February Devotional 2013

7/29/2019 February Devotional 2013

1/38

Journey through I PeterDaily Devotionals by Pastor Darren

That correlate with the sermon series

For January 28 to March 2, 2013

First Baptist Church of Holdrege

www.fbcholdrege.com


2/38

Sunday, January 27 I Peter 2:18

One of my first jobs in High School was working at Woolworths. I wasa stock boy, and on the weekends, I worked as a cashier. Every onceand a while, I got called to work behind the counter as a line cook. I

LOVED that. But my time behind the diner counter was fairly short-lived. One day, the new manager walked up to the diner cash registerand opened it up. He took out all of the twenties and went to the backoffice. An hour later, he came back and opened the drawer again,and seeing no twenties, he lost his temper aimed at the line cook/soda

jerk behind the counter, who happened to be me. I was


3/38

dumbfounded. I didnt know how to react. He was my boss, but hewas also so very much in the wrong here. He told me that I was donebehind the counter and sent me to the stock room to move someenormous and heavy boxes until my shift was done and then that

would be my last day. He also told me he would call the police. Iwent to the backroom and threw some pretty heavy boxes aroundwhile the hot tears flowed down my face. After a while, I happened tosee Ms. Vivian, the assistant manager, standing there with someone Ihad never met before. She introduced me to the regional manager.My heart sank. This was it.

They directed me to the staff break room and sat me down.Then things took a turn I didnt expect. I thought I was going to get

blamed for the missing money. Instead I got an explanation. The

manager of the store used to be a top manager in a major store in amajor city. In his capacity as store manager there, he saw that a largehanging display was coming loose from the rafters and it would haveimpaled an unsuspecting mother and child had he not acted. Hepushed them out of the way, but in so doing, had his own skullcrushed. He survived, but his short term memory was all but lost.Woolworth didnt want to fire their hero, but it was obvious that hecould no longer really manage, especially at that volume and he wasso close to retirement. So they relocated him to the tiny store in

Loveland, Colorado, under the watchful eye of Ms. Vivian whounderstood her role of going around and cleaning up his messes andcovering for his forgetfulness, until he could retire, which was in 3months.

The regional manager told me that there would be no callto the police and there was no missing money. He said he watchedthe whole event and was sorry that it had happened like it did, but wasimpressed at how I had held my tongue. He offered a cashsettlement for me to keep quiet about it. Given the circumstances, it

didnt feel right to take it, so I declined. The regional manager smiledat me and said, The God in you really shines, kid. Thanks for yourunderstanding.

The lesson here was important for me. Someone is alwayswatching. Someone who knows the whole of the story. God is mydefender. I need no one else, not even myself.


4/38


5/38

Monday, January 28 I Peter 2:19George Washington was a wanted criminalwanted for

crimes against the crown. Abraham Lincoln was seen as an

incompetent moralistic fool. John Smyth, was accused of being aflip-flopping evil snake, dragging Gods people to hell. CharlesSpurgeon was seen as an uneducated buffoon. Roger Williamswas run out of several states and even the churches he founded forbeing a trouble maker and a heretic. Yet today, these same peopleare seen in a very different lightnot that of convicts, but those ofconvictions. George Washington fought and helped secure ournational freedom and independence. Abraham Lincoln, known now asone of the greatest presidents that ever lived, is credited in keeping

the union in tact and ending slavery. John Smyth is credited forputting the Scriptures above the rules and traditions of man andfounding the Baptist faith. Roger Williams is know in a positive lightfor the very things he was judge for in his daythe concept of theseparation of church and state, and the concept that faith cannot beforced upon anotherthat it is each persons choice. Hes also thefirst American Baptist ever.

Opinion polls are interesting, but really they carry very littleweight. In the old Testament, the only opinion poll I can find is with

the 10 spies who went into the promised land. Eighty percent said,this is a bad idea. Twenty percent said, With God we can do it.The only opinion that really counted was Gods who said, I want you

to take this land as I have promised it to you. What matters isnt whatpeople think is right. That will change over time. What matters is todo what God says is right, regardless of the circumstances thatsurround us.


6/38

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 I Peter 2:20

There is a profound difference between a victim and a survivor. Avictim cries out at his circumstances and says, Woe is me! A

survivor looks beyond his circumstances and instead at his God andsays, Great is thy faithfulness. Many times, the victim plays up thecircumstances to avoid looking at their role in their own pain. Yes, ithurts now, but had they lived differently, that pain could have beenavoided all together. That is not something that a victim appreciateslooking at. That means taking responsibility for his or her ownbehavior.

A survivor, however, may live through very similar circumstances aspainful as they might be. Their focus isnt on how bad it is, but where

is this going to lead them in the long run. If one is traumatized for nofault of their own, then there is rewardsin the here and now byknowing what kind of circumstances to avoid and to work through thepain and trauma and in so doing become a stronger, better person.Then, there are rewards for eternity under those circumstances, too.God rewards those whom he is pleased with.

Victims and survivors carry painmany times at no or little fault oftheir own. Victims carry no hope. Survivors place their hope inSomeone bigger than themselves and their circumstances. Each

makes their own choice. What choice will you make?


7/38

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 I Peter 2:21Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, If we do an eye and a tooth for

a tooth, we will e a blind and toothless nation. He also said, That old

law about an eye for and eye leaves everyone blind. The time isalways right to do the right thing. From a human perspective, thatisnt easy. To do right to those who have done you wrong just seemscounterintuitive. Yet, this verse tells us just how right doing the rightthing is to do, regardless of what others do in prelude or postlude tothat action. We are to do right, regardless of others response, justlike Jesus did. And what did Jesus do? Did he survey his friendsabout the wisdom of going to the cross? Did he negotiate a lightertrial than what God had placed in his path to accomplish? Did those

who crucified him deserve the forgiveness that his execution wouldafford? Would they ever have the ability to pay him back for servicesrendered?

The law of the world includes such things as quid pro quo, Youscratch my back and Ill scratch yours, and the ever famous, Fool meonce shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The family rulefor those who call God their Heavenly Father is quite different. Dowhat is right period. Dont base your actions on others. We are notcalled to react, for to do so is just to re-act the worlds brokenness.

