than wise persons alter just as they do other Scriptures which leads to their destruction. He acknowledges that the false teachers he has been warning about are found everywhere with every apostle’s work. Long before Paul’s writings would be included in what we call the New Testament, Peter mentions them in the same breath as the Old Testament Scriptures that have already been established. Peter seems to put them on the same level foretelling that Paul’s writings would one day become canonized as the Word of God. Peter, a prominent leader of the church, gave a strong witness that Paul’s writings were truly from God.

Relate it to your life.
I can be confident that Scripture contains all that is needed for salvation and eternal life.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your holy Word so that we can know the way, truth, and life. Amen.

May 29-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:17, Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter brings to a conclusion and offers a summary to what he has been calling his readers to pay attention. He offers two final commands. One of which we find in today’s reading and one tomorrow. Today, it is “be on your guard.” He reminds them that he has forewarned them of the danger that these false teachers and scoffers present to the spiritual health of the church. We have been told over and over that we cannot take false teaching lightly. It is destructive to individual souls and to the community of faith. Peter reminds us here what happens when we allow false teaching form our theology: we are carried away. We are carried away from the truth which leads to bad theology which leads to sinful and evil practices. There is no such animal as safe heresy. It always destroys that which is good and holy. In fact, Peter says it can cause those who are in the faith to fall from their security. Peter clearly indicates that once we are saved, it is possible to be led astray by false teaching and lose our salvation. Peter’s main purpose in writing this letter was to warn us to stay alert to avoid such a terrible eternal consequence.

Relate it to your life.
If I have not already gotten the point, I need to understand today how detrimental bad theology is to my salvation.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I plead for your church to be protected from the enemy who works relentlessly to cause us to fall out of faith one way or another. Amen.

May 30-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 3:18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Observe what it is saying.
Instead of “falling away from your secure position” as Peter said in verse 17, he says, “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is the second command in his summary. The first was to “be on your guard” and now the second is “grow.” Grace is a gift from God, but it is also something we mature in as we receive it fully and give it away generously to others. Knowledge of the right gospel message is essential because Peter has laid out the case of what growing in the wrong knowledge will do. Peter gives us the order “Lord and Savior” not “Savior and Lord.” Jesus, as the Son of God, was Lord before He was Savior. He was present in creation. As one of three personalities of the Trinity, He has always existed and as an equal member of the Godhead, He is Lord over all. He was sent to earth to become our Savior. So, “Savior” is Jesus’ second title because His work as such came second to His eternal Lordship. Peter reminds us that in all things, Jesus is to be given glory today, tomorrow, and forevermore. We breathe, live, grow, serve, and love for the single purpose of bringing much praise and attention to Jesus.  

Relate it to your life.
When I am growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I will bring Him much glory and praise.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me growing. Don’t let me become stagnant or comfortable in my walk with You. I desire to give you continual praise with all that I say and do. May you be glorified in my life today. Amen.

Step into the joy, beauty, and hope of Heaven at this unforgettable evening featuring Bible teachers Jennifer Rothschild and Ann Voskamp. Christian Fellowship Church will host this event at 7pm on Thursday, November 5th.

Together, we'll discover what the Bible says about heaven, laugh about life's messy moments, and release the burdens we were never meant to carry. From tender times of reflection, to deeply inspiring worship, to laughter-filled storytelling, you will experience the hope of heaven - and that will help make every moment here on earth better.

We have purchased a block of tickets for our Blue Grass women.  Purchase your ticket HERE from us, before it's too late! This event is expected to sell out. Seating is general admission.

For those who attended our 2024 Prepare Him Room event, Jennifer Rothschild was the speaker and was a true delight! Ann Voskamp is also a well-known speaker and is the author of the New York Times best-seller, One Thousand Gifts.

Don't miss out on this tremendous opportunity so close to home!

May 18-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:2, I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Observe what it is saying.    
We ended last week discover Peter’s stated purpose of both letters was to stimulate wholesome thinking. In contrast to the hidden motives of the false teachers, the letters give us two sources to use to helpful us to remember and think correctly. First, they remind readers what the prophets said long ago, recorded in the Old Testament. Peter used passages from all three major divisions of the Old Testament (Torah, Prophets, and the Writings). This suggests when he says the holy prophets, he has the entirety of the Old Testament in view, not just what we commonly refer to as the prophetic books. Peter was convinced that the Old Testament writers served believers in announcing the Good News. Second, the letters remind readers of the commands of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which they received through the apostles. Instead of a specific commandment, Peter, likely, had in view the whole gospel message that commands people to repent and believe the good news. As our Lord, Jesus has full authority over us; as our Savior, he gave his life to make us his own people. Putting the testimony of the apostles and the Old Testament together is a strong indication that the apostles’ writing is equal in status to the inspired Scriptures they already had.

Relate it to your life.
If I am going to stimulate wholesome thinking, I need to engage in the whole witness of the Bible.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to stay true to Your holy word so that I do not fall prey to the many false messages being presented in our world today. Amen.  

May 19-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:3-4, Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Observe what it is saying.
Both the Old Testament and Jesus predicted that scoffers would come. “Scoffers” are those who in their arrogance mock or dismiss other people and their thoughts as being beneath them. Scoffing at God and His promises reveals the spiritual emptiness and brokenness that such a self-absorbed life produces.  The “last days” refers to the time period when God fulfills his promises of a new creation ruled by Christ Jesus, the Messiah. The last days have already begun with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, however, they await their full consummation when Christ returns to establish a new heaven and earth.  The presence of such scoffers confirms the divine revelation they deny for it was prophesied they would do so. They scoff at the promise of Christ’s return, arguing that the world has continued on the same way from the beginning of creation. The term “ancestors” refers to the Old Testament patriarchs. In claiming nothing has changed from the beginning of creation, they deny all of God’s acts of judgment and salvation in the Old Testament and in the Incarnation of the Son to die on the cross for our sin, to rise victoriously from the dead, and to pour out His Holy Spirit. They arrogantly treat the holy acts of salvation as though they never happened, thereby, redemption has not come.

Relate it to your life.
The ultimate dishonor to God is to deny His love and work to save us and give us a beautiful future.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I honor and praise you for the great love You have demonstrated in saving me. Amen.

May 20-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:5-7, But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Observe what it is saying.
The error of the scoffers was not based on ignorance. Peter says they deliberately chose not to remember two eternal truths of God’s word. It caused heaven and earth to come into existence. The earth was formed out of water by the word of God. Genesis 1 describes how God gathered the waters together to allow the dry ground to appear, and Psalm 24 agrees that God founded the earth upon the seas. The word of God was the instrument God used to bring the heavens and the earth into existence. Along with Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6-7 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.” According to the New Testament, the Word of God is the second person of the Trinity. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Water and the word of God were also the means by which God brought judgment on the world through the flood. In 2 Peter 2:5 the flood is symbolized as the coming judgment on the false teachers. Here, it is evidence against their foolish claims that nothing has changed from the beginning of creation. The same word of God is now reserving the present heavens and earth for fire on the day of judgment, when God will bring final salvation to his people and destruction on the ungodly.

