May 29
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KEEP AWAY FROM FLESHLY LUSTS
11 Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation. – 1 Peter 2:11-12
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In this letter, Peter cautions us about our flesh. Because of the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, it is very easy to be led by our inclinations. In these passages, Peter reminds all believers that we are foreigners and strangers in this world. As believers, we are expected to be set apart from this world. Even though we live physically in this world, every believer is warned not to live for the comforts and pleasures of this materialistic world. In verse 11, Peter focuses on abstaining from fleshly lusts. What are fleshly lusts? They are the cravings of our physical bodies. They are things that lead us away from God. Anything that keeps us out of the road of righteousness is coming from human desires that wage war against the soul.
In verse 12, Peter gives all the believers wise advice so they can abstain from fleshly lust. He tells them to keep their conducts exceptional as they are with the Gentiles so that when these Gentiles defame them as evildoers, they may be able to recognize God through their demeanor.
It is a real challenge for all of us to keep away from our flesh. It is inside us, constantly and unless we have found Jesus, we won’t be able to fight this pervasive evil inside us. Paul explains very clearly in Galatians 5:17 that the sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. If we do not know Jesus, we will never be able to do anything good because our flesh is naturally evil. This is the reason why our heavenly Father gave his only begotten Son Jesus so we can be able to receive his grace and fight our flesh. Peter constantly reminds us to be able to live in God’s grace and mercy so we can bring back all the glory to our heavenly Father.
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REFLECTION
• How can we constantly keep away from fleshly lust?
• Why do many people think that they can actually fight their natural tendencies to be a slave to their lustful desires?
Monthly Archives: May 2021
OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT
May 28
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OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT
9 But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
– 1 Peter 2:9-10
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In this letter, Peter reminds us of our stand in the kingdom of God. He speaks of the honor that was given to the chosen people. They come from a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s own possession. Although the Old Testament talks about the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood that were given to the tribe of the Levi, the coming of Jesus and dying on the cross changed that. All who come to serve the Lord Jesus Christ becomes royalty in God’s kingdom, they are considered holy and part of the priesthood who will be mediated by the Christ himself to his heavenly Father in heaven. In the Old Testament, they were mediated by the priesthood of the tribe of Levi. When Jesus died, he became the direct link to the Father and if we believe in Him, he elevates us to the royal priesthood and gives us the ability to be a holy nation. What an honor to be chosen by the Lord God himself!
Peter explains in this letter the responsibility that we have as royal priests and holy nation. In verse 9, the position of honor and royalty comes with an obligation. We are to proclaim the excellencies of God who has called us out of the darkness into His marvelous light. Just like a king or queen has a big responsibility to take the concerns of the nation and his/her subjects as priority, we have similar position as royalty. It means that we are not free to do our own will because we need to think of our priorities. We cannot be selfish and be concerned with personal matters and self-gratification. We are expected to be accountable to our Heavenly Father. Everything we do needs to be focused on the kingdom. If you have watched or read biographies of kings and queens, you will probably be thinking how lonely and stuck they are in their positions because they are not free to be doing what they want. They have to take into consideration everything that they have dominion over. It is an honor to be royalty, but it is also a big responsibility. As people of God, we cannot behave like those living in darkness anymore. We have now received the marvelous light of Jesus. No more excuse to live our old lives when we weren’t his priests.
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REFLECTION
• How can you ensure that you don’t live in darkness after Jesus brought you light?
DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD CAUSES STUMBLING ILMA’S VLOG
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May 27
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DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD CAUSES STUMBLING
6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. – 1 Peter 2:6-7
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In this letter, Peter addresses the sin of disobedience and rejection of the Lord and His word. Peter quotes an Old Testament verse from Isaiah 28:16. In the prophecy of Isaiah, the whole of chapter 28:14-29 is talking about a cornerstone in Zion.