We are called to respond just as Jesus did. He had every right towalk away, or even call down fire and brimstone, yet he did not. Why?Because he was committed to doing the right thing regardless of the

response. May God find us as faithful in our walk in this broken world.


8/38

Thursday, January 31, 2013 I Peter 2:22No ones perfect! the kid shouted at his mother in his defense.

Yes, he realized that he had blown it, but come on. Everyone makesmistakes, dont they? The mother took a deep breath and looked at

her son whom she loved very much. Thats not exactly true, son.There was three that were perfect, but you are right in that you arent

one of them.What do you mean, mom? the kid went from defensive to

inquisitive.Adam and Eve were created to be perfect. The entire human

race was created to be perfect in every way. They chose to abandonthat perfection to try to equal God and replace their need for him intheir lives. So, even though they were created perfectly, they didnt

end up that way.God knew this was going to happen so he sent Jesus, his oneand only son. He was perfect. He never backtalked his mother. Henever lied. He never lost his temper. He never took or touchedanything that didnt belong to him. He was perfect.

Why? the boy asked.For a couple reasons, I suppose. Perhaps he was perfect to

show us that it is possible and to stop little boys from trying to hidefrom their mistakes. The big reason, though, is to take the

punishment for little boys and girls, and big ones too, who arentperfect.

How did he do that?The Bible tells us that what being less than perfect gets us is

death. He died for us.For me?For everyone who isnt perfect.Wow! what does that make me then, if he did that for me?Well, if you ask him for forgiveness it makes you as good as

perfect. It makes you forgiven.Nobodys perfect. And as such no one is going to Heaven. No

one has access to the Heavenly Father. No one can understand theScriptures. No one has any hope. Yet, there is one that was perfectand as a result, salvation comes to the less than perfect. Somethingto think about, huh?


9/38

Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 I Peter 2:23The scene in the passion story that probably affects me the most

is when Jesus faces Pontius Pilate. Pilate wants to find the loophole

to let this guy go. He wants to find that secret passage of politics thatwill make the whole civic disaster go away. In modern times, hewould have turned to Jesus and said, Come on man, throw me abone, would you?

And what is the Creator of the Universes response? What is theresponse of the guy who raised people from the dead? Surely if hecould command spirits back into a dead body, he could commandspirits out of a live one. What is the response of a righteous manwrongly punished, illegally tried, and wrongly accused? Does he ask

for a lawyer? Does he ask for the latest copy of the Romanordinances and statutes to work on his defense? Does he ask for theScriptures to be brought to him to thump Pontius Pilate over the headwith and show him the errors of his ways? Does he even begin to tellone of his famous stories that starts out so intriguing and then hits youover the head with the moral punchline at the end?

The One who put the stars in place--the one who formed PontiusPilate in his mothers womb--the one who put Ceasar on the throne--the one who created wine out of water, fed 5,000 men from a snack,

the one who walked on water--He sat still and quiet.Why on earth would he do that? He was looking into the face of

his Heavenly Father who had his finger over his mouth, indicating thatthis was the time to be silent. Pilate almost roared, Dont you knowwho I am and what I can do to you? Jesus probably thought, Do youknow who my Father is? Ill choose to follow his lead in this. Andthats what he did. He put his trust in His Fathers leading. What did itget him? Dead. But for you and me, it brought about the chance forlife--eternal life.

Kind of sheds a different light on thow we might better respond tohat guy who cut you off on the interstate last week or that person whogave you the brush off in the grocery store yesterday, doesnt it?


10/38

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 I Peter 2:24-25That well told story comes to mind when I read this passage of

the sick boy and his sister. As the story is told, the young boy is in

need of a kidney or he will die. His older sister was found to have acompatible one. She, being just a few years older than her youngbrother, nodded her head when her parents and the doctors explainedwhat he needed from her. Just before being put under for the surgery,the young girl wanted one last look at her brother, she said her I loveyous to everyone and then tearfully looked into the eyes of hermother and father and said, Good bye. Ill miss you. That struck atthe heart of her parents who knew something was amiss. After a fewmoments of discussion and questions, they discovered that in order

for her brother to live, she thought she was to die. She was willing,nonetheless to do whatever it took to give her brother life.

On a slightly bigger playing field, Jesus looked down on earthand saw a human race that he loved deeply and dearly, but wasdying--not because of a genetic defect, but because they consciouslytook a bite out of the serpent-licked fruit. It wasnt a kidney he offered.It was his all. He took the sins of the world with him to the cross.

A perfect God, emptied out of love, and never contaminated. Up tothis point, sin and everything sinful couldnt stand to be in the

presence of this Man. Now, all of that came washing over him like anoverwhelming, suffocating sludge. Why, you ask? By his woundswe are healed.Praise the Lord God Almighty. He is YHWH Rophi--The God whoHeals!


11/38

Sunday Feb. 3, 2013 I Peter 3:1-2Now for a bit of a look at the women folk. Men, dont tune out.

Theres stuff in here for you as well. Verse one is aimed at women

who have committed their lives to men who have not committed theirlives to Jesus. The New Living Translation says, accept the authorityof your husbands. Other versions use that un-American word,submit. Its a verse that has often been used by guys to get whatthey want out of life and family all because of who wears the pants.Its kind of like the older sibling telling his younger sibling to make the

older siblings bed because hes closer in age to their dad.This verse does not create a pecking order in marriage. Its a

request from God to go the extra mile for those who are lost. What

do men want in life? Meaning and respect. Almost everything we dohas a large component of one of those two, if not both. So how doessomeone reach us? Showing their biblical knowledge superiority?No. Showing intellectual and debate superiority? No. Setting it up

so we feel the pain we inflict through passive aggressive means? Noteven close. What can a person do to get a guy to listen? Tell himwhat he does right. Support and encourage him in the things that hegets right. This is what this passage is asking for the believing ladiesout there to do.

Some have come to the conclusion that weve evolved past ourcave dwelling days where it was mano-a-mano out there. We mightnot use sticks and stones, but the battle continues to rage in everyfield and in every avenue of life. No one listens when they dont feelsafe, especially men. Want you man to listen to you, or even better, toGod? A safe place is all you need to create--a place where he isrespected and called out for the positive things in his life andunconditionally loved.

