Psalm 119:137-144  Almighty God, You are righteous.  Your Words are righteous.  They are right, just, and true.   You have given us Your Word that we might have life.  Your Word does not change with the seasons, nor with the centuries.  You have given us the Truth out of Your faithfulness and righteousness.  As the psalmist prayed, I do also, "give me understanding that I may live."  May I delight in and love Your pure Word, may I "not forget Thy precepts".   I lift my eyes to You Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, for it is from You that my help comes. Be my keeper, be my shade, be my fortress today. Through the grace of The Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

II Peter 1 :5-15 "Now for this very reason..."  Because of the faith we have received by God's righteousness, because of the multiplied grace and peace He has granted us in knowing Him, because of the precious and magnificent promises, and His divine power, because of all God has done through The Lord Jesus, we have an "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
The life of one who lives according to this Word will be marked by certain qualities, Peter tells us.  Qualities that "render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".  Qualities that are lacking in those who are "blind or shortsighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins."  Peter is diligent to remind us of these essential qualities:
1. The quality of "diligence" in "your faith".  Personal attention and care. Carefully, with effort.  Active faith.
2. Moral excellence-  virtue and honor,
3. knowledge -  what we are conscious of,  what our conscience is guided by;
4. self-control - self restraint
5. perseverance - cheerful, hopeful patience
6. godliness - holiness, piety
7. brotherly kindness - affection for other believers
8. love - agape love - benevolent, giving, sacrificial love.
We are to grow and increase in these qualities (v8).  We are to practice these qualities ( v10).  We are to remember and pay close attention to these qualities that are "abundantly supplied" to us by Jesus, Himself.
Peter tells us to "be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things you will never stumble."  We examine our own lives , not others. We should be growing in these areas. Established in these truths.
My faith looks up to Thee,  Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine,
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away;
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine.
Amen.

Psalm 119:129-136   Almighty God,  Heavenly Father,  Your Words are wonderful.  I will obey them.  It is Your Word that gives light.  I will open it, read it, heed it.  Your Word gives understanding to even the simplest person,  even to a child,  even to me.  I open my heart to take it in.  I long for it.  Be gracious to me, keep me in Your will, deliver me from sin, don't let anything outside of Your perfect plan have authority over me. Shine on me, teach me, redeem me.  Oh the sadness of a lost and sinful world.  Bring Your glorious Light! Turn hearts towards the Light of Your Son, Jesus.
Amen.

II Peter 1:2-4
These three verses are loaded with truth and I want to understand all that is being said.
V2 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,"
Peter's blessing is given to those who have the "same kind" of faith as his - true faith, not a professed faith, but a living, active faith. The kind of  faith that sells all it has to buy the field and own the treasure. A kingdom faith.  Grace and peace are multiplied IN knowing God and His Son, Jesus.  Jesus said "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:3) Multiplied grace - graciousness, favor, joy,  divine liberality.
Multiplied peace- prosperity, rest, quietness, one(ness).  In the knowledge ( recognition, discernment, acknowledgement) of God and of Jesus Christ the Son, we receive eternal LIFE - true grace and true peace. MULTIPLIED!!
Peter goes on to explain : " seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."(v3)   Jesus, full of glory and excellence, calls us to know Him.  It is in that relationship of oneness and graciousness, that He grants us everything we need for "life" and "godliness" .
All we need for a lifetime. All we need to live devout, godly, worshipful lives. All the grace and peace that He alone multiplies to us.
"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. " v4.  What promises enable us to take part in His divine nature?  The promise of salvation to all who believe.  The promise of forgiveness of sin.  The promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  The promise of a Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  The promise that He will come again.  The promise of a new heaven and a new earth where we will live with Him in perfect grace and peace.  The promise that  He "Himself" will "perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" ( I Peter5:10)

Psalm 119:121-128   We do the best we can, Lord.  We try to do "justice and righteousness".  We turn our eyes to You, in faith, with hope of salvation.  We look into Your "righteous Word".  But, Lord, we need You! Deal with me "according to Thy lovingkindness".  Teach me. Make me understand. Act on my behalf, so that I might walk with You in Truth.  That I might also "hate every false way".   Your Word is better than the finest gold.  Open my eyes to know it.  Fill my heart with love for Your Word.   God of all Grace, You have called me to Your eternal glory in Christ.  Perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish me. ( I Peter 5:10) According to Your precious Word and through The Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