Matthew Henry comments on Isaiah 28 from verse 16 and says: “Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion, in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm and able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone, approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corner stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whole weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of every believer; a sure foundation on which to build. And he who in any age or nation shall believe this testimony, and rest all his hopes, and his never-dying soul on this foundation, shall never be confounded.”
Peter reiterates Isaiah by admonishing believers of the importance of believing in the cornerstone that the builders rejected. In Isaiah’s prophecy, he addresses scoffers who made a covenant with death and Sheol and God’s response to this is the foundation he laid in Zion, a stone, a tested stone. In this letter, Peter addresses and warns the believers to ensure that they are not disobeying or rejecting the cornerstone that the Lord God has provided to all believers.
Peter was emphasizing the importance of such focus on the foundation that is eternal and can only be found in Christ Jesus. He shows them the aftermath of rejecting Jesus Christ and the Word. It will lead them to stumble. Why is disobedience to the Word of God a grave sin? Note that in 1 Samuel 15:23, the great prophet warns us that disobedience or rebellion is a sin of witchcraft. When we reject the truth that only comes from God’s word, we are actually acting like we want to be like God, just like our first parent’s disobeyed..
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REFLECTION
• What have you disobeyed from God’s word that caused you to stumble?
LONG FOR THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD ILMA’S VLOG
May 26
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LONG FOR THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 2:1-5
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In this letter, Peter calls all believers to be like newborn babies because they are innocent, naive and constantly longing only for the pure milk so that they can develop and grow. He likens it to Christians who ought to crave only for the pure spiritual food that only comes from the word of God. But before they can long for the spiritual milk, they are required to do something first. Peter admonishes the believers in verse 1 to get rid of the following:
• Malice- Extreme enmity of heart, or malevolence; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.
• Deceit-The intentional misleading or beguiling of another
• Hypocrisy-an inconsistency between external religious activity and religious profession
• Envy-Sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual enjoyment and advance of the kingdom of Christ freely and graciously bestowed upon the people of God.
• Slander-To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report respecting one; to tarnish or impair the reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated.
These definitions I just identified are from KJV and bible dictionary. Why did Peter enumerate these unregenerate acts that defiles a person? Because if he didn’t specify all these, we won’t examine our hearts that is naturally sinful and impure.
In verses 3-5, Peter explains why it is important for a believer to stay pure like a baby and long for the milk of the word of God. Because we were saved and being built up through the Lord Jesus Christ to be part of his royal priesthood. Therefore, we must stay pure.
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REFLECTION
• Why are the sins Peter listed in these passages so pervasive in humans?
THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER ILMA’S VLOG
May 25
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THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER
22 Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been
born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you. – 1 Peter 1:22-25
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In this letter, Peter emphasizes the only thing that will last forever: God’s Word. In verse 22, he tells the believers that the believers’ souls are purified when they are obedient to truth and they have a fervent and genuine love for other brothers and sisters in Christ. In verse 23, Peter gives all believers the reason why we need to be purified. He says that because we have been born again from a seed that is never-ending: the living and enduring word of God.
In verse 24-25 Peter likens the flesh to grass. The flesh can grow like grass. It can reach a certain height and produces flowers. But after a while, it withers and the flowers fall off. Peter is giving us an illustration of how humans are. As we go through different stages of our lives, we can grow and bloom like the flowers of the grass. But it can also wilt and die as the bloom dies down and fall off. Just like our lives, we can reach a point where we can blossom into the beautiful person that we were made from, but that isn’t permanent. In verse 25, Peter brings us to the main focus of this letter to all believers: the word of the Lord lasts forever and is permanent.
In this world, everything goes to an end, but Peter stresses the only thing that is eternal: Scriptures. Can you imagine a world without the word of God? How would that look like? We will probably just do what we want and what would benefit us, wouldn’t we? We would probably be a world full of competition and would not know how to temper or regulate our cravings and desires. Without the word of God, we will be in total darkness or confusion and perhaps too much conflicts. Without the word of God, we will only rely on ourselves to figure out things. Without it, we will be guessing or presuming or assuming. It would be full of uncertainty and complaints. Everything would be unclear and hazy. We would have no life and purpose. This is why Peter couldn’t let us perish without meditating and preaching the word of God.
