I John 1  I love John's testimony here... we heard, we saw, we beheld, we touched.. the "Word of Life".  We had "fellowship" with God the Father and with Jesus Christ, His Son.  Fellowship - koinonia - communion, partnership;  John shared life with the Giver of Life and now it brings him great joy to pass these truths on to others.

Where he starts is a bit surprising.. " God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all." 
We would expect something like.."God is the Creator" or God is the King of the Universe", "God is the Judge" or "God is love..."
But,  John starts with this bold statement.. " God is light.. " God is phōs- manifest, shine, luminousness, fire, light.... and "in Him there is no darkness at all" -  no dimness, no obscurity, no shadiness..

And, those who say we are in partnership with Him, cannot walk with Him unless we also "walk in the light". .. cleansed from all sin by the "blood of Jesus His Son".  If we deny the darkness, saying we have no sin.. we are liars.  If we "confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  

God will forgive us when we are honest about the darkness that hides in our souls.  He is Light and He will shine so that the darkness is overcome.  What a wonderful Savior and God we serve.  He sends our sins away.. further than the east is from the west.  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we bow before You and exalt Your Holy name. You are Light and You have sent the Light of the World, Your only Begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins.  Thank You. Fill us with Your Light, always for we want to live in fellowship with You forever. Amen.

II Peter 3 Some.. many people live in complete denial of the fact that Jesus is coming again. Peter reminds us that it only because of God's patience... and His desire that "all come to repentance" that Christ tarries.  Yet, the day will come "like a thief".. a day when the heavens and the earth will burn up and be destroyed.  Only those who have "living hope".. living as holy and godly servants of Jesus, will be able to see the" new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."

"Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, spotless and blameless." ( v14)

This is what the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls desires for us.  This is our living hope, our inheritance, and our purpose.  Diligence is necessary.  Self-discipline is necessary.  Perseverance is necessary. This will not happen to us without effort on our part..

O Father in heaven, Majesty on High, fill us with Your Holy Spirit power that we might live in unity with Your Son, completely..that we might be ready for that day when You will call us home.  Death can come at any moment.. it can be totally unexpected.. may we live in readiness.  The day of Christ's coming can be at any moment.. it will be totally unexpected.. may we be found blameless, abiding in Him, walking in Your Spirit.. living a victorious, purposeful, fruitful life to the glory of our Lord.
Amen.

II   Peter 1-2

In 1:16-21 Peter reminds his readers of the fact that he was an eyewitness "of His majesty".  He saw and heard and felt the power of God on the mountain with Jesus.  To him, this confirmed everything that the prophets had written about the coming of the Messiah... " the prophetic word made more sure".  Peter warns that prophecy was never "an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit".. who spoke what God told them to speak.  It can be trusted.. But,  he warns that some men speak from falsehoods and malign the Truth.  We must be diligent to persevere in the Truth.. which will keep us in moral excellence , knowledge, self-control, love, kindness, and godliness. 

False teachers.. should be easy to spot when we know the Truth.. but so many people do not study the
Word of God and are easily led astray.  The temptations are powerful and everywhere...

".. false teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves." (2:1)
They "follow their sensuality". 
In their greed they "exploit" the followers of Christ.
They" indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires"
They "despise authority". 
They are "daring".
They are "self-willed".
They revile "where they have no knowledge"
They revel in their sins and "their deceptions". 
They have "eyes full of adultery"
They forsake "the right way". 
They speak arrogantly.
They entice others.
They promise "freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption". 

Peter states clearly that those who once "escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"  but once again are "entangled in them and are overcome"  are worse off than before they were saved.

Judgement is coming.  It is not something that we want to talk about or think about.. but we need to take seriously.  God did not "spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness reserved for judgement."  He did not spare the ungodly in Noah's day.  He did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah..  He knows "how to rescue the godly from temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgement."

Remember.. Peter writes.. and keep remembering.. stay diligent. Pay attention.  Choose to walk in light and in truth.  Choose to increase in purity, knowledge of the Word, godliness and love.  Persevere.  Have self-control. Don't be drawn in by "destructive heresies.."

We can see this clearly in the church today.. we call them "liberals".. but they are false teachers who are bringing destruction upon themselves.  Sin is sin.  Whether we want to say its ok or not.. God has the final Word and He will bring judgement on all sin.  May God help us to stand firm in the day of evil.

Father, once again, we seek You and You alone, for You are God, the Majestic Glory, who sent Your Beloved Son so that we might be saved.  Bring repentance and revival to Your people, O Lord. Draw us to the throne of grace.. to pray more fervently for the lost, knowing that You do not wish "for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. "  I ask for the salvation of those in my own family who are still lost, thanking You for having patience and pleading for You to bring them to Yourself through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

II Peter 1  Peter addresses those  "who have received a faith of the same kind.. " the kind of faith that comes by "the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ"..  and encourages them and us to be "diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.. "

It is in the "knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" that we find grace and peace.  It is the way we can see "His divine power" that 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." 