II Peter 1
Peter writes to those who have received faith "of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ".  Faith of the same value or origin as Peter's faith.  Not false faith, pretend faith, or fruitless faith. ( Matthew Henry's commentary)  " True saving faith is a precious grace, and that not only as it is very uncommon, very scarce, even in the visible church, a very small number of true believers among a great multitude of visible professors." Henry goes on to describe TRUE FAITH.
It is a "truly divine spiritual life"
It  "procures all the necessary supports and comforts of this excellent life"
It goes to Christ for all things "buys the wine and milk which are proper nourishment of the new creature" ( Isaiah 55:1)
It "brings home the tried gold, the heavenly treasure that enriches"
It "takes and puts on the white robes that clothe and adorn"
"The just lives by faith".   They LIVE -  eat, drink, dress, breathe, work, - by faith.
Peter wants us to have the "same kind" of faith that God gave him, that God gives us and  wants us to  receive.
Faith that unites the weak and the strong to Christ.  Faith that purifies our heart.  Faith that justifies us in the sight of God.  Faith that "takes hold of the same precious Saviour, and applies the same precious promises".  Faith that is a gift from God. Faith that comes by the Spirit, through the righteousness of Christ. Faith that is precious because it is based on the perfect obedience of Christ Who died for us and Who rose from the dead to sit at the right Hand of the Father.

Father, may we not be mere professors of faith but True believers, with true saving faith. Faith that is real and fruitful. Faith the permeates every aspect of our lives. Every day.  Faith that takes hold of Jesus.  Faith that really rests on all of Your precious promises.  Oh Lord, we do not want to be pretenders, ever. Come and fill us with "Grace and peace" multiplied to us "in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (v2)
Amen.

Psalm 119:113-120  Lord, You are my hiding place.  You are my shield.  Thank You for the protection and security of Your Words.  You sustain me.  You hold me up.  You keep me safe when I am in the center of Your Will.   Keep me there Lord.  In the path of Life, in You.
The evildoers depart from You.  The deceitful wander away from Your Word.  Those who reject Your Word will be removed "like dross".   We do well to fear Your judgements.  To tremble "in our flesh".  Oh sustain us, uphold us. Hide us in the cleft of the Rock.  Amen.

I Peter 5  Instructions for the leaders of the church.  Shepherd the flock. Be examples to the flock.
Be humble.  Be sober.  Resist the devil.  Cast all your anxiety on the One Who cares for you.
In light of what Christ has suffered. In anticipation of His appearing.  And in dependence on His loving care.... live this way.
A precious promise " .. the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. " v10b
"To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen" v11

It is ALL in His Hands! I am in His Hands.
Hallelujah!

Psalm 119:105-112  "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."  Every step I take, every way I choose. Your Word leads me Lord.  When I am afflicted.  When I am thankful.  When I am in danger, or when I am just living the life You put before me.  I look to You, Light of the World.
Where You shine, there I want to walk.  I commit myself to keep, remember, and perform what You have taught me.  Teach me today.  Shine Your light even now, that I might walk with You. Amen.

I Peter 4 To live with "purpose".  To live in light of the salvation purchased by Christ on the cross, means to live for God's will and not for man's lusts.  That means putting aside "sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries." v3.  It is living "in the spirit" and not "in the flesh".
Spiritual living means:
Having "sound judgement and sober spirits for the purpose of prayer" v7
Being "fervent in your love for one another".  v8
Being "hospitable to one another without complaint" v9
Using the gift of grace to speak, serve, and glorify God fully.  v10-11
Not being surprised when you are tested, but rejoicing that you can share "the sufferings of Christ" v12-13
When you are reviled or suffer for being a Christian, you know that you are blessed. v14, 16

The Day of Christ's return is coming. Peter urges us to live according to the Spirit, to trust our "souls to a faithful Creator" by doing what is right.  Living "in the flesh" is death.  But the gospel has "for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God." v 6.

Father, may I live with Your purposes in my mind and heart today. May I live according to the Spirit and not  the flesh.  May I love and serve and give to You all I have and all I am.  Even to rejoice in suffering, knowing that it glorifies You. Thank You for the Light that You have given. Amen.

Psalm 119: 97-104  The psalmist expresses his love for the Word.  It is his constant meditation.  He reflects on the benefits of knowing and doing what God has revealed in His Word.
v98  It makes him "wiser than my enemies"
v99 It gives "more insight than all my teachers"
v100 It gives him "more understanding than the aged"
v101 It has kept him "from every evil way"
Who doesn't want to have more wisdom, insight, and understanding?  Who doesn't want to avoid evil and false ways?
Yes, the Word of God is "sweet"!  "Sweeter than honey" the psalmist declares.  What God has revealed in His Word is better than the best thing he can think of!   Love it and live it.  Constantly meditate and reflect on it. Keep filling up your mind with what God has said. Do it and you will be able to declare with the psalmist, " I have restrained my feet from every evil way."
Father in heaven, this is my prayer.  I love Your Word. It is sweeter than anything in this world.
Thank you.

