Blog Entries tagged 'Peter'

Bedtime

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There was the commonly used "I forgot to go to the toilet" or starting up a conversation just before bedtime in the hope that it would keep my parents interested enough not to notice how late it had become.

1 Peter 5:1-14

Reference: v.2a Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I hated going to bed when I was a child. The tactics I used to try out on my parents to delay my bedtime were, no doubt, consistently frustrating. There was the commonly used "I forgot to go to the toilet" or starting up a conversation just before bedtime in the hope that it would keep my parents interested enough not to notice how late it had become. I can remember one night sitting in our large lounge chairs and noticing that it was my bedtime. But my mother was busy in the kitchen and so I just sat there as still and as quiet as I could so she wouldn't notice me and tell me to go to bed. I got a good 10 minutes extra staying up that night!
Now, on the otherhand, I go to bed willingly. I actually anticipate my bedtime with delight. I no longer use delay strategies but actually congratulate myself when I get to bed earlier than expected. I'll put off doing an additional task or even tape a show on TV instead of staying up later to watch it. Once my bedtime finally comes now, I'll quickly go to the bathroom and brush my teeth in an attempt to get into bed even faster.
If you compare my bedtime as a child and then as an adult you will notice the end result is the same - I go to bed. However the attitude towards bedtime is quite different. As a child I cause great annoyance to my parents and bedtime becomes a chore every night. Yet as an adult, even though it is the exact same activity, it is a pleasant task because I am willing to go. Our attitude towards something can have a big impact on us as well as the people around us.

Application: In our Bible passage today Peter is telling the leaders of the church to care for others because they are willing rather than just because it's a part of their job description. Even though we have things in our lives that we have to do, it makes a big difference when we do them willingly rather than just because we have to. Often the result is the same, however the affect we can have on ourselves and on other people can change greatly. It all comes down to our attitude.

Prayer: Lord, there are some tasks in our day that seem more like a chore than a delight. Help us to serve You and others with the right attitude. Amen.

Do you have a negative attitude towards someone or a task that you need to complete?

The Gifts We Give

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I have heard people complain before because their partner has given them a new vacuum cleaning or a new set of saucepans for their birthday.

1 Peter 4:1-19

Reference: v.10 Each one should use whatever gift they have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Explore: I'm not sure how it came about but there seems to be an unwritten rule that you should not give someone a gift that has anything to do with cleaning or cooking. I have heard people complain before because their partner has given them a new vacuum cleaning or a new set of saucepans for their birthday. They have not felt special but have felt like there was greater expectation for them to do more housework. Gifts are supposed to be something that the receiver has for their personal enjoyment.

Application: It seems that the gifts we receive from God are quite the opposite. Our God-given gifts have the set purpose to serve others. Whatever gift God has blessed us with are given to bring Him glory and to help lead others into a relationship with Him. I think we often apply God's gifts in our lives in the same was as we apply the unwritten rule about receiving a gift. Often we use the skills and abilities that we have to strengthen our position in the world or to make more money. If we are to truly use our abilities in the way God has designed them it would be to bring glory to Him.

Prayer: Lord, my selfish ambition is so strong and constant. May I have the courage to live, not for my personal gain, but in all things to bring You glory. Amen.

What are the gifts God has given to you? Are you using them for personal or Godly blessing?

Why Do You Believe

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

No sooner had we smiled in acknowledgment of his presence that he whipped out a New Testament from his back pocket and asked, "Do you know Jesus?"

1 Peter 3:1-22

Reference: v.15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (NIV Bible)

Explore: When I was a teenager our family went on a holiday to visit our cousins in Sydney. On one our days away we decided to take the train in to the city to do some sightseeing. We had not been sitting in the train carriage for long before a young gentleman came and sat beside us. No sooner had we smiled in acknowledgment of his presence that he whipped out a New Testament from his back pocket and asked, "Do you know Jesus?" I remember this situation quite clearly, for a number of reasons:
1. I had never seen anyone try to witness to a stranger before;
2. I had never seen anyone who was so open about their faith in a non-Christian context; and
3. I was surprised that someone could find a Bible so small that they carried it in the back pocket of their jeans (I had grown up only knowing of the NIV Study Bible, and you'd struggle to fit that in any piece of clothing!)
While I found the whole experience quite bizarre, I could not fault the man for being brave and courageous enough in his faith that he would ask an absolute stranger if they knew Jesus.