Jesus has "granted to us His precious and magnificent promises..."  so that we can be "partakers of the divine nature".  This is our foundation and living hope..

But.. we must be "diligent"  - we need to pay personal attention and care to not only KNOW these truths but to increase in these qualities..

By faith, our character must begin to be shaped by Christ..
Moral excellence or virtue will continually grow, being refined and made purer by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Knowledge - of the Lord Jesus and of His Word as well as a personal knowledge of Him as Savior, Master, King, Friend, Redeemer, Sanctifier, and Healer continues to grow.
Self-control - is evidenced in our lifestyles, our homes, and our actions.
Perseverance is increased, so that we remain steadfast in Christ no matter the circumstances.
Godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are genuine qualities witnessed by unbelievers and believers alike.. to the glory of God.

Then.. we will be "neither useless nor unfruitful".
Peter tells us to "practice these things".. so we will not stumble, but will enter "into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". 

Father in heaven, establish us in these truths, in Christ Jesus our Lord. amen.

I Peter 5  As aliens and strangers in this world and new creations in Christ, our citizenship forever established in heaven's realms.. we simply "entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." ( 4:19)

To the church leaders, Peter says,  "shepherd the flock of God":
willingly and not "under compulsion"
eagerly and not for "sordid gain"
as examples.. not as lords.

To the younger men he says, "be subject to your elders... " 

To everyone, Peter writes:
"clothe yourselves with humility.."
cast "all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you."
".. be on the alert.." for the "devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour"

We can trust our God in all things.  He is "the God of all grace."  His promises are true.
He "called [us] to His eternal glory in Christ" and He "will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish [us]." 


In this day and age, especially in our culture, humility is greatly undervalued.. yet, so very precious and vital.  Peter's letter has emphasized the need to follow the example of Christ in every aspect of our lives.. even if it means we suffer for doing what is right.  We cannot begin to scrape the surface of this truth.. we cannot form Christ in our own lives.. we must allow Him to come in and take over.. We must completely "entrust our Creator" with our hearts, souls, minds, bodies..

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.. Your kingdom come.. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Sanctify us through and through by Your Spirit.  Jesus, You are our living hope. Thank You for saving us and giving us true life. Amen.

I Peter 4  Peter has exhorted his readers to "gird up your minds" ( 1:13)   He wrote in chapter 2 verse 21, "For you have been called for this purpose.. for you to follow in His steps;"  And in Ch. 3 verse 9 he wrote, " .. you were called for the very purpose... " 

Peter uses this same word three more times in this chapter.

v1 "... arm yourselves also with the same purpose.. "
v6 " For the gospel has for this purpose been preached.."
v7 "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." 

Purpose - ennoia- thoughtfulness; moral understanding; intent, mind.

The KJV uses a variety of words in place of the word purpose - cause, mind, hereunto, thereunto, and watch -

We are called - to thoughtfully and intentionally live like Jesus in:
doing what is right and honorable and respectful;
suffering for what is right;
being "harmonious, brotherly, kindhearted.. humble.. giving a blessing.. " 
dying to the flesh and living "for the will of God";
living "in the spirit according to the will of God"
being "of sound judgement and sober spirit" for the "purpose of prayer"

We entrust our whole lives into the Hand of our "faithful Creator".. even if it means suffering.  And if we suffer for the name of Jesus Christ, we rejoice.. and keep on rejoicing.. for the day is coming when we will see His glory and know His blessings!  The day of judgement is coming, and it will be soon.. whether we are ready or not.

 Let us live thoughtfully and intentionally like Jesus, ready for the day ahead.

Father, help us. May the "Spirit of glory and of God" rest upon us. Amen.

I Peter 3

Peter continues to teach and encourage the followers of Christ to have the character of Christ... doing what is right, honoring and respecting others, entrusting ourselves into the Lord' s hands..

To wives, Peter says - focus on the "hidden person of the heart" by being submissive to your husband,  being gentle and having a quiet spirit.
To husbands,  Peter says - have understanding and yet "grant ( your wife) honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, "

"To sum up, let all be harmonious sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for your were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. " v8

We are told to "sanctify Christ as Lord in [our] hearts" -  even if that means suffering for doing what is right or being slandered or reviled.  For this is what Jesus did.  He "died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. " 

Father in heaven, fashion my heart with Your imperishable grace and beauty - with quietness and gentleness, with patience and hope and love.  May I be kind, even when others are unkind.  May I be humble and filled with peace, even when things are hard.  May I know Your blessings that I might be Yours forever. Amen.