“…you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13b)

            If God were to cry down from the heavens with lightning and the voice of thunder, I suspect most would listen and obey.  We respond quickly to overt power and flaunting strength.  Yet, the words of the Scripture are no less the words of God than ones spoken from a quaking mountaintop or boomed from the heavens.

            To read the Bible is to hear the words of God spoken directly to you.  These are not good words; they are ultimate words.  The Bible is authority engraved in text.  Listen accordingly.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites 

“…constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

            Faith, hope, and love – Thessalonians connects action words with all three of these great pillars of Christianity.

We know our faith by our actions and the fruit they bear.  What deeds have you done for the kingdom?

Love is seen in how much we are willing to agonize for relationships.  What will you sacrifice for your neighbor?  How many tears will you cry to pursue reconciliation and peace with God and man?

Hope is shown in our willingness to wait for the Day of the Lord.  God is sovereign – will you wait for His timing with steadfast endurance?

Faith works, love toils, and hope waits.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“…looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” (2 Peter 3:12a)

            A good test of our spiritual state is how excited we become at the thought of Jesus’ return.  Does it thrill you that He might come back today? Or does the thought leave you with doubts or concerns?  Or does His return make you think about all the things you would still like to do down here under the sun?

            Our hope is what we are anchored to, and if that hope is Jesus, the thought of His return should fill us with excitement and expectation.  Does Christ feel like an anchor in your life or a weight keeping you down?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah…” (2 Peter 2:4-5)

            The popular religious sentiment today is that God is so loving that He will spare mankind the horrors of hell, and inversely, to assume that a small group of faithful are the only who will be saved is both judgmental and contrary to God’s character.

            As Peter points out, this is exactly the opposite of what is true.  God will not spare the faithless from the fires of hell – He is not bluffing when He warns us of the damnation that awaits the soul outside of Christ.  Similarly, there is no fire, spear, threat, or wound that can destroy a soul that belongs to Him.  For the Christian, preservation is guaranteed, and our hope is secure.

            As is often the case, the world’s philosophers get it exactly backwards.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder.” (2 Peter 1:13)

            Everyone needs reminders, but it requires humility to accept this truth.  There is a reason every dentist, pediatrician, veterinarian, and airline provide us with regular text and email reminders of our upcoming appointments, flights, and puppy vaccinations.  We are all busy people, and the distractions are everywhere.  We don’t mean to forget things, but life has a way of getting complicated.

            Peter, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit understood our need for reminders.  The whole Bible is a book of reminders.  Reminders of who you are, what really matters, and the sovereignty of God.  We need these reminders because we get distracted, and the devil is actively attempting to increase that distraction.  An inactive faith is a dead one, and that is just fine with Satan.

            Regular Bible reading is a way of stirring up the coals of our passion for the Lord.  A faith that is stirred is a faith that works.  A little reading all the time goes a long way.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears…” (1 Peter 5:4a)

            Every eldership I have ever had the pleasure of working under has committed countless hours to the wellbeing of the congregation they are shepherding.  They spent time reflecting upon and shaping the direction of the local church, time in prayer is expended on behalf of individuals, and much counsel and effort to create an environment to heal the broken or hurting is expended.  Elderships, the godly ones, are active in mending wounds, planning for futures, and protecting the flock.

            If this is so with local shepherds, how much more so with the Chief Shepherd?!  When He appears, I suspect we will be amazed at His awareness of our individual lives and journeys.  He is not passively shepherding from some distant watchtower.  In fact, there is no such thing as passive shepherding – all shepherds must be active and vigilant.  Praise God for Jesus, the Shepherd who never sleeps!

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“…because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” (1 Peter 4:1b)

There is no greater purger of sin than the crucible of suffering.  When we suffer for the sake of obedience, we put skin in the game, and our vested interest in the endeavor expels the sin and even the desire for it.

            For example, when a man invests in his marriage – sacrificing career opportunities, free time, and other selfish pursuits to continually court and woo his wife, that man is far less likely to have a wandering eye.  His efforts drive out the temptation and the opportunity for it.

            When our obedience to Christ costs us something (time, money, freedoms, comfort, etc.), our commitment removes the temptation.  You will never cease from a sin you are comfortably ensconced in.  Conversely, you will jealously guard that which has cost you blood, sweat, and tears to build.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“…not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead.” (1 Peter 3:9)

This includes over the internet.  Don’t take the troll bait.

Type better.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.” (1 Peter 2:18)

            It isn’t reasonable that you should be slandered for choosing to be a stay-at-home mom – but we don’t live in a reasonable world.

            It isn’t reasonable that you should miss out on a promotion because you won’t go out with the boss for drinks after work – but we don’t live in a reasonable world.

            It isn’t reasonable that being pro-life should mark you as being controlling and hateful – but we don’t live in a reasonable world.

            In an unreasonable world, you will drive yourself crazy trying to understand the reason behind the vitriol.  There is no logic to sin.  It deceives, it deludes, and then it destroys.  Living a Christ-like life in the face of unreasonable behavior is the definition of faith in Jesus.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…” (1 Peter 1:4)

            Ever see a beautiful landscape defiled by a cell tower sticking up like a broken twig? Or a perfect meal spoiled by a single hair in the soup?  There are many moments in life which are almost perfect, but this land that “is in the power of the evil one” (see 1 John 5:19) has a way of defiling these perfect things.

            Friendships defiled by gossip.  Marriages defiled by selfishness.  Families defiled by rebellion.  Joy defiled by grief.  Righteousness defiled by sin.  This is the tainted world we live in.  Every positive faces the reality of the negative.  It seems we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop and spoil the moment.

            In Jesus, we wait for an undefiled inheritance where the joy never perishes, and the only thing that fades away are the tears.  There is a reservation waiting for you.  Jesus is calling.  Christians, the best is yet to come.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites