John 1:1-18 – This is Him!

Read John 1:1-18

Was your mind blown just a little bit by this reading? We’re starting the Gospel of John, and right away we meet Jesus. But Jesus’ name is not directly mentioned here. He’s first introduced to us as the “Word.” Before he was known as Jesus, He was the Word. He has always been God.

How fitting that God would choose an earthly relative of Jesus to be the one preparing the way. John the Baptist wasn’t any random person, but Jesus’ own cousin. We’re told this messenger spoke of Jesus as the “light.” Jesus wasn’t just any light coming from a lamp or a lightbulb. Remember, there was no electricity at that time, so the idea of light would have been much different. Continue reading “John 1:1-18 – This is Him!”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – God’s Timing

Read 2 Peter 3:1-18

I continue to marvel at how fast time seems to speed by. Days turn into weeks in the blink of an eye. As a child, it seemed to take forever for the weekend or summer vacation to arrive. Now, I wonder how I managed to get everything done while working full-time! Thankfully, we can rejoice in God’s perfect timing! Peter has something to say about that, too.

It’s all relative to God. As Peter says, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” When waiting for answered prayer or even Jesus’ return, it’s helpful to remember God’s timing is always perfect. We are the impatient ones, with our desire for immediate gratification. Solomon’s wisdom tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Continue reading “2 Peter 3:1-18 – God’s Timing”

2 Peter 2:1-22 – Beware!

Read 2 Peter 2:1-22

Consider yourself warned. The evil one is lurking, using crafty people to deceive and throw us off our path toward God. I could end this reflection right now because that truth seems even more real in our day. It’s hard to imagine the corruption Peter and his contemporaries would have faced.

Today we see the division erupting in the United States. There have been differing viewpoints from the beginning of time, as well as crafty lies being spoken and believed. Remember the garden and the serpent spewing “wisdom” to Eve? It’s hard to believe we still haven’t figured out how to outsmart the evil one. Continue reading “2 Peter 2:1-22 – Beware!”

2 Peter 1:1-21 – All We Ever Need

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Don’t you wish everyone could read this letter from Peter? It puts so many things into perspective. God’s provision for us is amazing! Unfortunately, most aren’t “ready” to accept the wisdom Peter is sharing. Not everyone is open to growing in faith and drawing closer to their Creator. Peter’s prayer for us is powerful.  “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.”

We are all a work in progress when it comes to our faith. Readings like this confirm for us that we are on the right track. It invigorates us to know “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” Period. We don’t need to be distracted by seeking riches or fame. God has supplied us for the mission he assigned us. Figuring out what our mission is becomes what we are seeking. Continue reading “2 Peter 1:1-21 – All We Ever Need”

1 Peter 5:1-14 – Not Just For Elders

Read 1 Peter 5:1-14

At first, if you’re not an “elder,” you may think this reading is not for you. That term doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with age; rather, it is believed that elders were chosen because of their mature faith and understanding of Christ’s teachings. It’s helpful to see how elders should handle the flock “God has entrusted” to them. I’m sure we’ve all seen people in positions of authority within the church body who have acted in contrary ways. Isn’t it good to know there is a Biblical direction to follow for those chosen by God?

This reading quickly shifts to include “all of you,” not just elders, in verse 5. Peter’s first letter concludes with an abundance of parting wisdom. What spoke to you and your faith journey? Was it Peter’s reference to humility or grace? What nearly jumped off the page for me was this. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Sounds simple, but it’s not easy. How do we finally let go of those worries without taking them back again? Continue reading “1 Peter 5:1-14 – Not Just For Elders”

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