November 22
the Knowing
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
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vs 1 Do you consider yourself to be a "stranger" on this earth?
vs 7 Do you possess genuine faith? Faith that is constant, consistent, in touch with the Father always?
Verse twelve is a very important message from the Lord. Do you see it? The prophets of ancient times knew that their revelations were not limited to their own time and place. They were aware that what they were given to speak had eternal consequence and impact. I am not a prophet, and so the idea that something I could be given to pass along to the body of Christ might have eternal importance is a bit daunting... BUT... this has made me think of how true that statement is for all believers. What we speak to others certainly DOES have eternal consequence. Because of the life of the Holy Spirit living in us, we do speak God's Word to a lost and hurting world.... to a lost and hurting individual. We are given the ability to share the love of Christ to all. And not because of us, but only because of His Power... that will effect the lives of others and will have eternal value. It is for this reason that we must be careful with our actions and our speech to always represent the Lord well.
We can know... that when we are sharing the Word of God that we too are taking part in serving all of humanity for the kingdom of God!~
the Knowing
1 Peter 1:1-12
New International Version (NIV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
*************************************
vs 1 Do you consider yourself to be a "stranger" on this earth?
vs 7 Do you possess genuine faith? Faith that is constant, consistent, in touch with the Father always?
Verse twelve is a very important message from the Lord. Do you see it? The prophets of ancient times knew that their revelations were not limited to their own time and place. They were aware that what they were given to speak had eternal consequence and impact. I am not a prophet, and so the idea that something I could be given to pass along to the body of Christ might have eternal importance is a bit daunting... BUT... this has made me think of how true that statement is for all believers. What we speak to others certainly DOES have eternal consequence. Because of the life of the Holy Spirit living in us, we do speak God's Word to a lost and hurting world.... to a lost and hurting individual. We are given the ability to share the love of Christ to all. And not because of us, but only because of His Power... that will effect the lives of others and will have eternal value. It is for this reason that we must be careful with our actions and our speech to always represent the Lord well.
We can know... that when we are sharing the Word of God that we too are taking part in serving all of humanity for the kingdom of God!~
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