1st Peter

November 28th, 2007

Well, the word of the day is “incongruous” which means lacking in harmony. I just thought I would throw that out there. I guess having a conversion that is incongruous would not be ideal. No incongruous conversations! Anyway, now that I have the internet back, I can start posting my quiet times again.

I had been studying in John, but today, I think I will look at 1st Peter.

1st Peter
From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To God's chosen people who are away from their homes and are scattered all around the countries of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God planned long ago to choose you by making you his holy people, which is the Spirit's work. God wanted you to obey him and to be made clean by the blood of the death of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours more and more.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God's great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children. These blessings, which cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty, are kept in heaven for you. God's power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time.

This makes you very happy, even though now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you. You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory. And you are receiving the goal of your faith -- the salvation of your souls.

The prophets searched carefully and tried to learn about this salvation. They prophesied about the grace that was coming to you. The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, telling in advance about the sufferings of Christ and about the glory that would follow those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them, when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time. It was shown them that their service was not for themselves but for you, when they told about the truths you have now heard. Those who preached the Good News to you told you those things with the help of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven -- things into which angels desire to look.

So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you. Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. It is written in the Scriptures: "You must be holy, because I am holy." You pray to God and call him Father, and he judges each person's work equally. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God. You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way, a way passed down from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb. Christ was chosen before the world was made, but he was shown to the world in these last times for your sake. Through Christ you believe in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God. Now that you have made your souls pure by obeying the truth, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart. You have been born again, and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die. You were born again through God's living message that continues forever.

The Scripture says, "All people are like the grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord will live forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and evil speech. As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. By it you can grow up and be saved, because you have already examined and seen how good the Lord is.

Come to the Lord Jesus, the "stone" that lives. The people of the world did not want this stone, but he was the stone God chose, and he was precious. You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple -- to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ. The Scripture says: "I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed." This stone is worth much to you who believe. But to the people who do not believe, "the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Also, he is "a stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey what God says, which is what God planned to happen to them. But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God's people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God's mercy. Dear friends, you are like foreigners and strangers in this world. I beg you to avoid the evil things your bodies want to do that fight against your soul. People who do not believe are living all around you and might say that you are doing wrong. Live such good lives that they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again.

For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority, and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. It is God's desire that by doing good you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honor the king. Slaves, yield to the authority of your masters with all respect, not only those who are good and kind, but also those who are dishonest. A person might have to suffer even when it is unfair, but if he thinks of God and stands the pain, God is pleased. If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. "He had never sinned, and he had never lied." People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him. Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And you are healed because of his wounds. You were like sheep that wandered away, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your souls.

In the same way, you wives should yield to your husbands. Then, if some husbands do not obey God's teaching, they will be persuaded to believe without anyone's saying a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live. Your husbands will see the pure lives you live with your respect for God. It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you -- the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God. In this same way the holy women who lived long ago and followed God made themselves beautiful, yielding to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid. In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you -- the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers.

Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing. The Scripture says, "A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days. He must not say evil things, and he must not tell lies. He must stop doing evil and do good. He must look for peace and work for it. The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers. those who do evil." If you are trying hard to do good, no one can really hurt you. But even if you suffer for doing right, you are blessed. "Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things." But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong if that is what God wants.

Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people -- eight in all -- were saved by water.

And that water is like baptism that now saves you -- not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God's right side ruling over angels, authorities, and powers.

Since Christ suffered while he was in his body, strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking Christ had. The person who has suffered in the body is finished with sin. Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things people want. In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and hateful idol worship.

Nonbelievers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things they do, so they insult you. But they will have to explain this to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the Good News was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged like all people, the Good News was preached to them so they could live in the spirit as God lives.

The time is near when all things will end. So think clearly and control yourselves so you will be able to pray. Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace. Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

My friends, do not be surprised at the terrible trouble which now comes to test you. Do not think that something strange is happening to you. But be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory. When people insult you because you follow Christ, you are blessed, because the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is with you. Do not suffer for murder, theft, or any other crime, nor because you trouble other people. But if you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. Praise God because you wear that name. It is time for judgment to begin with God's family. And if that judging begins with us, what will happen to those people who do not obey the Good News of God? "If it is very hard for a good person to be saved, the wicked person and the sinner will surely be lost!" So those who suffer as God wants should trust their souls to the faithful Creator as they continue to do what is right.

