Let Me Not Wander

but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. (NIV) In contrast to our existence on this earth is God's Word. As we wander (or wonder) through this life, it only makes sense to seek something outside of ourselves to give us direction. There are many that would say that we need to look within us to find direction, to find truth. We even hear it in our children's programs, trust your heart , they say, but why would I trust myself? I have only been here for a short 34 years. That isn't much when you consider time itself. I should be listening to someone much older. This is why I think it is important to listen to the older generation. Gain from their wisdom, but don't stop there. Go older, and consider something that will last... God's Word. It has stood the test of time, and has passed with flying colors, and according to its own words, it will continue to last. This has been a great chapter, culminating in thi...

For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, (NIV) In answer to the previous post, the way knowledge of imperishable should affect your life is in this way. It is the realization that we are just about as durable as grass.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (NIV) Anytime I hear about being born again, I am always drawn back to the story of Nicodemus . I can remember hearing this story for the first time when I was a child. The story of this pharisee who came secretly to see Jesus. The pharisee who wondered how a person could reenter his mother's womb to be born again. It was during this discourse with the pharisee that we get to hear one of the most profound statements of the gospel, John 3:16. Notice in this passage, that being born again makes you different. You are no longer perishable, you are imperishable. You will continue living, like the living Word. How should this knowledge affect your life?

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. (NIV) Notice the deep connection between purifying yourself and loving others. Have you ever met someone who claimed to be a Christian, yet used such words of hatred when it came to homosexuals? Or maybe you (like me) came from some tiny little town and a tiny little church, and you could tell that the elders in the church looked down with great disdain on the black families that were moving into the neighborhoods around the church. It could have been as simple as the way people in your church talked about that other church that was "way too liberal" in their music and such. Did you ever feel like there was something wrong with that? That it just seemed off ? Well, you were right to feel that way. In this verse, like so many others, there is an absolute connection between loving God and loving others. It is inescapable. Th...

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (NIV) I would like to pause on the very first phrase in this verse, the phrase, "Through him..." As I have continued in the faith over the past years, I have come to realize more and more that the "through him" is the most important part of the day to day existence. I used to focus on the actions. I didn't believe that the actions saved you, and I still don't believe that, but I would focus on the fruit. I still believe that the fruit is important, and not to be ignored. In the world we live in, it is essential to observe the fruit of a person's walk. There are too many out there that live such a deceived existence, thinking that they are OK, when they are in a deep spiritual disaster zone. But I am digressing here, let me get back to the point: Everything in life goes back to one thing, but that one thing isn't an idea, or a b...

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (NIV) The focus of the blog has always been personal application. So, even in a verse like this, I have to ask the question, as we always should as we come to God's Word, how can this apply to me today? Now, this verse is packed with some "big picture" theology, and so many people, when they encounter this kind of theology, they will bypass it, leaving that to the so-called theologians. It is easy for many of us to have this same thought, even though most of us wouldn't admit it, we like things to be easy, we like to be spoon-fed, but this type of theology isn't to be overlooked and left to someone else. It is to become a part of our lives. These types of passages help to establish a correct world view, so that we are more enabled to live that day to day existence. Consider even this verse. It is right in the middle of a very practical, easy to understand, easy...

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV) I have found it to be difficult add commentary to many of these verses. Peter writes in such a plain, straight-forward way. Just consider this verse, as you read through it, it is so clear what he is trying to get to. It is almost like, "don't you get it? You weren't purchased with corruptible things, so don't work for corruptible things. You were purchased with the blood of the perfect Christ, the Messiah... with the blood of Jesus." Remember this verse as you go through your day. Don't work so hard for things that won't last. Work for the things that are eternal.

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (NIV) This passage if full of great quotes. Little one-liners that come in very handy in difficult situations. I know that this particular verse has come in very useful to me when it comes to internet usage. As many American men have learned, the internet can be a great tool, but it can also be the source of many temptations. Things that one would have had to be very sneaky about coming into contact with are now available right in your own living room. All forms of internet pornography are right at your fingertips. This verse, especially the second part about the "reverent fear" as "strangers here" can be very encouraging when you are considering those temptations. I hope that this verse might come in handy to at least one person today. If you are like me and you have faced the temptations of the internet, then let me make one practical sug...