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REFLECTION
• How has the Word of God been your life’s guiding force and navigating tool?
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
May 24
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THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:17-21
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In this letter, Peter tackles the issue of fearing the Lord while you are here on earth. He challenges the believers that because you call the heavenly Father as the One who judges fairly according to one’s work, you as believers need to exercise caution in living your life. It needs to be lived as a tribute and honor to God, that we need to live in fear and trembling of God. What this looks like is that we need to revere, honor and praise the Lord in all that we do and all that we are. That we need to avoid all forms of unrighteousness and never be mindless about our intentions and motives, making sure that we will never displease the Lord Almighty. In other words, to live a life of honesty and integrity.
Peter explains the reason in verses 18- 19 why we need to live in fear of the Lord. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross has produced the precious blood that is spotless and blameless. The sinfulness and futility of our lives which we inherited from our forefathers were bought not with things that are perishable but with the valuable blood of Jesus. It is the only thing that is worthy enough to appease the wrath of God. The Lord himself supplied humans with the solution to man’s sinfulness. He knew that they can never help themselves, so he supplied his own Son to save the sins that resulted from our first parents’ disobedience.
In the ensuing verses, Peter further explains that God had a plan even at the beginning of creation. He knew beforehand who would be his people and that to those who will believe in his plan and solution for sins through Jesus, he will grant a life everlasting. So Peter encourages all believers to keep their hopes up and grow their faith in the only path that leads to salvation: Jesus Christ.
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REFLECTION
• How is the reminder of the precious blood of Christ essential in a believer’s life?
CALLED TO HOLY LIVING ILMA’S VLOG
May 23
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CALLED TO HOLY LIVING
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
– 1 Peter 1:13-16
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In this letter of Peter, he reproves all believers to live holy lives. Here are the following guidelines he wants all Christians to follow:
• Prepare your minds for action- is probably referring to having a renewed mind that doesn’t entertain anything that doesn’t align with the will of God. He also means that we must be ready to obey and follow God’s will without any hesitation or wavering.
• Keep sober in spirit- to be clear-headed in your thoughts and be able to follow the Spirit of the Lord and not your own cravings.
• Set your hope completely on God’s grace- There should be no dependence on anything else but only on the unmerited favor that God granted his children.
• Focus your eyes on the revelation of Jesus Christ- that we must be obsessed to know our Lord Jesus Christ and follow only His ways.
• Be obedient children – to give up all forms of disobedience, rebellion and pride.
• Do not conform to your former lusts when you were ignorant – to let go of all the old lifestyle that you used to live when you didn’t know Christ yet. To wear your new nature in Christ which is never against the Spirit of the Lord.
• Be holy as God is holy- Because we were chosen by God, he has given us the ability to be holy like him if we believe Jesus and follow the revelations that the Holy Spirit gives us.
It is amazing how the apostle Peter is able to break down into details how a believer can live a holy life. It is not his doing, but God has equipped the believer the ability to be righteous because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the minute we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The world has a different interpretation of “holiness.” For them, holiness is an act to appear good and make them appealing to others.
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REFLECTION
• How do you know if you are living a holy life?
HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS AND EMPOWERS
May 22
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HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS AND EMPOWERS
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. – 1 Peter 1:10-12
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In this letter, Peter talks about the prophets who spoke about Jesus’ coming. He emphasizes the cautious quests and investigations that they underwent to ensure that their prophecies about the salvation for all humanity is coming from the Spirit of God himself. The focus of this letter of Peter to the believers is to give them hope about Christ’s Spirit filling all believer when the time comes. This hope that Peter talks about is that grace that the Lord God grants all his people with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit once they trust their lives to the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit of God who gives the believers all the boldness and confidence to share the gospel to others.