That said, let me be clear. In the eyes of God, there is neither

male nor female. (Col. 3:11). That means we arent created withdifferent value or importance. There isnt a gender that is more or lessintelligent or valuable than the other. We just operate differently.Were wired differently and women, God is giving you a clue as tohow we are wired. Isnt it cool that he gives instructions here to thegender that actually reads them before trying to assemble things?


12/38

Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 I Peter 3:3-5One of my new favorite shows is Duck Dynasty. I have had

several really good laughs over that show. But i also like it because

they take their faith in God very seriously. Grampa Phil is not adverseto pulling one of his grandchildren aside, taking them fishing andspeaking to them in very clear and vivid terms about what is importantin a man or a woman. Ive blushed a few times in listening to himspeak so candidly. I cant imagine what is going through that poorgrandchilds mind as they see the camera crew catching all of this ontape for the whole world to see. But Im glad they sit through it andlisten respectfully, for the message is soooo very important to

American society.Boy, dont you just be lookin on the outside of a woman. You

know what Im saying? Find a girl who can cook a batch of squirrelbrains like Miss Kay can and youve got yourself a woman. Pretty andyuppy, yuppy, yuppy and youll starve. Homely and loving and warmand good in the kitchen, and youll be heppy, heppy, heppy. Youhearin me, son!

Squirrel brains aside, there is a lot of truth in what hes teachinghis grandkids. True beauty--lasting beauty is something that radiatesfrom the inside and has almost nothing to do with the outside. The

outside will fade, wrinkle, and grey. Some of the most beautifulwomen in the world are women who wouldnt win a beauty contestand wouldnt be caught dead in public in a swimsuit and high heelsparading around on stage. They are grandmas who give theirgrandchild a second piece of pie meaning they go without. They arethe moms who rock their collicy baby at 2:00 in the morning withoutany make up or hair curlers. They are teachers who go to the DollarGeneral to buy supplies that the school wont and the kids cant. Theyare the ministers that hold the hand of the lonely dying person in the

nursing home. They are the police officers who pull the stuffed animalout of their trunk to hand to the kid they just had to take away from anabusive parent. Women, be this. Men, encourage this. This is Godsplan for this and the next generation of women.


13/38

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 I Peter 3:6Here it is again. Peter telling women to call their

husbands,master. Taken at surface impression, it sure is a shot oftestosterone into the power hungry male. Who doesnt want to bemaster of his own domain? Theres just one problem with thatinterpretation of this passage. Peter uses Sarah as the example.Have you read that passage lately? Its found in Genesis 16-22.Sarah is certainly a team player with Abraham. To protect his own

skin, he orders her to say that hes her brother so that Abimelechdoesnt kill him, take his stuff, and marry Sarah. When the angels

show up, he orders her to prepare a feast and she is more thanwilling to comply. But she is no Yes-wo-man.When she cant have kids, its her suggestion to use Hagar as a

surrogate parent. And Abraham says, Yes, maam. When Hagarand her son Ishmael become bothersome to Sarah, she goes to

Abraham and says, Get rid of these two. I will not have my sonchallenged by these. Abraham hems and haws about it until Godsays, Hey, mister. Listen to the woman!

Guys, take note of the real topic sentence of the Ephesians

passage that talks about how men and women are to get alongtogether in marriage. Its not Ephesians 5:23, that says wives submitto your husbands. Its actually Ephesians 5:22, that says, Submitone to another.


14/38

Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013 I Peter 3:7And after all that about women, we now get to the guys. The

detailed instructions given to the women and now Peter speaks to

men as men. And here is how his instructions begin. In the sameway... Did you catch that guys? You remember me asking you a fewdays ago to not tune out what was being said just because it wasbeing said to women? Here is why--what God just asked the womento do, he asks of you. If your wife is unbelieving, love her into thekingdom, dont command her there. Dont get caught up in muscles,money, or mojo. A handsome man is a godly, humble one. Adesirable man is one who provides for others at personal expense.The best looking guys who spend hours in the gym and in front of

mirrors have no capacity to put aside the shiny new shoes for a kidwho has the stomach urps. The business driven man out for the nextbuck has no patience to watch a daughter try to dribble in the reserveteam game. A real man sees his wife with a headache and calls insick himself to take care of his kingdom. Those characteristics pourout from the inside, not from the outside. Muscles sag over time.Hairlines recede. Mental acuity might fade. Waists might even

expand a bit, even with the best intentions. But a mans heart is hislegacy. And yes, it is important to acknowledge that in many ways,

your wife is better than you. Dont shy away from that. Dont minimizeit. Acknowledge it. Celebrate it, and may I dare say it, submit to it.


15/38

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 I Peter 3:7Honor your wives. Here is the element that balances out the

submission factor for the women. So many guys who see life

through macho glasses only are willing to honor their wives only afterthey submit. Thats a bit backwards in servant leadership--the goal ofevery Christian guy. Honor first, and then watch the fireworks ofvoluntary submission. A woman who is treated like a queen rarelyacts like one. Men, how do you honor your wife? Do you open thedoor for her? Do you compliment her more than you criticize her. Doyou only speak postiively of her in public, or do you, from time to timelet things slip that makes her the brunt of the joke? What is the lastthing you gave up that you really, really wanted so that she could get

that girly thing she wanted? And how much fuss did you make aboutmaking that sacrifice?

And although it shouldnt have to be said, the world we live inmakes it now a necessity. When is the last time you watched ayounger model walk by and kept watching? Whens the last time youfelt compelled to go to your search engine on your computer anddelete your history so no one could find out where youve been?(Dont be ignorant here. It can still be traced very easily). Whens the

last time you gave your wife pause to wonder what you were doing

with that woman or that girl, or gave someone else the opportunity tospread something because you put yourself and your wifes honor in acompromising position? Hey guys. Its simple here. You are thehead of your household and your number one priority is to treat yourwife like shes the second most important thing in your life--secondonly to Jesus Christ. Honor your wife.