for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (NIV) As any good counselor would do, Peter backs up his statement from the scriptures. This holiness thing isn't just some brilliant idea that Peter came up with, it is part of the big picture plan that God has for His people. These last few passages would work very well in a counseling situation (or a discipleship situation, if you prefer that word better). It is a great "blanket statement" that could be used in any situation. We are to be holy in all we do, because our creator is holy. This applies to your work, your play, your leisure time, your family life, what you eat, what you drink, what you watch, etc. He is a holy, set apart God, and He wants us to enjoy the benefits of life with Him, but we cannot be where He is unless we are also set apart. This is a process that begins with salvation, continues through a sanctified (and sanctifying) life, and is completed at death in our glorification.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (NIV) The word holy means to be seperated. Sometimes it is translated sanctification. So, the opposition to conforming to our evil desires is to set ourselves apart. To be like the one who is set apart. Some people get confused about this holiness. When they begin to set themselves apart, they end up entirely setting themselves apart from the world. Jesus tells us that we are to be in the world but not of it. There is a difference. That is why I wanted to point out that we are to be set apart from the evil desires, the way we used to live.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (NIV) Have you ever heard the verse, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Prov 22:6)? It is a very common verse, but I think that it is one of the most misused verses in the Bible, because of the way it was translated. I don't want to do a full commentary on this verse right now, but I do want to clear one thing up, because I think that it can relate to this verse. Most people read this and cling to it as a promise that if they raise their children correctly, then when they are old those children will stay close to God. Whether or not that is true, it has little to do with this verse. The phrase, "the way he should go" would be more properly translated as "the way he is bent" (or one could say, "the way he would go). This verse is a theological teaching on the nature of children. We are born with a b...

be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV) Once you prepare your mind, then you may begin to undertake this next step: self-control. Proverbs 25:28 says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." If a city does not have its walls, it is nothing to over run that city. Enemies can come and go, and that city has no chance. Self control works the same way as those walls. It keeps the city firm and sure. In ancient days, you could build up a city as well as you would like, but without walls, there is no firmness to that city. An enemy could be waiting over the next hill and the city would never even see it coming. Anyone who has truly tried to practice godly self control has probably been overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what they were trying to accomplish. I believe that is why Peter threw in this little reprieve before he continued on in this list. He says, "set you...

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; (NIV) I heard a pastor one time say that when you see the word therefore that you should look and see what it is there for . It sounds a little cheesy, and I try to avoid cheesy as much as possible, but this is a really good thing to remember. If you go back before this therefore , you will see all of these amazing things that the Father has done through the Son, and we are reaping the benefits. Things that are so amazing that the angels are longing to look into these things. Because of all of this, there is a certain reaction that should take place in people when they realize these things. The next few verses describe how we should react. This verse begins by telling us to prepare our minds for action. It is reminiscent of a battle scenario. The battle begins in the mind. This is a huge thought that I don't want to skim over. Don't miss its significance. Before you can defeat any temptation and begin to live the true Christian...

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. (NIV) According to this verse, the prophets knew that the were serving someone else when they were writing about the coming Messiah. We are still being served by them and by those who have told us this wonderful good news. That last little phrase can give you a glimpse of the grandeur of this message, of this story. I think as people we most of the time miss the big picture. I heard a pastor one time say, "...the salvation story has way more to do with the relationship between the Father and the Son than it has to do with us..." And I believe that. It is all about Christ, and Christ makes it all about the Father. If you are making your salvation about you, stop. Turn your eyes upon Christ. Focus on Him.

trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (NIV) Read verse 10 again. The prophets were looking forward to salvation. Salvation and the entire Old Testament points to one focal point -- Jesus, the Christ. He is the focal point of all things. Everything before His time on earth looks forward to Him. We that have come after Him look back at what He did.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, (NIV) Can this be said of you? Do you look intently for grace? Do you long for it? The prophets did. Many of them spoke of this great salvation, and longed for it their entire lives. The looking forward in faith, and the looking back in faith aren't really that much different.

for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (NIV) It would be best if you were to go back and read through the previous verses, starting at verse 3. Since I know that you might be like me, and be a little bit lazy when it comes to going back over things, I have copied it here: 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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 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. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus...

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, (NIV) Where is the source of Joy again? It is rooted in Faith. You haven't actually seen Christ yet, but you believe in Him and know He is coming. He is as real to you... No. He is more real to you than any trial that you are facing. You love Him, and these things fill you with joy. Be careful. People may think you are weird.

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV) Here we have some answers. As humans, we are always asking, "Why? Why Lord?" Well, here is an answer: Why are you going through trials? So that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus comes. Pretty simple, huh. Notice that your faith is of greater worth than anything that has worth on this earth. Everything here will perish, but when faith is refined... wow. Why are you going through a hard time right now, so that you can know that you are going to see Christ, and so that when you see Him, you will glorify Him.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (NIV) A verse like this can be such a great comfort when you are going through a trial. Notice though two things. One... We are to be rejoicing in these trials. It isn't a command in this particular passage, but instead, it is spoken like a fact. In other words, if you truly understand who you are in Christ, and what this means for you both now and in eternity, you will be rejoicing, even though you are going through trials now. Two... Trials are assumed. They are going to happen, and all kinds of trials are going to happen. Being in Christ, being part of God's protection, doesn't mean trials won't come. Take joy in these words today, not my words... the words of Paul. If you are going through a trial today, remember that these trials are going to happen. You are going to have easy times and you are going to have hard times, but the Spirit is there ...