According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Christ was the main subject of the prophets’ studies. Their inquiry into the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow, would lead to a view of the whole gospel, the sum whereof is, That Christ Jesus was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. God is pleased to answer our necessities rather than our requests. The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God. The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing. Let us then search diligently those Scriptures which contain the doctrines of salvation.
A true believer and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ would manifest the desires that the prophets and the angels had: they are consumed with the glorious and gracious revelation of the promises of Jesus to come to fruition in their lives. The Holy Spirit is the power that is given to the pre-chosen people of God so that they can proclaim the gospel with power and confidence and give God all the glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be thankful that the Scriptures have been given to us by the Holy Spirit?
• What could be the cause of losing sight of the true gospel?
THOUGH YOU CAN’T SEE HIM, YOU LOVE HIM ILMA’S VLOG
May 21
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THOUGH YOU CAN’T SEE HIM, YOU LOVE HIM
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-9
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This is a powerful text that Peter writes to the believers in the Roman provinces. It is encouraging to hear Peter tell them not to be distressed by the trials and adversities that they are currently facing. But he reminds them of how precious the proof of their faith is because it is tested by such suffering. It helps them to endure and thus grow their faith. He wants them to focus their eyes on the result of such patient endurance. It brings praise, glory and honor to God.
In verse 8, Peter explains the concept of true faith. Even though they can’t see God they still love him. Humans are visual beings. It is hard to love someone you can’t see or hold. Faith makes loving someone you can’t see possible. Many people stopped believing God because their minds cannot fathom someone not visible to them. Our nature wants to understand something before we do it. That is why faith is not something we can do or achieve. It is a gift from God himself when he chose all those who belong to Him. Peter also explains here that faith leads to rejoicing and hope that is fully glorious.
I was raised by my mother and aunts because my father worked abroad. My father was always gone. If you sum up the number of years that I spent with him in my entire lifetime, it wouldn’t even add up to five years. Yet, I connected with him through letters, almost weekly if not daily since I was seven years old. We communicated our thoughts and ideas and feelings and I felt much closer to him than I was with those were physically around me. I had reassurance that my father loves me and that I can believe that one day, we will be reunited again. The absence didn’t change the way I love him. This is almost the same with our Father in heaven. We can continue to love him even though we don’t see him. If we continue to remember his promises and live in that knowledge, we can grow our faith.________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we continue to love the Lord our God even though we don’t see him?
BY THE SPIRIT, BELIEVERS CAN OBEY CHRIST
May 20
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BY THE SPIRIT, BELIEVERS CAN OBEY CHRIST
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:1-5
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This letter is written by Peter, the apostle and is addressed to the believers who reside in Pontus, Galatian, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. He reminds these people that it was God himself who chose them in the beginning of time and by the work of the Spirit they are able to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter continues to ensure that they must obey Christ since the Holy Spirit has given them the ability to do so. He greets them with the grace and peace that comes from the Lord Jesus himself.
According to ESV Global study bible, this letter was written in A.D. 62–63 Peter, probably writing from Rome (called “Babylon” in 5:13. These places mentioned as the recipient of this letter are all believers in places referred to Roman provinces in Asia Minor, north of the Taurus Mountains.
Peter is addressing the believers so that they can never forget how to be grateful to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants them to remember that if God the Father has not chosen them, they will not be able to be born again and have that living hope through the resurrection of Christ. It was God’s great mercy that we are able to obtain the inheritance that is eternal, holy and will never die. Peter wants every believer to never forget that everything comes from God and every protection they will ever receive is also from him.
Peter warns the believers that we can never do anything for ourselves because it is God who has chosen us ahead of time so we must never boast about anything for all things come from our Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why should every believer always remember that we can do nothing because all things come from God?