Relate it to your life.
God will not be mocked. His word is eternal and will produce exactly what He has spoken.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, every word You speak is truth. May I choose not to forget but attentively listen to it. Amen.

May 21-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:8, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Observe what it is saying.    
God’s time and our time are vastly different. We experience this world in decades, while God has eternally existed where a thousand years to us is only like a day to God. This creates impatience within us where we want God to work His plan now. Because God’s timing is often different, Scripture calls us to wait on the Lord as an act of trust. After God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, we discover how they failed. Psalm 106:13-14, “But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.” Waiting on the Lord is faith in action that God is working to accomplish His plans just as He said He would. The psalmist lamented how difficult it is to wait in those moments where we want justice served. Psalm 119:84, “How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?” In the same psalm, he writes in verse 166, “I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.” Waiting on the Lord’s timing requires trust and obedience in God’s providence that He is right on schedule.

Relate it to your life.
Waiting is an act of trust that is a difficult but much needed practice to deepen our faith.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me the grace and patience to wait upon You to answer my prayers. Amen.

May 22-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Observe what it is saying.
This is one of the most encouraging Scriptures that we can find concerning God’s patient love. As the false teachers and scoffers continue to rail on that Christ is not coming back, Peter tells the congregation not to listen to their foolish message. Instead, he offers the reason that it appears there is delay in the Second Coming is actually for the world’s benefit. God really does “so love the world.” He gives as much time as possible for as many people as possible to repent and experience His saving grace. God’s love is so immense that He has no desire for anyone to be eternally condemned. Instead, His passionate love desires all persons to embrace the saving grace offered through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. God has the same concern we have for our loved ones who are outside the faith. God hears our prayers for them and is waiting, giving them ample opportunity to respond to His repeated attempts to capture their hearts and minds. With this knowledge of His love and desire for our loved ones to be saved, we should not ease up on our prayers but continue to pray with fervency for their souls.

Relate it to your life.
As much as I want Christ to return to clean up the mess of this world, I am glad He delays so my loved ones have ample opportunity to receive His gift of salvation.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I plead for my loved ones who are not in the faith. Please, keep working, keep speaking and  softening their hearts so they will receive the saving message of grace offered freely to all. Amen.

May 23-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Observe what it is saying.
Yesterday, Peter emphasized God’s patient grace as indicated by Christ waiting to return to give as many persons as possible the opportunity to repent and be saved. In today’s Scripture, he wants to make it absolutely clear that the day will come suddenly and unexpectedly. So, we cannot become lazy or lukewarm. We must stay vigilant and passionate in our faith as we wait for this final day of judgment. The “day of the Lord” refers to when God brings judgment on his enemies and salvation for his people. There have been remarkable “days of the Lord” already, such as, the crucifixion and Pentecost. Each of these “days of the Lord” anticipates the final day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns at the end of human history to make all things pure and holy. Three things will happen on this day: First, the heavens will disappear. Second, the elements (which in Peter’s day referred to the earth, air, wind, and fire) will burn and dissolve. This language envisions either the complete destruction of the world or, more likely, its purification. Third, the earth and the works done on it will be exposed for all to see. Peter makes it clear that this day will not be missed. It will impact all of creation and will forever change the character of the universe. This is why Peter has been so passionate about calling on his readers to refuse to listen to the false teachers and scoffers who say the Lord is not coming back. Their teaching is a lie straight from Satan to lull as many as possible into a spiritual sleep so that they will not be ready when it occurs.  

Relate it to your life.
I cannot be caught off guard but must remain spiritually vigilant at all times.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me close, keep me on fire for You, and ready for the day that You return. Amen.

May 11-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:13, They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

Observe what it is saying.    
Peter continues his long message against the false teachers who have infiltrated the church. After hearing about their judgment and destruction in last week’s reading, we begin this week with the news that they will receive what is coming to them. They caused tremendous harm in the church and, as a result, Peter wanted everyone to know that God has seen it and would address it. He goes on to give additional details that reveal that their false teaching also led to depraved living. The Greek word for “pleasure” is where we get the word “hedonist.” The Greeks numbered this kind of “pleasure” among the four “deadly sins.” Excessive drinking and eating in daylight hours were a standard indication of a degenerate lifestyle. These false teachers openly pursued their sinful and self-indulgent ways in full view of everyone in broad daylight. They even acted in their wicked ways while eating with fellow believers. In the early church believers gathered regularly to share a meal, and in that meal often celebrated the Lord’s Supper. Not even a meal intended to remember the death of the Lord Jesus and anticipate His return was safe from the immorality and deception practiced by these false teachers. The results of entertaining and believing false teaching always leads to broken morals and a corrupted lifestyle.

Relate it to your life.
I need to understand the dangerous downward spiral that false teaching can take a person on.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me so close to You that I daily ingest Your true word and obey Your holy loving voice. Amen.  

May 12-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:14, With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!

Observe what it is saying.
Peter reveals additional sins these false teachers have engaged in. They have adultery in their eyes, meaning they desire every woman they see. This implies they desired to turn church gatherings into times of debauchery. They never stop sinning. They never take a breath from evil. They are always thinking, plotting, and practicing that which is opposed to Jesus’ teaching. They lure the unstable, those who have no real foundation in their lives, into sin. On the other hand, in chapter 1 of this letter, Peter has spoken of his readers as being "firmly established in the truth," and in chapter 3, he will warn them of "unstable people" and of the danger of falling "from their secure position."  The word “experts” refers to athletic training. These false teachers have trained hard to become proficient in the greedy people they are. They teach their false brand of religion as a way to pad their pockets. Because there is nothing good or pure about them, they are under God’s curse and judgment. The danger of false teachers is not only the message they spew but the lifestyle they model.

Relate it to your life.
Once again, I discover how believing the wrong message can lead to a very dark life.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me focused on the truth of Your word so that I can live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.