16/38

Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 I Peter 3:7Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. Literally,

this gets translated in a pretty red-neck way. Literally it means, Know your

woman. Do you know your wife? I know some of us just shake our headsat that question and with a dumbfounded look on our faces we say, Imarried her, didnt I? The question isnt, Did you find her attractive?The question is Do you know her? Research has shown us beyond ashadow of a doubt that one of the most vulnerable times a couple is in theirmarriage to divorce is when the last kid leaves the nest. The reason issimple. The husband looks at the wife and the wife looks at the husbandand they both say simultaneously, Who are you? So much energy hasbeen spent in trying to raise the kids, pay the mortgage, coach little league,teach Sunday School, keep the house painted, the carpets cleaned, the

promotion obtained, the coupons clipped, and so on and so on that whenthe dust settles, there isnt a knowledge of each other. There are thingsthat have built up and are ready to burst in things that have annoyed eachother for years. There just wasnt time to sort it all out. There was time, it

just didnt seem worth the effort then. Suddenly, two has been love birdsare looking at each others talons wondering how much thatll hurt.

Guys, it really does start with us. We need to take the initiative here.We need to make it an intentional thing in our lives to know our wives--

today, and not just remember the important stuff from days gone by. And

Im not just talking about favorite foods and music and the like. Thatsgood. But how does she feel about sock doughnuts? What does shethink--really think--about all those shootem-up-a-tony movies you drag hertoo? Is she really as excited about that as she is about you being excitedabout being with her? What would she prefer to do WITH you? She reallyis interested your input on the drapes and what you want for dinner. Andyes, she would probably fall over for lack of oxygen intake if you attemptedto fold the laundry or cook supper, even if it is at McDonalds. Do you knowyour wife?

When is the last time you asked her, What do I do that annoys you

and what can I do to fix it? If you havent asked for a while, make sureshes sitting down before asking. Ambulance trips can be expensive after amassive fall like that.


17/38

Saturday Feb. 9, 2013 I Peter 3:7Treat her as your equal...and your prayers will not be hindered.

Thats a powerful promise and threat wrapped up in one statement.Lets just say for a moment that one of my daughters grows up and

marries a deadbeat guy. Her mother and my heart would be broken,but we probably wouldnt really feel too badly for the deadbeat guy.Our heart would be with our daughter and our grandchildren. Now

lets just say for the sake of argument that my deadbeat son-in-lawcomes up to me and smoozes me a bit for some money. I ask himwhat he needs it for. He wants to go out and buy himself a brand new

race car. He thinks he could be a great race car driver. Not goodenough to make any money at it. He just wants to have fun.With a request like that coming from a guy who wont hold a job,

who hits my daughter and makes fun of her in public, who makes herdo everything, including opening the can of beer and change thechannel and bosses her around like shes just a piece of property--even if he asks in the most polite way, he is not going to walk awayunscathed. Ive watched enough CSI to know how to get rid of a bodywithout getting caught. (Just kidding, but tempting, right?)

Now, change the story up a bit. Heres a guy who values mydaughter and my grandkids. He makes sacrifices for them daily andtreats them like royalty. Hes a real man, a real husband, a real dadand works hard at doing his best and pushes himself to get better andbetter. Suppose for just a second that I caught wind that he dreams ofa race car to just have fun, but hes pushed that dream aside for thesake of his family. Even if he hadnt asked me for it, Id probablymortgage the house to make it happen. I value people who value mykids.

Guess where I picked that up from? My dad who picked it upfrom his and when you track it back far enough, youll find a dadeveryone calls Heaveanly Father. Guys, take note. You are marriedto Gods princess. Dont go asking for the keys to the kingdom if youare treating her like your slave. That dog dont hunt.


18/38

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 I Peter 3:8The greatest definition of a family was given to me by a little 8

year old boy whose family had abandoned him. He sat in my therapyroom in the middle of the floor with every imaginable toy sitting aroundhim, yet he just sat there. I let him sit there for a bit. Then I justreflected that he looked like the saddest kid Id ever seen. I am thesaddest kid youve ever seen, he replied. What is making you sosad? I asked.

I dont have a family anymore.That stung even though I knew that was going to be his answer. Can

you find me a family? he then begged. I asked him, What do youmean when you say family?Family is people who hugs you for the rest of your life and never

lets go.Even with the bad grammar, it stuck with me and made an indeliblemark on my soul and understanding.

This is Peters call to the church in verse 8. Be of one mind.You ever hug a person who you are determined to fight with? Next to

impossible, isnt it? Symmpathize with each other. Its impossible to

hold a grudge and try to understand what might be going on in the lifeof the one that annoys or angers you. Be tenderhearted and keep ahumble attitude. Try hugging the opposite of that. Youd have abetter experience hugging a porcupine than trying to hug a coldhearted contemptuous person.

God calls us to be a family in this passage. And in the words ofa very wise once-8 year old. Family is people who hugs you for therest of your life and never lets go.


19/38

Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 I Peter 3:9Some stories are best told by their original storytellers. Here is a

devotional shared by George Cowan at a Campus Crusade event:After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, no person in all of

East Germany was more despised than the former Communistdictator Erich Honecher. He had been stripped of all his offices. Eventhe Communist Party rejected him. Kicked out of his villa, the newgovernment refused him and his wife new housing. The Honecherswere homeless and destitute.

Enter pastor Uwe Holmer, director of a Christian help centernorth of Berlin. Made aware of the Honechers straits, Pastor Holmer

felt it would be wrong to give them a room meant for even needierpeople. So the pastor and his family decided to take the formerdictator into their own home!

Erich Honechers wife, Margot, had ruled the East Germaneducational system for twenty-six years. Eight of Pastor Holmers tenchildren had been turned down for higher education due to Mrs.Honechers policies, which discriminated against Christians. Now theHolmers were caring for their personal enemythe most hated man inGermany. This was so unnatural, so unconventional, so Christlike.

By the grace of God, the Holmers loved their enemies, did themgood, blessed them, and prayed for them. They turned the othercheek. They gave their enemies their coat (their own home).

They did to the Honechers what they would have wished theHonechers would do to them.


20/38

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 I Peter 3:10Today is called Mardi Gras. Literally it means, Fat Tuesday.