I Peter 3 The qualities of a life given over to Christ wholly are explained here by Peter's letter. It is not a life we usually choose of our own volition. Nor is it one we can live consistently by our own will power.  It is a life of humble submission, respect, gentleness, harmony, sympathy, love and kindness.  It is returning evil with blessing, it is suffering for doing what is right and not complaining.  It is keeping our tongues under control, seeking peace, and obeying God's Word, no matter what.
It is a wife winning over an unbelieving husband without a word, submitting, respecting, loving him with a quiet gentleness.
It is a husband caring for and honoring his wife with understanding and respect.
It is every believer putting Christ first, living in hope, gently and reverently sharing the Truth with any who ask.  It is keeping a good conscience, doing right, and enduring the hard times with a right attitude.
Oh no, it is not something we can do, but it is what Christ can do in us when we "sanctify" Him as "Lord in your hearts". (v15).  Sanctify - make holy, set apart, consecrate, venerate.
He died for our sins, "the just for the unjust".
He brought us to God.
He rescued us from disobedience and washed us from guilt and sin.
He sits at the right hand of the Father and all "angels and authorities and powers" have been made subject to Him.
He is indeed, Lord of All. King. Sovereign. Ruler. God.  Christ Jesus, our Savior, our Shepherd, is Great and Wonderful, worthy of our praise and worship.
Open our eyes Lord, that we will really see You. In the Glory of  Your Majesty and Splendor.  That we will adore You and praise You with our whole hearts.  Oh we see so dimly now!  Fill our hearts Lord Jesus! I set You apart in my heart as Lord . Reign and rule in me forever. Amen.

Psalm 119: 89-96  Each section of this psalm corresponds to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Each has 8 verses and each verse starts with that letter.  This section is Lamedh.  It celebrates the surety of the Word of God.  The Word is "forever".  It is "settled in Heaven".  Our God, who is faithful to every generation, who established the earth, is the One Who has established His Word.  The psalmist uses 10 different synonyms to talk of the Word of God - law, word, saying, commandment, statute, judgement, precept, testimony, way, and path. ( Bible Knowledge Commentary). Each word denotes something specific about God's Word:
Law - It gives us direction and instruction.
Word - It is God's revelation.
Saying - It is God's promises.
Commandment - It comes with God's authority.
Statute - It has been written and enacted - legislated.
Judgement - It is binding and judgement is based on it.
Precept - It is an injunction. A binding order to do or not do a specific action.
Testimony - It is a declaration of God's will.
Way/path - It is the pattern of life that God lays out for us.
The psalmist has found the Word of God to be his delight and his source of life.  By His Word God has revived (kept alive) him.
Like the psalmist, we must know the Word so that we can walk with God. If we do not know what God says, then we cannot know God at all. He has established it, He has revealed it, He has declared it, and we are to know it and obey it.
Father, teach me Your ways, fill me with "the knowledge of (Your) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding",  that I also "may walk in a manner worthy of The Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" ( Col. 1:9-10)

I Peter 2 Jesus is the "choice stone, a precious cornerstone"( v6)  and  the supreme example (v21) for those who believe.  But for unbelievers, the unpersuadeable, He is a stumbling block.  These are "disobedient to the word".  They reject Jesus and refuse the Word of God.
Peter's instructions are for us who believe in Christ the "living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God." v4   We are "living stones" being built into a spiritual  house. We are royal priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices.  We are God's people and possession, proclaiming His "excellencies".  He called us out of darkness and into light. He chose us to be His own people.  He had mercy on us when we needed it most.  This is who we are as believers in Christ Jesus.  Therefore we are called to act in a "manner worthy of The Lord"
v12 - We are to keep our behavior excellent, doing good deeds that bring glory to God.
v13-14 - We are to submit to authority, to government.
v15 We are to do what is right.
v16 We are to act as free men, but not use our freedom to do evil, only to serve God.
v17 We are to honor others, love one another, fear God, and honor the king.
v18 We are to be submissive to masters, respectful even to the unreasonable ones.
v19-20  We are to patiently endure suffering, especially when it is for doing what is right.
v21 We are to follow Christ's example, entrusting ourselves into God's Hands, knowing He judges righteously.
He is our "Shepherd and Guardian ".  "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness for by His wounds you were healed". v24-25.
Precious Cornerstone, Jesus, Lord of lords and King of kings,  thank You for calling me, choosing me, and making me a living stone, a royal priest, a child of God.  You are my Shepherd and I will follow You. Keep me in Your will. I entrust myself into Your care. Amen.