May 13-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:15-16, They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Observe what it is saying.
The “way” was a popular means of characterizing a particular religious teaching. The imagery is a path that a true devotee will follow to the end. The Old Testament pictures faithfulness to the Lord as a “straight path” to be followed, and the New Testament depicts Christianity as the “Way.” Sin is described as “wandering” from that path. For example, God’s warning to the people of Israel: “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28.) Balaam is introduced in Numbers 22-24 as a prophet whom the pagan king Balak pays to prophesy against Israel. Despite Balaam’s own reluctance and corruption, God causes him to utter prophecies in favor of His people. The point of connection between Numbers and 2 Peter is the use of the word “way.” The “way of Balaam” was the reckless road that he traveled. Peter’s use of Balaam follows how Scripture uses him as a negative example. Balaam’s willingness to curse Israel for profit became a staple in Jewish stories about him who was rebuked by a talking donkey. If God can do that to Balaam, God can certainly judge the false teachers spewing evil leading the people of God astray.  

Relate it to your life.
God’s judgment will come to those who are unrepentant in their evil words and actions.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I give praise to you as the psalmists did for You judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98:9) Amen.

May 14-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:17-19, These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

Observe what it is saying.    
Peter is unrelentless in his description of these false teachers and what a great judgment they will face. He next uses nature imagery. Like waterless springs, these heretics are unable to give life. As storm-driven mists, they are blown about by every wind of false doctrine, and their ultimate fate is the judgment of utter darkness. These false practitioners of the faith entice new believers to return to their old sinful passions. Ironically, they promise a new freedom while they themselves are enslaved to the very corruption that will one day lead to their destruction. As a result, they are proof of the core spiritual principle that whatever they allow to dominate their life becomes their true master. Sin and corruption can be viewed as military powers that conquer a person if one does not actively fight them in the power of the Holy Spirit. Like a victorious army, sin not only defeats people but enslaves them as well.

Relate it to your life.
I choose whom I will become enslaved to.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to understand true freedom only comes by Your grace and forgiveness. Amen.

May 15-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:20-22, If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 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 on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

Observe what it is saying.
Peter explains that these false teachers are those who once claimed to know Christ but have fallen away from Him and His teaching. He goes on to explain they have been overcome because they are entangled again in the sin of the world. They are ensnared in the same activities that characterized their lives before confessing Christ. As a result, the last condition of the false teachers is worse than the first, for in their apostasy, they have rejected the only remedy for their sin. Peter explains on judgment day it will be better for them if they had never known God’s righteousness in the gospel rather than know it and then turn away from it. Those who claim to believe in the gospel but then reject Jesus by returning to a long-standing pattern of unrepentant sin will suffer a greater condemnation. Peter sees in the false teachers living examples of a dog that returns to its own vomit, which Proverbs 26:11 compares to a fool who returns to his folly. The second is a pig who after washing itself returns to wallow in the mud. Peter takes the common practice of Jews referring to Gentiles as dogs and pigs and applies those metaphors to the false teachers, not based on their ethnicity but based on how they live.

Relate it to your life.
This does not speak of those who sin after salvation but those who deliberately turn away and refuse to return.  

Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me close so that I never return to that from which I have been saved. Amen.

May 16-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 3:1, Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter says his purpose in writing both letters was a reminder of what they already knew. In the midst of false teachers who were leading so many astray, Peter tells them they need to remember well. We know how easy it is to forget where we have placed our keys, our glasses, or many other objects. We also forget weightier things like what we were taught. More than ever, with so many distractions and means of messaging, we experience information overload. So much of this information is less than healthy for us to consume. Because we must be so careful what we bring into our minds, Peter wrote to stimulate them to think about what is right, good, and beautiful. As Paul said, in Ephesians 4:17-18, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Since our hearts are the essence of our being, holy thinking is a mind and heart effort that keeps our whole being united together with one focus on Christ.  

Relate it to your life.
It matters for my spiritual health what I think and input into my mind and heart.  

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to stay focused on You so that I only think what is holy and good. Amen.

May 4-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:1-3, But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Observe what it is saying.    
False prophets and false teachers have been present throughout history, leading people astray with their own created visions, prophecies, and dreams. Jeremiah 14:14, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.’” Now that the Gospel message has come, Satan has intensified his efforts to mislead God’s people through false teachers. Peter described them in three ways. First, they secretly fabricate stories that contradict the Old Testament Scriptures and the apostle’s message. They lay their teaching alongside the gospel making it sound legitimate. Such false teaching must be spiritually discerned from Scripture. Second, they denied Jesus, the very One who saved them. Third, they bring swift destruction on themselves for denying and lying ways. As is always the case, false teachers lead immoral lives of depravity, greed, and deceit.

Relate it to your life.
I need to be aware of false teachers who spew their lies through social media, podcasts, and pulpits.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit help me to recognize and refuse to entertain false teaching. Amen.  

May 5-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:4, For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Observe what it is saying.
Peter continues the thought about the destruction of false teachers by giving three examples in verses 4-8 revealing how God will rescue the godly and judge the ungodly. In today’s verse, we discover, God judged sinful angels. The most likely biblical reference to this is found in Genesis 6:1-4 where Jewish tradition understands “the sons of God” as angels who had intercourse with women and whom God therefore judged. Jude 6 speaks a similar message, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” The word for hell is Tartarus which is a term borrowed from Greek mythology that refers to a temporary holding place, not the place for final punishment. The “chains of darkness” is a common way the ancient world described the underworld as a place for punishment. The point is, God judges rebellion and will not spare those who reject His will. If God judged the angels, who are higher than human beings, then certainly He will judge rebellious humans, including false teachers.  

Relate it to your life.
As a righteous and holy God, He has no other choice but to judge that which is evil and opposed to Him.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, judgment is built into the worldly system. However, You intervened to take the punishment of the world upon Yourself so we do not have to endure it, but we must believe. To believe includes changing our minds, putting our full trust in You, picking up our cross, and following after You. Amen.

May 6-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:5, if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

Observe what it is saying.
This is the second example Peter gives of God’s judgment on sin and salvation of the righteous. This is by far the most sweeping judgment God has ever brought upon mankind. The original story is found in Genesis 6:9-12, “This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” God told Noah he was going to bring an end to them, but he was to build a boat to spare him and his family. Peter referred to the Flood in his first letter and will do so again in the next chapter. With Noah, seven others were saved (his wife, his three sons, and his three daughters-in-law). They were guarded or protected by God during the Flood that wiped out the ungodly civilization. The statement that Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" could refer to his preaching activity not recorded in the Old Testament or to the fact that his lifestyle condemned sin and proclaimed righteousness to the people of his day. The world was in terrible shape, in fact, it was “full of violence.” God knew there was no other way to redeem humanity but to reset the earth’s population through destruction and protect Noah’s family to become the new progenitors for mankind.

Relate it to your life.
This judgment illuminates the horrible wrath placed upon Jesus on the cross so that I could be spared.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, may I never forget or fail to give thanks for the great sacrifice You made for me. Amen.

