Daily Bread 11-1-16
2 Peter 4:15-17
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet is any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and of it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
ref. - Lk 23:31 - For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Lk 10:12 - But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
There are many who hear this gospel and claim a part here or a part there but are disobedient to the full gospel. We excel at one point but fail in another. We want to believe that this is good for us but that is not. What the scripture is trying to do here is create in us a heart that is willing to be obedient to this full gospel. We can say what we want, but our actions and thoughts prove even to ourselves otherwise. It is time to sharpen our skills and deepen our faith more than ever before as the day is coming when we will all be judged. It will start with the Church, God's followers first and we will see. We will see that not everyone who cries Lord, Lord, will enter in. There is a very high standard set for people of God and many of us are not meeting it. There are those who know the truth and do not obey it. They who do not know the truth but try to obey the Law. And those who, with a clean heart are willing to go through what it takes to reach their heavenly reward. Now, as we read this there is not one who should not be able to look at themselves and find areas that need improvement, that is why we are here. But we need to stop acting like we have so much time to get where we need to be. There needs to be some urgency in our desires to please God. A wise man once said, if you don't want to get into trouble for doing something wrong, don't do something wrong. The only way that we are going to do this is by still suffering, but this suffering will be for our well doing. We are still going to have to go without things that others of the world have, but it is for our own good and God knows it. What we must realize is that more is required of someone who has acknowledged salvation and received understanding that they who are ignorant. More responsibility is put on us to become obedient to God's ways. Sodom had a great downfall because they could not let go of the ways of the world. We are headed for that same downfall, but worse, if we do not get rid of those ways ourselves. Are we going to be called names, left out, even punished for standing for our beliefs? Absolutely. But it is better to suffer here on earth and spend eternity in Glory than to cling to the ways of the world and end up in hell. What Peter is trying to get into the heads of the readers and us today is that we should be grateful that out of all the people on earth one day God looked down, at the request of his Son Jesus Christ, and gave us a chance to be an inhabitant of the glorious heaven that awaits for those who diligently seek him! So today, and every day forward, be more conscious of your decisions and be more attent to the will of God. Try harder each day than the day before to get through the day in perfection Spiritually and your members will follow. Set goals that you don't think you will ever reach in your faith and you will soon see that God has even more for you than you ever imagined!! Have a great day!!!!