Tag: God's house
Judgment begins in God’s house!
Scripture reading for October 12th: 1st Peter 4, Psalm 54, Proverbs 18
1st Peter 4: 12-17 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that Name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”
Peter went through some fiery trials himself that tested his faith and he failed on several occasions. Peter wrote to followers of Jesus who were also experiencing trial with words of encouragement and comfort. Peter had learned how to rejoice in the trials and recognize the blessing of God’s grace and glory in his life that sustained him. He had also watched Jesus suffer unjustly and came to understand how God sustained Him. Suffering is part of the trials of walking through this world as a follower of the Lord, Who suffered unjustly because of our sins. We must take time to examine our lives and judge our own hearts, attitudes, and actions in the face of suffering. It is only by God’s grace we overcome.
Psalm 54:1-3 “O God, save me by Your Name, and vindicate me by Your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the instruction on trials that come to test us as we live for You here on earth. Help me to humbly evaluate each trial and respond through the Spirit of Grace and Glory that You have blessed me with. Help me to judge myself, my attitudes and and actions instead of judging others. I desire to honor You and glorify God as I live under Your authority and Holy Name.
Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
Holding our confidence and hope
Scripture reading for February 18th: Leviticus 4-7, Hebrews 3
Hebrews 3: 1-6 “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to Him Who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses–as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the Builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken about later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a Son. And we are His house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”
When we receive Jesus Christ as God’s Son and His sacrifice for the atonement for our sins, we become members of the band of heaven-bound brothers and sisters. The writer to these Jewish believers sought to reassure them of their heavenly calling and to the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and His superiority to Moses. Moses was truly a man of God and a prophet of God, but Moses was a servant in God’s Old Covenant house. Moses faithfully spoke God’s laws to God’s people. But Jesus was God’s Son and the architect and builder of God’s New Covenant house–the Church. Christ was faithful even unto death on a cross and in spite of the rejection of the Jewish leadership of His Messianic revelation. His example calls all men to confidence and hope and to stand firm in faith. Beware of falling away!
Hebrews 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who was faithful to You and completely obeyed Your Word and will. I want to be part of His eternal House–the Church. Give me grace to stand firm and guard my heart against unbelief and falling away in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Keep me from unintentional sins and willful sins that will harden my heart.
Leviticus 5:14-16 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest.”