May 7-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:6-7, if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Observe what it is saying.    
This is the third example that Peter offers for God’s judgment on evil and God’s protection of the righteous. The book of Jude also has this to say about Sodom and Gomorrah, “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 7) Sodom and Gomorrah were even spoken of by Jesus as an extreme example of how God’s judgment came upon sinners who totally undid God’s law concerning sexual purity. According to Genesis 19:24-28, "the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of heaven." This is given as a picture for the judgment that lies ahead for those who speak falsely about Christ. In contrast, was Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who lived in that ungodly mess. God sent Abraham to rescue him, as his righteous soul was tortured by what he saw living in the midst of such depravity, day in and day out. This should cause us to ask ourselves, “To what extent are we, who live in a godless society, "tormented" by what we see?”

Relate it to your life.
My level of inner torment at the evil and injustice in this world is an indicator of my spiritual depth.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, do not let me become comfortable with or accommodate to the sin that I see. Amen.

May 8-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:9-10, if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

Observe what it is saying.
After giving three examples of how God punished evil and rescued the righteous, Peter returns to the current issue of false teachers in the church and what they will experience in due time. Peter is confident in the Lord’s ability to bring the godly through their trials and to make sure the unrighteous will receive their just due on Judgment Day. Paul wrote to the Galatians a similar message, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) Peter goes on to describe these false teachers even further by saying they follow fleshly desires which is a reference to sexual decadence. They also despise authority which ultimately refers to their rejection of the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ over them. In fact, in their own arrogance, they were so bold to heap abuse on angels. One of the examples of judgment that Peter used was of fallen angels who had come to earth to have sex with women. So, what may be indicated here is that these false teachers were saying if angels came from heaven and took women, why could not they do the same? They were using the conduct of the fallen angels an excuse for their own involvement in sexual sin.

Relate it to your life.
We need to be very careful in whom we choose to model our behavior.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, do not let me be foolish like these false teachers who held up bad examples to emulate. Amen.

May 9-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 2:11-12, yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

Observe what it is saying.
 In contrast to these audacious false teachers, angels themselves, even though they are stronger and more powerful than any human being, do not judge celestial beings (presumably, fallen angels) in the presence of the Lord. This reveals how foolish they are, not only in creating false teaching, but thinking they are superior to even celestial beings. In this comparison, even holy angels refuse to judge fallen angels so how do fallen human beings do so? This reveals the magnitude of their pride in changing the message and believing they are greater than angels. In fact, these false teachers act like irrational animals without the restraint that angels and righteous people have. They may claim a special knowledge, but they blaspheme out of their ignorance and arrogance. Like wild beasts who are slaves to their instincts and are born to be slaughtered, these false teachers are also destined for total destruction.

Relate it to your life.
False teaching is not merely a small error in judgment but is a full-on assault of God’s holy kingdom.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to fully grasp how destructive heresy is in the church and to be discerning in what I speak and believe. Amen.

April 27-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:12, So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

Observe what it is saying.    
Simon Peter had a passion to communicate the truth to Jesus’ followers so they would not forget the Jesus way. Peter understood that human beings have a tendency to forget what is most important. He knew they already knew much of what he was telling them. He knew they were firmly established in the faith. He also knew what he spoke in his first letter that the enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He knew the tactics of Satan include trying to deceive and confuse us of what is reality. This is why it was so important to remind them over and over again of what is true, good, and right. We can say that we know the truth. We can say we are firmly established in the truth. However, we cannot say we do not need to be reminded. We cannot say we will never fall into sin. We cannot say l know all I need to know. This is why we worship weekly. This is why we meet with our Bible studies and small groups on a regular basis. This is why we spend time praying and reflecting on Scripture each day. What Peter wrote to remind his audience is now included in the very Scriptures that we need to know so we can be reminded of God’s holy way.  

Relate it to your life.
Because I can forget the way of Jesus, I will remind myself often by spending time with Him in His word.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I do not want to forget what I already know. I, also, admit there is much more for me to learn. Give me discipline and perseverance to stick with you in daily devotion and weekly worship. Amen.

April 28-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:13-15, I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Observe what it is saying.
As the Apostle Paul did, Peter speaks of his body as a tent. The picture comes from those who journeyed in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. In the same way, as Christians, we know that our lives are not a permanent home, but a journey where we keep traveling to our eternal destination. In fact, in verse 15, the word “departure” is literally the word exodus. Peter sees his death, not as the end, but as a going out of this world into the Promised Land of eternity. Peter says the Lord has made it clear that His time is coming. Jesus had told him in John 21:18-19 that there would be a day when Peter would be stretched out upon a cross. Evidently that time was about to come. So, Peter said that he will take steps to make sure what he has said will be kept before them, even, when he is gone. In saying this, he may be referring to the Gospel of Mark. The tradition is that this gospel is the preaching material of Peter, which Mark, who had been Peter’s disciple and interpreter, wrote down. So, Peter was passionate in life and death to keep God’s truth before God’s people. Such writings were not meant to preserve his own name, but the beautiful name and work of Jesus.

Relate it to your life.
I trust that God has superintended the work of Scripture though His apostles, so that I can confidently know the truth.

Do something.
Jesus, I will cherish Your word that has been preserved so that I will remember the way home. Amen.

April 29-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:16, For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Observe what it is saying.
Here Peter links himself with the other apostles in certifying that their message is based on their own eyewitness experience of Jesus. Peter denies that they have followed myths or fables about other gods. This word is always used in a negative sense in contrast to the truth of the Gospel. It is likely that the false teachers claimed that the Incarnation, Resurrection, and Second Coming, that the apostles spoke about, were only fabricated stories. These teachers may have been men like Hymenaeus and Philetus, who Paul wrote about saying the "the resurrection had already taken place" (2Ti 2:17-18). Peter's specific concern was the second coming of Jesus. He saw his preaching of the Second Coming based on his eyewitness observation of the transfiguration of Jesus. When Jesus returns, His kingdom will be inaugurated in overwhelming power. The dead will be raised, judgment will be pronounced, and the consummation of all things will occur. "Eyewitness" seems to be a technical term used by the false teachers to describe their own worshipers. Peter used their own vocabulary against them for his message was based on his eyewitness account of the supernatural events that marked the life of Jesus.  

Relate it to your life.
I should not be surprised when other religions imitate our Christian faith because the enemy loves to deceive people from the truth.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, do not let me fall prey to the false teachings and deceptions that abound in our world. Amen.

