1 Peter 2 - 2.7.25

SOAP: ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭

Scripture: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

‭‭Observation:

Peter gives 4 descriptions of who we are:

• Chosen people

• Royal priesthood 

• Holy nation

• God’s special possession

Looking at them, I love how they progress in depth. Also, each position has a descriptive adjective adding to the meaning. 

First, out of all the people on earth He chose us. When I need to choose something I don’t grab the first thing I see, but carefully decide what is best.  We need to walk in the knowledge that we are chosen, picked out for something better. 

Then, we are a royal priesthood. The word royal implies we are serving the king. The priests were set apart for special service in the temple. They offered the sacrifices. Being royal is a greater honor. People who are royal walk differently. More is expected of them. 

Next, a holy nation. A nation is a group of people united with common bonds, location, government, and purpose. We are “holy” because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for us. He is our Head, the cornerstone as mentioned in the previous verse.  We are not on this journey alone. 

Lastly, Peter says we are God’s special possession. We are bought with the ultimate price. We are special to God, treasured by Him above all else. People have possessions they treasure. There have been so many stories lately of the one thing people saved or mourn that they lost  in the fire. We are God’s one thing. 

Application:

We are all of the above “that you may declare …”

I want to walk as a person who truly believes and walks out all I am to God. 

Focusing on that will have a huge impact on how I view myself and others. Then, my actions will be more purposeful. 

God called me out of darkness into His wonderful light. There’s another adjective, one that means joy-bringing, delightful, beyond good.  How can I not share His goodness with others?

I want to be grateful for the mercy I have received and be God’s vessel to share that mercy with others. 

Prayer:

Father God, Thank you for choosing me. I do not deserve it, but your love saw something in me and you give me purpose.  Jesus, thank you for dying for me. What a concept you were the sacrificial lamb, rose again, and now are our High Priest. What a testimony of the change God brings. Nothing is impossible. Holy Spirit, thank you for living in me reminding me of the truths of God, showing me the way to go, and speaking to me how to pray and speak. 

Lord, I surrender to you. Please help me remember who I am, chosen, holy, royal, and special so that I may declare all you speak to me to a world who needs to hear how you love them. 

Amen

-Cindy Howard

1 Peter 1 - 02.06.25

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV

“In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

OBSERVATION:

Scripture reminds us that we are ALL going to face Trials—of many kinds. It’s a fact, it’s inevitable, and it is part and parcel of the Christian Walk. So in full disclosure, at 44 years in as a Believer, I’m not sure why I find myself caught off guard when a Season of Trial comes.

Peter, James and Paul each addressed Trials in their letters to the Churches as a “when” not “if””.

More important, each called on believers to Rejoice IN Trials. This is because Trials are never in Vain. They have a specific purpose—To TEST and GROW our FAITH to the glory of Jesus.

The imagery here is that of gold being refined in the Flaming Fires of the Smelting Furnace.

Are you still with me???

As the gold melts the impurities rise to the surface where they are carefully removed. The goldsmith then applies MORE heat and repeats the process multiple times. Each round of heat brings more impurities to the surface AND each time the impurities are carefully removed—until Finally the gold is tested PURE [the genuineness of our Faith].

When the goldsmith can clearly SEE His Image mirrored in the surface of the melted liquid, he knows the gold is PURE.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT)

APPLICATION

Test my Faith for Your glory, Lord.

“Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test; Refine my mind and my heart.”

(Psalm 26:2 NASB2020)

No one likes to go through a season of trials and testing. But understanding God’s divine purpose to purify us, grow our Faith and prepare us for eternity gives me greater courage to say to Jesus,

“Examine me, Test me, Refine my mind and my heart”. No matter these present circumstances, I don’t desire for them to be lifted one moment sooner than God has completed His perfect purpose. Today as I am writing this, God has already revealed something to me about the words of my mouth (dross that has risen to the surface and surely needs to be removed). Thank You Jesus for your new mercies every morning, I desire that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing to Him.