Application: Preaching on the street corner or asking strangers about their faith is not necessarily my style of evangelism, however I think I may have gone too much in the opposite direction. I hate to think of the opportunities I have missed in talking to people about my faith because I was too scared or too ashamed. Recently I went to a seminar about evangelism and the key note speaker advised us to always have our testimony ready to share if the opportunity came up. If someone asked you, 'Why do you believe in God?' how would you answer? While this question may not come up all that often, it would be great if we were prepared for it when it did. There is no better time for us to think about how we would explain our faith to someone who did not believe. We can never predict when this question will arise but we can be prepared to express ourselves as best as we can when it does.

Prayer: Lord, it is so difficult for us to put in to words all that You mean to us. Help us to have clarity so that we can tell others about the glorious hope we have in You. Amen.

If someone asked you, 'Why do you believe in God?' how would you answer?

Jenga Tower

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

You think that one block would not make such a difference until you remove it and the whole tower comes tumbling down.

1 Peter 2:1-25

Reference: v.5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Have you ever played Jenga before? This is the game where you have a stack of wooden blocks sitting on top of each other in a tall tower. Each player takes a turn to remove one block from the tower and place it on top without knocking the whole thing over. It's a great game of skill, precision and suspense. As you play you slowly realise that each block plays an important part in building a strong and sturdy tower. You think that one block would not make such a difference until you remove it and the whole tower comes tumbling down.

Application: While it takes many blocks to build a firm tower, it also takes many people to build strong churches. We have all been shaped and created with particular gifts and abilities. When we all work together, to build each other up, we can make something strong and enduring. Many people believe the part they have to play is not needed or unnecessary. However, every person can play a part in worshiping God and declaring Jesus as the Saviour. Whether you are setting up coffee cups at community lunches, washing the floor after playgroup, or just one voice in a hundred strong choir, we all play an important part in building God's kingdom. God made each one of us and He can use ALL people to proclaim His name.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we don't know where we fit or how we can contribute to Your kingdom. Open our eyes to new possibilities. Amen.

What part could you play to contribute in building God's kingdom?

A Whole New World

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I think the highlight for me was when I went head to head with a bright orange Clown fish - made popular through the movie Finding Nemo.

1 Peter 1:1-25

Reference: v.1b To God's elect, strangers in the world...

Explore: A couple of weeks ago I experienced the most wonderful afternoon of snorkeling I have ever had. Just off the shore of Boracay I was able to swim through hundreds of brightly coloured fish and have them eat bread out of my hands. (Just quietly, I was so impressed that these magnificent creatures also loved my favourite food too!) I followed a bright blue Regal Tang through the coral, I spotted two big angel fish just meters away and I saw many brightly coloured Star Fish. I think the highlight for me was when I went head to head with a bright orange Clown fish - made popular through the movie Finding Nemo . When I had been in the boat and was just looking at the surface of the water it had just seemed like any other large expanse of ocean. But when I got into the water and put my head underneath the surface, there was a whole world under there that I could never have imagined.

Application: Sometimes I feel like this in my own world too. It's like you meet new people or walk in to a new environment and you never realised it existed. Sometimes this can be a positive experience but at other times it can be quite the opposite. As Christians we have been given a mandate from God to love the world and even to live differently to the values that are often projected through our culture. To be in the world but not of it. Sometimes this doesn't seem too difficult but at other times I feel my life's aims are miles apart from that of the people around me. When we live in a world of consumerism and self-fulfillment then it is time for us to stand up and be counter-cultural. The book of 1 Peter is a great encouragement to anyone who feels like they are strangers in their own world. The Apostle Peter is writing to all the new Christians, who are scattered far and wide, who have often suffered persecution for their faith. This letter is a reminder of the hope that all people have through Christ. Because of His great mercy we have all been saved. While life may bring many challenges we must continue in our faith for that will bring us more joy than anything this world can offer.

Prayer: Lord, help us to discern was to true and good and to stay faithful to you, in all the areas of our life. Amen.

In what area of your life do you feel your faith is different from the culture set around you? How can you be a light in that place?