April 30-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:17-18, He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Observe what it is saying.    
Yesterday, Peter said his right to speak what he does is that he was an eyewitness. In today’s verses, we discover specifically what Peter witnessed. He was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration where he saw the glory of God and heard the voice of God. Peter used this, not the resurrection account, as the foretaste of what is to come in the triumphant glory of Christ’s Second Coming. To confirm the authenticity of his eyewitness account, Peter used the same language from the gospel accounts, “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” (Matthew 17:5) We are then told when they came down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (v. 9) There was something so special about this intimate heavenly reveal that Peter, James, and John could not say a word until after Jesus resurrected. So, it makes sense that Peter writes about it now in his second letter. As they were overwhelmed on the mountain with God’s glory that descended upon Jesus, so Peter wants to make it known what the world will see when Jesus descends from the heavenly glory in His Second Coming. As he will continue to do, Peter calls his readers into a living belief that Christ will return!

Relate it to your life.
As a Christian, I have the hope and firm conviction that Christ will return to make all things good again.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to live as though You are coming back today. Amen.

May 1-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:19, We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter’s says his message rests on two solid foundations: (1) the voice from God at the Transfiguration (vv. 16–18) and (2) the enduring testimony of Scripture (vv. 19–21). Not only does the eyewitness testimony of the apostles support the truth of the gospel, so do the Old Testament Scriptures. What the apostles witnessed demonstrated the fulfillment of what the Old Testament promised. Therefore, believers should pay close attention to the Scriptures, which Peter describes with two metaphors. The first metaphor is a light shining in a dark place. This “dark place” means “murky.” Human history began in a lovely garden, but that garden has become a murky swamp. When we look at the dark world system, we find it is an indication of the spiritual condition of our own hearts. We are not left without hope but have God’s light, the Word of God, Jesus Himself, shining so that we can find our way and be redeemed. Living in a world of darkness requires fixing our gaze on the light of God’s truth. The second metaphor is the morning star in which the imagery originally comes from Numbers 24:14–17, where Balaam prophesied that in the latter days a star would come out of Jacob to defeat the enemies of God. It is clearly fulfilled in Revelation 22:16, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” As a result, we should fix our hope on the return of Christ, who will exercise the full dominion that is rightfully His.

Relate it to your life.
My hope is sure because the light of God’s revelation has come by prophecy and eyewitness account.

Do something.
Lord, thank You for giving us Your light that brings to life my darkened heart. Amen.

May 2-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 1:20-21, Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Observe what it is saying.
After Peter told us that we have the Old Testament prophets’ prediction as evidence that Jesus will come again, he gives us the nature of that prophecy. For a prophecy to be included in the canon of Scripture, it cannot be of human origin. It is not possible for mankind to know and understand the plans of God with their own insight. Every true prophecy does not begin with the human will but spoke God’s truth through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. God chose humans to communicate His eternal word to His world. The Apostle Paul says it this way, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We can trust Scripture because it comes from the very breath of God. We also need to study Scripture so we understand its eternal message that still applies to our lives today. We must obey God’s holy word so that we can be found doing God’s holy will. It is through the Bible God equips us to know and do the good works He has called each of us to do.  

Relate it to your life.
I can trust Scripture because it was communicated directly by the Holy Spirit to human authors.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, change my life by the same word and Spirit who delivered God’s word to mankind. Amen.

April 20-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:1-2, Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Observe what it is saying.    
Simon Peter writes a second letter where he identifies himself as a servant and apostle. He acknowledges whatever our title or position may be in the church, we are all servants of Jesus. In fact, there is no higher calling in the world than to serve our Lord Jesus. He writes to all who have received the precious faith found in the righteousness of Jesus. He clearly identifies Jesus as both God and Savior. There is no question in Peter’s theology that Jesus is fully divine. As one of three persons in the Godhead, He alone could save us. Only a perfect righteous Being could pay the cost for our sins. No sinner could atone for the guilt of another sinner. This is what makes our faith so precious. It was a sacrificial gift of love offered to us from God Himself, through His Son. This demonstrates how highly valued each of us are as His creation. God took the initiative to redeem us before we ever knew anything was wrong. The heavenly update was always available for download as soon as we realized our need for it. In his greeting, Peter prays that grace and peace would be theirs in abundance. However, it is not any grace or peace but only that which comes from a personal saving knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. What a beautiful prayer to offer others that they will overflow with God’s grace and peace!  

Relate it to your life.
Do I consider my faith as precious? Do I fully understand the depth of love that is behind such a gift?

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of salvation that You alone provided for me. I pray for myself and others that we will fully embrace the grace and peace that come in knowing You. Amen.

April 21-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:3-4, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Observe what it is saying.
His divine power relates back to the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. We have one God who fully displays Himself in three persons. It is a remarkable statement that this eternal power gives us all we need to live a godly life. We do not have to manufacture godliness on our own. It comes through knowing the Lord in a close and personal way. He is the One who called us through His own glory and goodness. Imagine that the Lord of the universe, of all creation, as vast and grand as it is, knows us and calls us to know Him! If we ever think lowly of ourselves, we need to return to this passage and read it again to be reminded how valuable and loved we are by God. It is through this same glory and goodness He has given us the precious promises of Scripture which give us guidance and counsel to spiritually participate in God’s holy nature. We are welcomed into that Most Holy space to enjoy the deepest and richest fellowship we can ever imagine with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We realize how special this is as we leave the corrupting sin behind that was fueled from our old unredeemed desires.  

Relate it to your life.
Through Jesus, God has welcomed me into the rich fellowship of the Trinity.  

Do something.
Jesus, I want to leave this world behind so I can fully enter and enjoy Your Most Holy place. Amen.

April 22-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:5, For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness…

Observe what it is saying.
Because we participate in the rich fellowship of the divine nature as the redeemed people of God, then addition of Christlikeness is a vision of who we are to become. It makes sense if we have trusted in Christ for our salvation that we have been given the Holy Spirit to work deep within to transform us into the very likeness of Christ. Our faith is the beginning point of this whole transformation process. We must believe the precious promises of the gospel found in Scripture for the new life to come to us. So, Peter says, “make every effort” which literally means to do your best with hurry, haste, earnestness, diligence, and zeal to add these holy qualities to your life. This original wording reveals we must have an urgency in doing so. We cannot be casual about our relationship with the Lord. Our apprenticeship is not an elective course. Growth is a necessity. If we are not growing, we are losing ground. We must be intentional in participating with the Holy Spirit in our discipleship so that we can escape the corruption of this world and live into the hope and promise of new life.  

Relate it to your life.
In my Christian life, I should expect to be progressing by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I cannot make growth happen on my own. I need Your Spirit to empower and equip me with the new life into which I have been redeemed. Amen.