Jesus IS the Author of our Faith. How does He author our Faith? HE continually writes New chapters on our heart through ongoing trials and tests. Every test tells a story of our endurance being developed and our faith being strengthened. The More our endurance is developed and our Faith is strengthened, the More we are a reflection of His glory and bring Him Praise and Honor.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for GREAT JOY. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it GROW, for when your endurance is FULLY developed, you will be MATURE and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank You that You Love us SO much that You Refine our faith. And not just once. You give us many opportunities to be made mature. Thank You that IN the process, You never leave us alone. Just like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, YOU are IN the Fire WITH us. Thank YOU that though there is always a Season of testing— a time of refreshing follows. YOU are a Good Good Father. Faithful in ALL YOUR Ways. Keep my eyes heavenward and on the eternal. Thank You for such a godly and faithful church family who stands by my side with constant encouragement. What an honor to come together and pray for each other and see prayers being answered. The earnest prayers of a righteous person has Great Power and Wonderful results. Here I am Lord, [melt me, mold me, fill me, use me] Send me.

In Jesus Name, amen.

Tina L Kudelka

James 5 - 2.5.25

Scripture

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9, NIV).

Observation

James is a wonderful book in the New Testament, full of practical advice on how to live a Christian life. In Chapter 1, James tells us that God will give us wisdom if we ask Him, and that God the Father is looking for people who will care for orphans and widows, and who will keep themselves spotless from sin (James 1:5, 1:27). In Chapter 2, we read about how faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 2:26). We need to show our love to the needy by helping the hungry with food, and clothing the one who needs clothes, and demonstrate our faith by living a life that reflects it (James 2:15,16). Most of Chapter 3 is devoted to the crucial need of controlling our tongue and our words (James 3:6). In Chapter 4, he reminds us that friendship with the world is enmity against God (James 4:4). James reminds us not to judge and say cruel things about our brothers and sisters in the Lord. God is our judge, and we are not authorized to condemn each other (James 4:11). In the last chapter which is the text for today’s reading, James brings it all together and tells us that we should pray. The fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much (James 5:16). The prayer of faith heals the sick (James 5:15).

In verse 9, James reminds us that we should not grumble against each other. He reminds us of the serious consequences of grumbling, complaining and judging our fellow-believers. We will be judged if we do that. God, our judge is at that door. The first generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt did not reach the promised land and ended up wandering for forty years, because of their sin of rebellion, complaining and grumbling. The New Testament reminds us to not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel (1 Cor 10:10).

Gossipping and passing judgement on our fellow-believers is a serious sin in the sight of our Father and opens us to God’s judgement. The Bible asks us “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, they stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (Romans 14:4). God is passionate about His servants and He cares about what is spoken about his children. When Miriam spoke against God’s anointed servant Moses, she had to go through severe judgement of becoming leprous till God healed her on Moses’ prayer (Numbers 12:10). When Korah judged Moses, he and his fellow rebels were swallowed by the ground (Numbers 16:32). 

James reminds us about the consequence of judging our fellow believers. The Judge is at the door. He is listening. We are opening ourselves to God’s judgement by judging our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus Himself said that in the same way we judge others, we will be judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured to us (Matthew 7:1-2).

Application

Let us examine ourselves. Are we judgemental to our brothers and sisters? Are we guilty of grumbling and gossipping? If we are, let us repent and ask God to forgive us. God is the judge, and our fellow-Christians are called and appointed by Him. Leave the judgement to Him. Let us judge ourselves, so that we are not judged (1 Cor 11:31). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). 

Prayer

Father, I want to thank you for speaking to me today. Forgive me for the times I have grumbled against my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that I have offended you, when I spoke against your children. They are your children, and you are able to make them stand, and you have not appointed me to judge them (Rom 14:4). Forgive me, Lord. Help me to live in a way that pleases you. Your word says that you search the intents and motives of my heart (Jer 17:10, Prov 16:2). Show me if I have self-seeking and selfish ambition which displeases you (James 3:16). Help me to have a heart and attitude that pleases you. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but instead let my words be those that edify and give grace to the hearers (Eph 4:29). Let my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1).  In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George