The idea behind the day is that tomorrow starts lent and its your last

day to live it up for the next 40 days. The next 40 days were to be setaside to mourn, mope and just feel terrible about yourself. Its a timethat the medieval church had imposed upon its congregants to remindthem how undesirable they were to God and to the church, and toinstill a greater sense of guilt and obligation to the church. If youwanted the blessing of the church and of God, then youll be sour andsober for the next 40 days. But today, since it doesnt start untiltomorrow, do whatever you want--live it up to the fullest.

The scriptures actually have something different to say about

how to live a prosperous, joyful life. Todays verse starts us out onjust such a wise journey. If you want to enjoy life and see manyhappy days... Ready for it? Dont eat meat? No. Spend all day insackcloth and ashes? no. Its much more simple and natural than allthat. Here is is: keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lipsfrom telling lies. Be a person of integrity 365 days a year, not just asour and sober one for 40 days. Joy in life is a lifelong journey. Itdoesnt come in a bottle, or from someone throwing you beads from afloat down in New Orleans. It starts with just making sure that

everything that comes out of your mouth is based completely in thetruth. Nothing fat about that, ey Jack?


21/38

Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 Ash Wednesday Romans 5:8Back in the day, perhaps as early as the first century, the church

began to see a problem begin to develop in people who claimed to beChristians. They had accepted Christ and professed him publicly.

They were baptized as believers--again publicly. But the draw of theworld back to worldly ways was a strong pull. It wasnt long before thechurch saw people in their church families looking and acting onceagain very much like people outside their church families. The churchfathers struggled with how to help this, feeling genuinely concerned forboth the church and the backsliding believers. On one hand, it isntabout works. One is saved by faith. But faith without works is dead.

Their answer to this problem was to remind people where theycame from and where they stood. They called it the second baptism.

On a regular basis, believers would be invited to reflect upon wherethey came from--dead in their transgressions, and where they stood--fully redeemed and forgiven. To symbolize this reflecting journey, asign of the cross (representing where they stood now as redeemedbelievers) would be made with ashes (symbolizing where they camefrom as in the ashes of cremation). It was a sign to everyone who sawit on their foreheads that they were in the process of reconnecting withGod in a very real, and profound way. It was a sign for fellowbelievers to encourage and strengthen them and help guard against

those who would see the sign and want to take advantage of them byincreasing temptation.

Over time, as often happens, the practice became an event thateventually had more rules and regulations put to it, and then it becamea day--Ash Wednesday. The day before lent begins. Lent is a wordderived from the German word Spring. The idea ,as it evolved, wasthat those who were aware of where they had come from and wherethey stood now as a result of the cross would experience a spring ofthe soul. Those who werent willing would stay in a kind of frozen

winter state of survival mode.As we enter the Lenten season, may we take that journey of old-

-recognizing where weve been and where we stand now, and may therealizations we find bring a fresh spring breath of the Holy Spirit overus.


22/38

Thursday, Feb. 14 Valentines DayThere are two main beliefs about where this holiday takes its

roots. The Catholic Church has at least three saints named, Valentine

or Valentius, and narrowing down which one is the one that this day isset aside to remember is kind of difficult. The medieval Catholicchurch had a good habit of looking around and finding people whowere doing things right and then holding them up as modernexamples. One of these was a priest who defied the Emperor whobelieved that single men made better soldiers. This Valentine statedmuch like Peter and John did before the Sanhedrin, that it is better toobey God than to obey man. He performed illegal marriages ofconscripted soldiers. When the Emperor found out, he had Valentine

executed.One of the other Valentines was imprisoned for treating prisoninmates with kindness and compassion. The goal of the governmentwas to make them pay for their sins against the government. The goalof this humble man was to show them the love of the Lord and helpthem see Gods plan for them. He was imprisoned for his kindness.As the legend goes, he was imprisoned and no longer able to see hisbetrothed. He let her know of his plight and his inability to marry herand care for her in a note that was signed, From your valentine.

And yes, there are pagan roots to this holiday as well. But letsconcentrate on the lessons that God can teach through his examples.It is not good for man to be alone, God said and no government has

the right to overrule that. God calls some to be celebate but that isGods call not some mans. We must protect the sanctity of the familyunit as one of the Valentines did. And in the case of the other, In theend, there is faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.Jesus prayed, May they be known as my disciples by their love. Let

us today be the answer to Jesus prayer.


23/38

Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 I Peter 3:11Where your nose is pointed, thats the direction you are

headed. Im not sure where I heard that first, but it really stuck with

me. The direction we travel will determine where we end up. Thatsjust simple logic. Peter uses such simple logic in quoting this versefrom Psalms 34. Turn away from evil, he says. Why? Because ifyou are entertaining evil, youll end up doing evil things. Turn awayfrom evil and do good. Why? Because if you are doing good things,you wont have time to turn back and entertain evil ideas. I can stillhear my grandma telling me that idle hands are the workshop of thedevil. That phrase isnt in the scriptures, but its backed up right here.Turn from evil and occupy yourself in doing good. Why?

Because peace can only be acheived in the presence of do-gooders. And even then, its going to take ongoing work to maintain it.Want peace in your life. Its not enough to bubble wrap your brain toprotect it from the evil in the world. Youve got to get up and dosomething about it. Do some good in this world. Make it a betterplace. That will inspire others to do the same. And when everyone isbusy doing the right things and turning their backs on evil, there will bea peace that surpasses all comprehension.

Ive often wondered how much of the evil in the world takes

place because people have too much time on their hands to entertainevil and how much evil would be passed over if people occupiedthemselves with doing good. Something to think about and live by.


24/38

Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 I Peter 3:12I think one of the greatest blessings God has given me is kids to

parent. I see God in such a more accurate perspective as a result of

parenting. If youve been a parent, you know exactly what God issaying in this passage.

A kid in the grocery store wants that piece of candy. Theyvebeen holy terrors throughout the shopping experience and that candyin the checkout line is the last ditch effort to make their parents bendto their will. And the show is on. Its a full out, throw yourself to theground screamfest. The experienced parents just ignore it. Ive seemsome parents actually get down on the ground and throw a tempertantrum about their kids temper tantrum. It has a profound effect.