April 23-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:5-7, …add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Observe what it is saying.    
If we are a growing follower of Christ, we will find ourselves increasing in these Christian virtues. It begins with faith. Faith is the absolute certainty that we can rely upon God’s gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ to give us eternal life. Goodness is the Greek word that can mean excellence or courageous. This multi-faceted word reveals the transformation that comes in our redemption. Knowledge is the practical application of wisdom which enables a person to make good decisions in the daily circumstances of life. Self-control keeps our passions and desires at bay so that we are in control of them, not they us. Perseverance refuses to give up, but trusts God is working good in the midst of all that happens to us. Godliness or piety recognizes our love for God leads to our love for one another. Mutual affection is the Greek word philadelphia. It literally means love of brothers and is a friendship kind of affection for those you know and care for. Lastly, Agape love is the self-surrendering love Christ perfectly displayed at the cross. It is this same kind of self-surrendering love we are to have for God, each other, and all people, including our enemies. Here's a mini self-examination to determine if we are growing based on this Scripture: Faith--Do I trust in Christ alone for my salvation? Goodness—How am I becoming more like Jesus? Knowledge—Am I making wiser decisions? Self-control—How often does my personal sin (like pride, lust or greed) rear its head? Perseverance—Do I trust the Lord in affliction? 5. Love (last 3 qualities together)—Would those closest to me describe me as becoming more loving?

Relate it to your life.
These qualities will be added as I surrender and fully open myself to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Do something
Lord Jesus, help me to grow up and into all of these qualities that You perfectly exhibited. Amen.

April 24-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 1:8-9, For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Observe what it is saying.
So far this week, we have been given the What- participating in the divine nature. As redeemed followers of Jesus, we are invited to enter directly into the rich beautiful fellowship that exists among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We were given the How- adding to our faith many Christlike qualities through the empowerment and equipping of the Holy Spirit. Today, we discover the Why- our growth keeps us from being unfruitful in knowing our Lord Jesus Christ. As we find these qualities becoming more prominent in our lives, then we know that our faith is real and we are making good progress. We will see results in our daily life, witness, and service as we faithfully follow Jesus. Such growth will encourage us along our journey. It will not be perfect. There will be difficult days and disappointments when we do not live up to the growth we have made, but we can still have the assurance of our salvation knowing that the Holy Spirit is still at work, and we are still progressing. However, if we do not find these qualities increasing in our lives over a period of time, then we have been blinded by darkness, and we will forget whose we are and that have been set free from our sin. We will not have the encouragement that the assurance of faith brings. Without exception, authentic faith leads to authentic growth and transformation over time.  

Relate it to your life.
I need to prayerfully consider how my life is progressing by the fruit it is producing within me.  

Do something.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

April 25-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
2 Peter 1:10-11, Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter summarizes what he has taught us this week. The reason we add to our faith the many qualities of Christ is that we are making every effort in the power of the Holy Spirit to confirm what we have been given in our redemption. We have been called and elected to participate in the glorious kingdom of God. God has chosen us to be included in His family. God wants us to be confident that we belong to Him. So, if we are growing Christians then we will not stumble. That does not mean we will never sin, but we will not fall away from our faith if we are making daily progress in our journey with Jesus. Ultimately, and best of all, we will be warmly welcomed into the eternal kingdom that our Lord and Savior Jesus has brought to us. The entry begins now and lasts for all eternity. This speaks of the eternal values of heaven being increasingly produced in our lives, and, also, tells of the eternal span of time that will never end. We will enjoy being present with Jesus forever and ever. As someone said, “If we do not enjoy spending time with Jesus now, what makes us think we will want to spend all eternity with Him?”

Relate it to your life.
I acknowledge that I absolutely enjoy living in the eternal kingdom of Jesus today and look forward to dwelling in its beauty and power forever.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I want to spend my every moment with You. Prompt me to remember You are here. Amen.

April 13-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:1-4, To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Observe what it is saying.    
The early Christian church continued the structure from the Jewish synagogue with an “elder” being the most common title for church leadership. In the first century, elders were often older believers who were highly respected in the community. Peter refers to himself as a “fellow elder,” so even apostles were considered elders at large in whatever community they resided. Elders included those spiritually gifted as pastors, but were not exclusively pastors. However, every elder had a shepherding function. They were to care for the church as shepherds carefully look over their flocks for injury and sickness. To be called an elder is a privilege and a huge responsibility. It is not done out of obligation but with a humble willingness of the holy call God has placed on your life. Elders were eventually paid but were highly cautioned not to pursue dishonest gain or become greedy by fleecing the flock. Instead, just as Jesus did, elders lead by serving. Jesus told his disciples not to lord themselves over others but to serve as He did by giving His life away as a ransom for many. Elders are placed in the church for the very purpose of modeling His holy loving nature to the whole church. We must remember that when Jesus, our Chief Shepherd, comes back, we will all receive our reward. There is a sense in which all mature believers should see themselves in this role whether they have a title or not. All Christians are called to serve and be a model of the Christian faith to others and so should live up to the responsibility of an elder.  

Relate it to your life.
Whether a “titled” leader in the church or not, I am a leader as I provide an example of Jesus to others.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to lead well by serving others with a model of Your holy and loving nature. Amen.

April 14-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:5-6, In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter speaks to those younger in the congregation that they are to willingly come under the leadership of the God-appointed elders of the church. This is for the proper order and functioning of the church. Of course, the assumption is that the elders are acting in an appropriate manner of servant leadership as we found yesterday. Then Peter tells everyone that they need to dress themselves each day in humility toward each other. We must discard the wardrobe of pride. We need to envision ourselves being dressed in the humility of Christ who willingly went to the cross on the behalf of undeserving sinners. Throughout Scripture we find the truth mentioned often, as is quoted here, that God shows His most generous grace to the humble, not to the proud. When we humble ourselves before God, He will elevate us in His time.  

Relate it to your life.
When I choose the humble way, I open the door for the grace of the Lord to fully enter in.

Do something.
Jesus, dress me in Your wardrobe of humility which You have perfectly modeled for me. Amen.

April 15-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Observe what it is saying.
We cannot keep anxiety from coming knocking on our door. This world is filled with many events and experiences that create opportunity for fear and worry to enter in. Peter was writing to Christians who were facing opposition and persecution so you would expect they had every reason to be anxious. The Bible repeats itself often when it comes to this ominous feeling. Peter says cast your worries on the Lord. The image is throwing them off of yourself onto Him. He wants to receive them. We were not meant to carry them. God is concerned for us. He loves us. He cares about every anxiety-producing event. He does not want us to travel this path alone but wants us to actively give Him all that troubles us. David said something similar in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” In a message about worry, Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) The Apostle Paul offers this familiar word, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) The Bible has one consistent message that our loving God wants us to thrust our anxiety upon Him through trusting prayer.

Relate it to your life.
I am relieved to know that God cares for me so much that He wants to bear the weight of my worry.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, through believing prayer, I am casting these worries upon You today: ____________. Amen.

