1 Peter 1:10-12
September 11, 2022
Take Time To Pray
Psalm 5:7-8
7 But I, by Your great mercy,
will come into Your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies -
make straight Your way before me.
Examine
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come into 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 Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of 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.
Definition of grace - unmerited favor, free gift
Summary of v10-12
Prophets of the Old Testament, who prophesied about Jesus' coming, wanted to know when these prophecies would actually happen. They were told that their prophecies were for a future generation.
Thoughts (February 5, 2023)
Even though the time and circumstances were God's to give to another generation, the prophecies were still for the generations in between. The prophecies reminded them of God's promises and kept them looking to the future. The prophecies pointed them to something much bigger than themselves. The prophecies told them that the Savior was coming and their faith in those prophecies was their faith in the coming Savior, promised by God. We believe in what we can read about in our Bibles. The believers of Jesus' generation believed in what they could see. The people of the Old Testament believed in a promise that would not be fulfilled in their lifetime, but still they trusted in God's promises.
Notice
God
God spoke through the prophets.
God chooses His timing and it is perfect.
God keeps His promises.
Lesson
God knows when things are going to happen, but He usually doesn't tell us much about it.
Since we don't know when and where, we must trust God.
We need to live each day as if it is our last.
Do
Question
How do I live today like it's my last?
Response (February 5, 2023)
Looking back on this, I fear that my thoughts of a day being my last leads me to the overwhelming thoughts of all I need to do to make sure that my family is taken care of. Some people might think of spending time with their family or spending time in God's Word. I would love to say something more profound, but the burden I feel I carry here on earth and why I am here is to take care of my family - and how much more so when I am gone. Ah, how much of this is a lack of trust in God. Even if I haven't finished Cara's Letter of Intent (outlining details of her life), I must trust that God will make sure she is taken care of. Here is a reminder of the control that I seek to have, but must turn over to God. A need to control that robs me of joy. A need to control that places burdens on my shoulders that God never intended to be there. These are burdens that He daily asks me to give to Him and that I daily struggle to release. How many us give our need to control, our concerns, and our worries to God, only to take them back again?
So, how do I live today like it is my last? I do what I can to care for my loved ones and then place them in God's care so I can enjoy the time I have with them. I work to keep God's Word and Promises front and center so that I am always ready with an answer for my faith. I trust in God and find my joy in Him. There is no checklist or to-do list. There is just a living, breathing faith in Christ Jesus as my Savior and forever companion. Thank you, God.