One particularly effective parent looked at the cashier and said, I willpay for this in a moment. Feel free to help the next one out. Im goingto my car right now. If he gets too loud in that fit of his, feel free to callthe cops. The temper tantrum immediately changed to a very clingy,repentant kid who held on to his moms leg as she walked to her carcontinuing to ignore him. The last thing even the most stressed parentshould do is give in and get that candy for the kid. They are settingthemselves up for horrible battles in the future and setting their kid upfor a horrible life with that behavior.

God is the perfect parent. Those who do right, he is all ears.Those who are holy terrors, he just walks away from until they are

willing to be parented again. And with God, theres never a weakmoment where hell give in.


25/38

Sunday, Feb, 17, 2013 I Peter 3:13Theres that scene in the Sound of Music that Ive often

wondered if it really happened that way. The family is hiding in the

convent. The Nazis are closing in on the family, hoping to conscriptMr. Von Trapp into the Nazi navy. The eldest girls boyfriend is a partof the posse looking for them, and hes the one that actually ends upfinding them hiding behind the tombstones. And for an eternity inHollywood time, he holds the whistle in his mouth, apparentlywrestling with whether or not to blow the whistle on them. Why such apause? It is not only because he loves his girlfriend, but because heis wrestling with the duty to the state that he has sworn and the lovehe had felt from the family. He eventually blows the whistle. But

thats where I wonder. Could I blow the whistle on someone that hasbeen kind to me in the past? Could I send someone to prison forkindnesses bestowed freely upon me in the past. Ive never been putin that position, but I have to admit just thinking about such a positionis enough to cause some stomach cramps. Its hard to be mean togood people. Its much easier to show contempt to contemptuouspeople.

Ive heard this more than once from a variety of people, and Ithink the lesson in it spans beyond just immediate families. Be kind

to your children. Theyll choose your nursing home some day.


26/38

Monday, February 18, 2013 I Peter 3:14-15aYesterday, we were advised to be kind to each other because

we never know when we will need someone to be there for us.

Kindness attracts. Cruelty repels. Yet, sometimes the best intentionsfall on misunderstood ears and hearts. Sometimes we need to saywhat people need to hear, rather than what they want to hear.Sometimes we have to do things that those around us need us to do,

rather than what they want us to do. Doing the right thing can getsomeone in a heap of trouble sometimes. What does one do in thosesituations? Stu Weber, once said, Its important to keep your eye onthe prize--the big prize and not just the immediate payout. To dowhat someone wants us to do instead of what they need us to do

could actually be harmful. To hide someones alcoholism or drugaddiction does no good for the addict. To call them on it might hurtyour relationship, but it will ultimately do them good. Sometimes ithurts to do the right thing. When that happens, keep your eye on thebig prize and not just the immediate payout. The big prize is the smilethat crosses your Heavenly Fathers face for eternity because you didthe right thing, instead of the thing that would feel right for only themoment.


27/38

Tuesday Feb. 19, 2013 I Peter 3:15Witnessing. Evangelism. Sharing your faith. If someone wants

to place a huge burden of guilt on a group of Christians, all one has to

do is just use a couple of those words in the same sentence. Somebreak out in a cold sweat at the thought. Some have gone to extrememeasures to rearrange their theology in hopes that reaching out to thelost is not a human responsibility. Others just immediately tune outthe conversation or think back to the last time they stepped waaayyyout of their comfort zone to shake that visitors hand six months ago inchurch. Thats kind of evangelism, isnt it?

Truth of the matter is that there are precious few who arecomfortable in sharing their faith with others the way the Scriptures

outline it. When Ive asked people why that is, the answer is very,very similar across the board. I dont know what I would say. Well,in I Peter 3:15, Peter gives the solution to that. Always be ready toexplain it.

Its the Boy Scout motto before Boy Scouts even existed. Beprepared. Memorize the Roman Road. Learn a method of sharingthe Gospel with someone who might show interest. Practice with atrusted believer and get comfortable with it. Its really not that hard.

We are called to be witnesses, not salesmen. Its not our job to closethe deal. Thats the Holy Spirits job. But if youre the only Bible thatsome get to read, and they come to you as their Bible wondering howto find that personal relationship with Jesus and all you have to say is,ummm. Errr. Heres my pastors number. Theres an opportunitylost--a God appointment missed, and an eternity endangered. Areyou ready to share the good news with someone? If not, then whatsimple steps do you need to take to get ready by the end of the day.


28/38

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 I Peter 3:16The Celtic Christian traditions fascinate me. From the time of St.

Patrick to the Council of Whitby, the Irish took hold of a faith in Jesus

Christ that was all together different than what the church in Romewas trying to look like. Rome wanted programs, buildings, calendars,and hierarchies. They wanted rules and regulations and standards bywhich to measure each other. The Celtic Christians wantedrelationships--deepened relationship with the Holy Trinity and witheach other. The Vatican would go on crusades and preach theGospel under threat of sword or promise of material wealth. TheCelts loved people into the kingdom. They lived in such a way thatpeople found a wonderful authentic relationship with Christ irresistible.

The result was that Celtic Christianity began to spread far greaterthan Roman Catholicism, which created issues in Rome. When all ofEngland was seen as being threatened by Irelands growing faith.Rome sent their greatest wealth to convince the powers that be inIreland to renounce the pagan faith and swear allegiance to thePope. Thus, the Council at Whitby where greed won over God.

In the last decade, there has been a resurgence of those Celticideals, and admittedly I have thoroughly enjoyed journeying withpeople around the world in exploration of this flavor of faith. At the

core of its outreach is I Peter 3:16. Evangelism happens very little instadiums with polished speakers. It never happens in a debate or anargument. It rarely happens with people who carry PhDs in theologyor even with the average minister in the pulpits. It rarely happens inchurch services anymore, too. Evangelism happens when oneaverage Christian loves a non-Christian, shares the gospel in bothword and deed, and without gimmicks, giveaways, and guilt. TheCeltic Christians got this right and its the way we will reach Americaagain. Each one reach one with the love of the Lord.