April 16-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:8-9, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Observe what it is saying.    
Even though we cast all our anxiety on God, that does not mean we can be careless about our spiritual development. The word “sober” is used 6 times in the New Testament, and Peter uses half of them in this letter. 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” Peter emphasizes a spiritual sobriety that demands we stay mentally sharp and spiritually alert at all times. The reason he gives is vitally important because he knows what is at stake and what is happening in the unseen spiritual realm. Peter was a victim of the prowling devil in the Garden where he fell asleep and in the high priest’s courtyard where he strongly denounced knowing Jesus. He was devoured by the temptation of the roaring lion. He knows how dark and painful the guilt is. We must know if we are pursuing a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus, the enemy is in attack mode. We must be vigilant in recognizing his attempts to take us down by standing strong in the faith. Like Jesus did in the wilderness temptation, he stood strong by quoting Scripture. The enemy went away after being defeated by God’s truth. Peter indicates the various kinds of opposition that believers face around the word is one of the ways Satan fiercely attacks God’s people.      

Relate it to your life.
I must understand I am under spiritual attack if I am passionate about my walk with Jesus.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from evil. Amen.

April 17-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:10-11, And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Observe what it is saying.
In Peter’s final words, he speaks of the God of all grace. What a wonderful reminder that this is who God is as fully demonstrated in His Son Jesus. It is by God’s grace we are saved. It is by God’s grace we are restored into the family of God. It is by God’s grace that we are transformed into brand new people. As Peter goes on to say, it is by God’s grace we are called into eternal glory. God made the way to glory abundantly clear through Jesus. Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Peter encourages those who are suffering for their faith to hold on because this is only a temporary phase in the larger picture of eternal life. Even in this world, there may come relief at some point. However, if not, we have an eternity where we will be strong and steadfast, never to know another moment of suffering, pain, sorrow, or loss. This is what we are living for. This is what gives us hope to continue on in the midst of all of our struggles. We must keep the larger picture in view as we walk day by day through all the challenges of this world. Because of what God has done for us, He is to be recognized as the One to whom all praise and power goes forever.    

Relate it to your life.
God’s grace literally makes all the difference in this world of whether I can have real hope for the future.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the instrument of the Father’s grace so that I have hope in the midst of my daily troubles. Help me to keep my eye on the prize to which You have called me. Amen.

April 18-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
1 Peter 5:12-14, With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Observe what it is saying.
Just as the Apostle Paul often did, Peter writes by naming a colleague, Silas, who shares in ministry with him. We first meet Silas in Acts 15 where the Jerusalem Council of Christian leaders decided whether they would welcome Gentiles into the family without circumcision. After agreeing they would, they sent a message to the church at Antioch where this controversy began. Acts 15:22, “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.” Silas was an early leader in the Jerusalem church and accompanied the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys. As Peter says here, he was a faithful brother in Christ. Peter says the purpose of his letter was to encourage them to stand strong in the true grace of God found in Jesus. Babylon is likely a reference to Rome. “She” is probably a congregation there. Mark is a spiritual son that Peter may have led to the Lord and would later write the gospel bearing his name. These two named leaders did not get as much press as the apostles, but they were an integral part of the rapid spread of the gospel.  

Relate it to your life.
My role in the gospel may not get much attention but is just as vital as those who do.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank you for everyone who faithfully serves You without getting much applause. Amen.

April 6-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 4:12, Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Observe what it is saying.    
Peter continues to speak about suffering and reminds his audience that they should not be surprised when such tribulations occur. Jesus clearly told his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Peter was speaking to a largely Gentile audience who had little experience with suffering. However, Jews understood the nature of persecution because they have been oppressed throughout history. Most of us, reading this devotional, have not known persecution as the early church or as many Christians do today. Our Christian faith is unpopular in some circles and can cause us to feel left out and lonely. If we are authentic Christians, we speak and act differently than the majority of the world. However, that does not mean we have to go out of our way to be weird! Rather, being humble followers of Jesus will set us apart. Some may admire us. Others may torment us. It is human nature to regard with suspicion and dislike those who are different from us. Peter emphasizes it should not seem strange to us for non-Christians to oppose and oppress Jesus’ followers. In fact, how we handle such tribulations is a test of the authenticity of our faith. Do we hold to it regardless of any backlash that we receive? On the other hand, it is a test of faith that only true Christians will be persecuted. The substance of our faith is revealed either way. If we are not being persecuted, we can give thanks to God for the peace that we have, but we, also, may want to take serious inventory to ensure we are not compromising our faith.        

Relate it to your life.
Some form of occasional suffering is needed because it is an effective test to the quality of my faith.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, in the easy times, and in the difficult times, may I always be found to be faithful. Amen.

April 7-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 4:13, But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Observe what it is saying.
Peter expanded on his theology of suffering. Yesterday, he told us that tribulations are important for the testing of our faith. They inform us of what we are made of spiritually. Do we respond with fear and anger or faith and assurance that God is working through all things? Today, Peter tells us to rejoice in our suffering. From prison, Paul wrote to rejoice in the Lord always and to give thanks in all circumstances. James said to consider it all joy when you face trials of many kinds. When we are opposed and oppressed because of our faith, we have spiritually entered into Christ’s suffering. This is the deepest fellowship we will ever experience with Jesus on earth. Our suffering is an extension of his horrific pain. Ours does not add anything to what He did on our behalf, but it does connect us to His full ministry and experience on earth. We can say we have shared in the suffering of Jesus. Such a full participation in the His life and death only adds to the joy we will experience when He comes again in all of His glory. Paul said it this way, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17)

Relate it to your life.
How deeply do I really want to share in the life of Jesus?

Do something.
Jesus, I must be honest, I do not want to suffer. But if I do, please give me a faith-filled attitude. Amen.

April 8-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 4:14-15, If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

Observe what it is saying.
More than likely, we will not feel blessed when we suffer. However, Peter tells us to rise above our feelings. In fact, the whole discussion of suffering is not about what we feel, but what we believe to be true. So, Peter is giving us an in-depth theology lesson on the nature and purpose of opposition and oppression in the name of Jesus. So, if you are mocked, laughed at, or joked about because of your faith in Christ, remember that in the spiritual realm, you are blessed. You have the greatest gift ever given- the Spirit of God and His glory is upon you and within you. You have a special connection with the Spirit of Christ that only those who walk the path of suffering will know. This is too is a test of faith to believe this to be true. Such experiential knowledge goes far beyond our feelings, but is far deeper in the recesses of our soul, where the Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we belong to Him, are loved by Him, and are being led by Him. Peter reminds us that the suffering he speaks about is not that which we have caused by our own sins or crimes. Such suffering is justified and to be expected. However, when we participate in the sufferings of the Lord, we share in His glory both now and forevermore.  

