Tag: 1 Peter 3:15
Day 2–Faith’s Perfect Peace
Scripture reading for March 10: Isaiah 26:2-4 “Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock.”
It is our Lord’s desire as ‘Prince of Peace’ that we all enter into the righteous kingdom of heaven under His blessed Kingship. This peace is not just the absence of war or conflict. This peace is between us and God. The barrier of God’s wrath against sin is removed through faith in the One offering it. It comes as we choose to repent of running our own life and invite Jesus Christ to be Lord over our life. (Romans 3:24) This opens the Gate or Door, Who is Jesus Himself. (John 10:7) Trust grows as we develop a relationship with God that He promises will last forever.
The peace offered is called “perfect peace” by Isaiah. It is perfect in that all hostility between man and God ceases because Jesus Christ has satisfied God’s wrath against sin. We are declared ‘righteous’ through our faith in Christ’s sacrifice. Justice is satisfied and perfect peace abides as we fill our minds and hearts with God’s eternal truth. To stay in this peace, we fix our minds on Christ and meditate on His Word. As we do this day by day, God’s peace transforms our thinking, attitudes, and actions. People notice and can ask us how this can be. (1 Peter 3:15)
It is a great blessing when first responders enjoy the perfect peace coming from faith. We don’t earn this peace or work to make it evident. It is a gift from God that marks our lives and helps us daily to stay calm when others are at their worst. No matter what we face, this peace guards our hearts and minds and comforts those we help. (Philippians 4:7)
Prayer: Father God, I want to enter into the peace You offer. I have put my trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to daily choose to trust You. Fill me with this perfect peace that I may share that with those caught up in this world’s turmoil and conflict. Amen.
Day 3–Courage to Confess Jesus as Lord
Scripture reading for February 25: Matthew 25:28-32“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father Who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”
A common fear in all mankind is a concern for what others think. But Scripture teaches that the fear of man is a snare. (Proverbs 29:25) Jesus taught His disciples not to fear men or their positions of power or opinions. Even rulers who have the authority to take your life are not to be a source of fear. They can only kill the body but have no power to sentence you to eternal punishment.
The only ones we are to fear is God our Father and Jesus His Son. These hold our lives in Their hands and our eternal destiny depends on Their mercy and grace. If we hold this to be truth, then we should not be ashamed to declare our trust. Jesus plainly stated to His disciples that everyone who would confess faith in Him before men, He would confess before His Father in heaven. On the contrary, if we deny faith in Jesus then He will deny us before His Father in heaven.
As first responders who trust in Jesus, our first responsibility and priority in our life is our relationship with our Lord. But in a secular culture, we must be wise in how we conduct ourselves and in our speech. We should first seek to live a life of humility and serving others in such a way as to demonstrate Christ’s love and character. Our speech and attitude should be free from vulgarity and gossip. We should be ready to share the reason for our hope and joy, never denying Jesus as Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)
Prayer: Father God, I never want to deny You before men. Forgive me for sometimes having a fear of man concerning the sharing of my faith. Open doors for me to share my faith by displaying in me Your love and compassion and joy and hope. Amen.