29/38

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 I Peter 3:17-8Thomas Smith (not ours), wrote a groundbreaking book called

Effective Advertisingin 1985. In it, he shared some research that has

literally changed the way advertising takes place. In his research, hefound that the first 4 times someone is exposed to an idea or anadvertisement, they dont even pay attention to it. Around the 7th timethey see it, they start to get irritated by it. By view number 10, theystart asking friends if they know anything about it. It isnt until theypass the 13th exposure that they begin to wonder if the product hasactual value. They really dont consider buying it until they have beenexposed to it for over 20 times.

I think about Smiths research when I see passages like I Peter

3:17. I read this and think to myself, Man, this guy has a memoryproblem. Didnt he just get done saying this exact same thing inchapters one and two? Must be trying to fill the page for a bettergrade, eh? Yet, I think the Holy Spirit has Peter repeat himself, notbecause Peter has a memory problem, but because we do. The thinghe is repeating here is a tough pill to swallow. Doing good andsuffering for it is a good thing? Really? The first time we hear it in thisletter, we can sit back and say to ourselves, Interesting. Thesecond, Didnt I hear that before? And now the third, Im going to

really have to wrestle with this, because Peter just wont let it go?Wrestle away with it here now. Is it better to do the right thing and getin trouble for it now, and rewarded for it later? Or is it better to avoidthe trouble now and face Gods disappointment later? Hes said itthree times now. Apparently, its important for us to make a decisionon this one.


30/38

Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 I Peter 3:19-21This is one of those passages that you will probably never hear a

sermon on. The reason is that there are so many different

interpretations on what this passage means. Some think this is thepassage that gives way to the idea of purgatory--where souls go towait for the final judgement. At Jesus death, he descended into Helland did an altar call those who lived in Old Testament times, now thatthe Gospel had been completed. They were given a second chanceto avoid Hell because of the Cross revealed. Interesting thought, butabsolutely no scriptural basis for it at all. Others look at it in light of2nd Peter 2:4-5, saying that these are demons he went to visit andbasically say, Neiner, Neiner, Neiner! I Peter 3:19 seems to be fairly

clear that these are human souls he is preaching at. The third optionis the darkest. In the first option, it is assumed that Christs preachingwould be to a willing audience. Oftentimes, preaching is met withopposition and contempt when the Scriptures are painted clearly.People who are sinning dont generally speaking like to be called on

it. It seems both Scriptural and likely that Jesus did show up at thegates of Hell and shared the good news of what had just beenaccomplished to ears voluntarily deafened. They chose their path.They could have listened to the preacher/ark builder when they were

alive. They chose to ignore him. How much more the God who ledhim? The only ones saved were the ones who obeyed God and got inthe boat.

This is the picture of baptism. Noah, through his obedience andsubmission to God, passed through the waters and was saved.Baptism is the story that each person tells at their baptism. Like

Noah, they have given their lives to Jesus Christ, trusting in him andletting him be Lord. As a result, they have not drowned, they havebeen saved.

To those who have been baptized, celebrate that victory todayagain. To those who have not, heres a simple question, Why not?


31/38

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 I Peter 3:22-4:1As a result of Christs willingness to do the right thing, despite

the painful process, is the pattern in which God uses every time with

each of us. The pain and suffering Jesus went through, bothphysically and spiritually, is well beyond our ability to comprehend.Yet, the success and reward of his actions were not realized while

here on this earth, or even at the altar call of Hell if thats what theprevious passage is referring to. The result of doing the right thing,regardless of how much it hurt took place in Heaven. That last line ofverse 22 is extraordinarily powerful. All angels and authorities andpowers accept his authority. All angels? What about the rebelliousones? What about Satan himself? He accepts Christs ultimate

authority? Absolutely. He has no choice. He has been check-mated.For him, its all about taking out as many pawns as he can, but even in

that he has to get Christs permission. Why? Because Christ is nowthe authority. The only ones that have a real choice in the matter isyou and I, because the One who is in authority has granted us freewill.

For those receiving this letter for the first time, they are going toface execution for their faith. They are going to be separated fromloved ones and struggle to make ends meet, be the backside of a

beaten horse. There will be no police that will intervene. No judgethat will take their case. Here is their hope. The God who allowedJesus to go through what he went through made it right in the end. Hewill do the same for each of them....and for you and me.


32/38

Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 I Peter 4:2-3Theres a story that I read just this morning (1/23/2013) in USA

Today about a University of Idaho student who died just last night. It

tore my soul completely up. Apparently, this student was at afraternity party and had way too much to drink. Thats his fault. Heheaded out of the fraternity to find his dorm building around 2:00 in themorning, but was so drunk, he got disoriented and headed in thewrong direction. Ill-suited for the weather and with a blood alcohollevel that was also messing with his internal ability to regulate histemperature, he began to seek shelter. He found an open door tosomeones cellar and curled up there for the night. The owner of thehouse found out and kicked him out back on the streets. He then

began knocking on doors asking for help. He was rejected at leastthree times. He was found frozen underneath a bridge the nextmorning.

How is it that no one helped him? Did no ones phone work?Did noone have an extra blanket? Even a couch? No. The real

problem, I suspect, is that it was 2:00-4:00 in the morning and whatpeople saw in their cellar or at their door was an intrusion to theircomfort, rather than a soul with an eternal destiny. Honestly, I wouldhate to be one of those who heard the knock at the door and turned

him away--even if they felt justified in not enabling him. They madea personal judgment with eternal ramifications. They put themselvesin front of the opportunity to be Christs hands and feet, to someonewho blew it, yes, but to someone for whom Christ died fornonetheless. Ouch!


33/38

Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 I Peter 4:4Ask any recovering alcoholic or addict what the most painful part

of recovery has been and theyll tell you almost the exact same thing.

The physical pains of withdrawal were minimal, even in cases wheremedical detox were required, when compared to the emotionalstruggle with former friends. Someones recovery is a slap in the faceof those who dont want to do that. It is a breaking of the code of letspretend everything is OK. Even when great pains are taken to avoidthe whole holier than thou attitude, recovery is perceived as an act of

judgment against those who reject recovery.It is no different when people enter into recovery from their

addiction to sin and rebellion against God. Bible-thumper. Oh,

shes got religion now. What are you going to do, preach at me now?And probably the most painful one of all. Voicemails that never getreturned. The silent rejection. Although I have seen it more timesthan I can count, I can only imagine the pain that a new believer goesthrough as they are not only fighting to follow Jesus and be dependentupon him, they are fighting former friends and even Satan himself.