Relate it to your life.
There is always so much more to experience in my walk with the Lord.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I must admit, I still do not want suffering, but if and when it comes, give me such faith to believe that I am spiritually sharing with You in a way that I could not otherwise do. Amen.

April 9-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 4:16, However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Observe what it is saying.    
Unlike the suffering that occurs from our own sin and crime, our suffering, as a Christian, causes us absolutely no shame. Let’s review where Peter has taken us this week with his theology of suffering. He told us that we should not be surprised when it occurs. Such opposition acts as a test to reveal the integrity of our faith. We need to experience such opposing forces to determine the strength of our faith in the day of storms. When we share intimately with Christ in his sufferings, we unite with Him in a way that we cannot otherwise do. We even have a sense of joy because in some real, yet mysterious way, we enter into Christ’s glory both now and later. This leads to a sense of blessing as the Spirit of God’s glory rests upon us in the midst of these great trials and tribulations. It may be difficult for us to understand how this is possible if we have never suffered as a Christian, but seasoned sufferers, like Peter and Paul, both give testimony to this amazing reality. Today, Peter takes it a step further and says we should praise God that we bear the name of Jesus in our suffering. When we take the name of Jesus as our identity, even when we are in the heat of the fiercest trials, is the highest honor we can ever claim. So, at all times and in all places, may we offer praise to God for the privilege of carrying His holy name.

Relate it to your life.
To bear the name of Jesus is the greatest gift I have been given.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, all praise be to Your holy and glorious name. Thank You for the honor and privilege of bearing the name above every other name. Amen.

April 10-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 4:17-18, For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Observe what it is saying.
God’s household originally referred to the temple in the Old Testament, but now Christians, the Body of Christ, are this temple. We need to understand that this judgment refers to judgments being made in this life, not to the final judgment that is to come. In the larger context of suffering, Peter says the pain we endure as followers of Jesus performs a necessary work to purify us as God’s people. It makes sense that such judgment should begin with those who claim the name of Jesus. We must be tested. We must be judged to determine whether we are authentic or a fraud. The Old Testament prophets spoke of judgment coming first upon the people of God.  (Ezekiel 9:6; Zechariah 13:7-9; Malachi 3:1-5). Paul said, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Ac 14:22). If the preliminary judgment of Christian suffering is already taking place, the final judgment on the disobedient is certain to follow. To make his point, Peter quotes Proverbs 11:31, “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” If the righteous experience purifying judgment on earth, then those unwilling to stand with Christ when tested by suffering belong to “those who do not obey the gospel of God,” who will be both judged and condemned.

Relate it to your life.
I need the purifying judgment of suffering in this world so I can enjoy the bliss of a pain-free eternity.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, I welcome Your judgments into my life to purify and make me totally Yours. Amen.

April 11-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.  
1 Peter 4:19, So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Observe what it is saying.
As a result of all that Peter has written about maintaining a wholesome attitude when others verbally or physically assault us because of Jesus, we are to do two things. First, we should renew our commitment to God. In His seventh word from the Cross, Jesus used the same verb in committing His Spirit to God (Luke 23:46). Peter also describes God as the "faithful Creator." The combination of these two words reminds us of God's love and power in the midst of trials so that we will trust His affection and His ability to act on our behalf. Second, we should continue to do all the good we can in spite of any opposition we face. Peter does not allow suffering to be an excuse to stop being helpful to others. The Apostle Paul said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10) Many of us may not experience Christian suffering because we live in a time and place where it does not often occur. So, we should give thanks to God for such a blessing and remember to pray for and financially support those who are being persecuted. However, we must, also, use the same attitudes and actions from this week’s study whenever we face various trials in life. Because we live in a broken world, everyone will face pain and suffering of one kind or another.

Relate it to your life.
I need to remember and review often from this week’s passage how to respond to all kinds of suffering.

Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this Holy Scripture that gives me help and hope in all my suffering. Amen.

Calling all incoming 7th–12th graders!

Get ready for an unforgettable week at The S.A.L.T. Project, happening June 21–25!

Join us as we serve our community, grow deeper in our faith, and build meaningful friendships along the way.

This year’s theme, Fire and Clouds, will guide us as we explore God’s faithfulness in powerful and exciting ways.

The cost is $100 per student and includes meals, lodging, supplies, and a t-shirt.

Go HERE to get registered TODAY!

An informational meeting will be held on Sunday, April 26th following the 9:45am service in the Youth Room at our Chapel Campus for those who may have questions.

VOLUNTEER WITH SALT PROJECT
Be part of something incredible this summer! The S.A.L.T. Project (June 21–25) is an amazing week for our youth—and we need YOU to help make it happen! From serving behind the scenes to jumping right into the action, there are tons of ways to get involved and make a real impact. Come be part of the energy, the fun, and the life-changing moments. Go HERE and find out how you can make a difference!

Ryan Young is wanting to invite the men of our church to join him and others in the fun and fellowship of playing a round of golf!

This could become an ongoing fellowship for those who are interested in doing so.

If you're interested in learning more about this opportunity, please call/text Ryan at reach out via email.

Starting April 10th, men (ages 12 and up) are invited to join us on Friday nights in the Gym at our Chapel Campus from 6 to 8pm for pickleball!

We'll have two courts set up with each court hosting a maximum of four players per game. Participants will rotate in and out on a regular basis, ensuring that everyone gets a chance to play.

Whether you’re new to the game or already love playing, this is a great opportunity to get moving, meet new people, and enjoy some friendly competition in a welcoming environment.

Bring your friends or come solo. For more info, email Matt Mason.

CarePortal is a ministry that brings together local churches and the Department of Child Services to help strengthen families in our community and build relationships between them and the Church.

In an effort to address the foster care crisis in our state, CarePortal seeks to keep kids with their biological families where such a situation is safe. They do this by working with DCS to learn of specific needs among families in Vanderburgh County, and making church partners aware of those needs. Whether it’s beds, clothes, food, or help with a utility bill or rent, churches then join together to respond to those needs that would otherwise have the potential to lead to the removal of children from their home; supporting the family and taking pressure off the foster care system.

Financial donations collected this month will help us respond to these needs right here in Vanderburgh County as we share our love for God by blessing these families.

You can give in person at the Main Campus, or ONLINE. However you give, thanks for being a congregation that cares about missions, and cares about families.

Blue Grass members Rachel Riggs and Amy Wilsbacher head up the Blue Grass CarePortal team, and they are currently looking for others who may be interested in serving with this ministry. They are looking for people who enjoy constructing furniture, delivering items, meeting and praying with families, being prayer warriors, purchasing needed items, or putting together care packets.  If interested in volunteering, email Rachel or Amy to get more information.