I see my faith as a wonderful blessing, but I havent hung arounda majority of non-Christians for decades, much less have that group ofnon-Christians be my former sole support group. Yes, Jesus can heal

all things and be all things to all people. But this verse reminds me ofthe importance of reaching out to the new believers, and not just getcomfortable with my old Christian friends. These new believers needpeople to surround them with love and encouragement, because theirold circle of friends is actively beating them up. They might not showit on their faces, but its there--from elementary school to the nursinghome. Recovering sinners get it from old friends in the most painful ofways and desperately need their new family to be there for them inreal, authentic ways.


34/38

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 I Peter 4:5-6I remember running the Bolder Boulder for the first time. There

is this point in the route that it really began to burn. It was the last

3/4s of a mile. The last 10th of a mile was almost straight up into thestadium. My lungs burned so bad I just wanted to drop to the groundand die. There were several paramedics scanning the jogging mobprobably for that very reason. It hurt so bad. My legs were beyondspaghetti. They were twigs holding up the trunk of a massive tree. Icould feel my heart beating in my throat and that too actually hurt.Yet, the thought of stopping to walk at this point in time was

unthinkable. I was almost done. The end was in sight. I began doingwhat my trainer instructed me to do in this situation. Start counting

steps up to ten, breathing in every other count and then start overagain. Find the rhythm needed and it will carry you over the hill andinto the stadium.

Thats what Peter is advocating here. There will be hills in ourwalk with Jesus. They will be steep and painful. People rejected Him.They will reject you, too. They will make fun of you, tell untruths

about you. You might just want to lay down and die. Dont. In theend, all will be judged. Some will hear, Well done, good and faithfulservant. Others will hear, Depart from me. I never knew you. If you

finish the race, you will be a witness to those who need an examplelike you. Dont give up. Count...your blessings and take the next step.


35/38

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 I Peter 4:7The end of the world is coming soon. Ive been to more than

one professional or collegiate athletic event where someone with a

scraggly beard was wearing a sandwich board saying that the end ofthe world is near and handing out pamphlets to prove his point. Noone really takes that person seriously. Very few take the paper--ifanyone. No one believes him. Yet, the last time I was at HuskerStadium and passed a woman shouting this kind of stuff out and tryingto pawn off her paper, I took a moment and looked around and askedmyself the question, can anyone walking past this woman refute whatshes saying? No one wants to believe that the end of the world is athand. Who wants to live through the tribulation? Ill do it ifthats what

God wants, but I much prefer the idea of a rapture. My wants do notcreate reality no matter how strong my desires are.

And whats more, as I looked around all of those people intent onfinding their seat before kickoff, how many of them could say withcertainty that the end of the world for themwas not at hand. Howmany people who passed away this last year had it marked on theircalendar that this would be their last day with us? How many peoplewho died in car accidents this past month made sure their will was inorder before getting into the car? How many unspoken, I love yous

or Im sorrys still float around out there because no one thought thatthe end of their world was so close?

We all tend to live like there will always be a tomorrow. That isntwise, nor is it biblical. This is the only moment God guarantees foryou. Use it to the fullest and enjoy it as you enjoy Him.


36/38

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 I Peter 4:7The word pray literally means to beg. It has become a little

less of the beggar mentalilty and more of a spiritual haughty taughty

mindset, hasnt it? Imagine what kind of faces you would receive ifyou suggested before a committee meeting or even a Bible study tostart out with a session of begging God.

Yet, in this verse, this is exactly what Peter is asking us to do.When the going gets tough, and we arent tough enough to manageto keep our heads above water, the only thing left to do is beg for help.Fortunately, we can beg a God who promises to always listen and

always give us what we need as we beg for it. World falling apart andtheres not enough duct tape in the drawer? Great! You are seeing

things as they really are and arent trying to fool yourself any longer.The world is falling apart and there isnt enough duct tape in the

universe that will hold it all together. The only one who can doanything about it is God. So, on your knees and beg...um, er, pray!


37/38

Friday, March 1, 2013 I Peter 4:8Most importantly... When the Holy Spirit uses words like this, itmeans take what follows extremely seriously. And what is so serious?

Love. Now, I know that this doesnt seem to be the weapon of choiceto use to beat down the enemy and advance the kingdom of Christ.But it is Gods chosen weapon. The one he uses almost exclusively

in our world.Think about this for a second. In John 17, Jesus didnt pray that

his disciples would be known by their understanding of theology. Nohuman being could ever get a full grasp of theology. Well be fightingabout theology until the cows come home. He didnt pray that hisdisciples would be known for their powerful presence or political

prowess. Politics has solved very, very little in our world and actuallyhas done more to foster conflict than anything else that I can think of.He didnt pray that we would be known for our logic, or even our

passions. The thing he prayed for is the thing he knew we could doand make a unified mark in a broken world with. That thing? Love.Lets work on deepening our love for each other. For in doing, we

focus on what is wrong far less and what is right far more.


38/38

Saturday, March 2, 2013 I Peter 4:9

The house is a mess. Toys, papers, unfolded laundryeverywhere. I dont have fancy recipes to share. Its just normal

everyday fare to share. What will people think if they come over to myhouse. Were simple folks who have little choice to decorate inanything other than early married.

For every person I have heard share these concerns with me, Ihave shared the exact opposite of those who were invited to share ameal in their home. They are such nice people. We had a greattime! We used to do that kind of thing all the time. We should dothat more often! Isnt it funny how we expect people to judge us byour stuff. If those we invite are that shallow, they would probably

reject the offer right out. What people long for and crave isrelationship, not your knick nacks or Smithsonian exhibits of modernliving. Jesus hung out with all kinds and every time he did, thosearound were profoundly touched by relationship, not real estate. Sotake the challenge. Who are you going to invite to Sunday lunchtomorrow?

Date post:	04-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	first-baptist-church-of-holdrege
View:	220 times
Download:	0 times

February Devotional 2013

Documents