Now I have something to say to the elders in your group. I also am an elder. I have seen Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to shepherd God's flock, for whom you are responsible. Watch over them because you want to, not because you are forced. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money. Do not be like a ruler over people you are responsible for, but be good examples to them. Then when Christ, the Chief Shepherd, comes, you will get a glorious crown that will never lose its beauty.

In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. "God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.

Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith. You know that your Christian family all over the world is having the same kinds of suffering.

And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. All power is his forever and ever. Amen. I wrote this short letter with the help of Silas, who I know is a faithful brother in Christ. I wrote to encourage you and to tell you that this is the true grace of God. Stand strong in that grace. The church in Babylon, who was chosen like you, sends you greetings. Mark, my son in Christ, also greets you. Give each other a kiss of Christian love when you meet. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Now, I have to ask myself a question. Have I ever recieved an email from a friend and only read a line or two and said, tomorrow I will read another sentence and then the next day, I will read another sentence and then the next day another one... NO! And yet I treat the Bible the same way. I only read a paragraph or two and leave the rest of the chapter, book or whatever for another day. I think it is OK to look at parts of other chapters when I read a book like this, but if I am going to study a book, I should put some effort into reading the entire book as quickly as possible, so to grasp the big picture that God wants me to see. It's just a thought.

A central theme I noticed here is that evil is battling within these believers. It, of course, makes me think of Romans 7. Here is that passage:

Romans 7:7-25

You might think I am saying that sin and the law are the same thing. That is not true. But the law was the only way I could learn what sin meant. I would never have known what it means to want to take something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, "You must not want to take your neighbor's things." And sin found a way to use that command and cause me to want all kinds of things I should not want. But without the law, sin has no power. I was alive before I knew the law. But when the law's command came to me, then sin began to live, and I died. The command was meant to bring life, but for me it brought death. Sin found a way to fool me by using the command to make me die. So the law is holy, and the command is holy and right and good. Does this mean that something that is good brought death to me? No! Sin used something that is good to bring death to me. This happened so that I could see what sin is really like; the command was used to show that sin is very evil.

We know that the law is spiritual, but I am not spiritual since sin rules me as if I were its slave. I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate. And if I do not want to do the hated things I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one who is doing these hated things; it is sin living in me that does them. Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me -- I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them. I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do. So if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is sin living in me that does those things. So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me. In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body, which makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me its prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So in my mind I am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful self I am a slave to the law of sin.

It is the age old battle of god vs. evil locked inside me, my person. This, I think, is the verse that stands out to me in 1st Peter: If it is very hard for a good person to be saved, the wicked person and the sinner will surely be lost! It is VERY hard for a good person to be saved. And if everyone who walks this earth is a sinner, even the Pope, then it is a lot harder than I can think or imagine. Talk about tough. Johnny Out.

Some Things to Consider

Are you too B.U.S.Y. for the B.I.B.L.E.? Are you too B.U.S.Y. for your F.A.M.I.L.Y.?

Being
Under
Satan's
Yoke

Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth

Father
And
Mother
I
Love
You

You decide. Just a passing thought from Johnny Ray.

Smiley Face

It's a smiley face, kinda like God's was of saying "have a nice day". Enjoy!

Thirteen - Edition #11

2nd Corinthians 6:13
As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

I hadn't thought of this before, but this scripture makes it seem as if Paul did have children. The whole "I speak as to MY children" implies as though he had children, which would have made him married. I guess he could have meant it metaphorically, but it's difficult to say one way or another. Anyway, open wide your hearts... that is what I am going to actually focus on today. I think I should first off rephrase it to make it personal. Open wide my heart.

Open Wide Your Heart (verb)
platunō (pronounced: plat-oo'-no)

• To widen (literally or figuratively): make broad, enlarge.
• To make broad, enlarge.
• Be enlarged in heart, i.e. to welcome and embrace you in love.

And that is it. Instead of thinking... open wide my heart, I should take the perspective of enlarging my heart. Think of someone who has a "big heart". What does that person's character say about them? It would be generous, giving, thoughtful, caring... those are what come to my mind. How about "out of themself" and joyful? Yeah, I can see that. All great things about a person who has a "big heart". I guess that's all I have for this Saturday. Johnny Out.

Thirteen - Edition #10

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

I think I am going to check out more than just exasperate. But exasperate is first and foremost on the list.

Exasperate (verb)

parorgizō (pronounced: par-org-id'-zo)

• To anger alongside, that is, enrage: anger, provoke to wrath.
• To rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, anger.

Exasperate (verb)

• To irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely.
• To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.
• make furious.

So, fathers do not provoke your children to anger... don't make the kids angry or impatient. So what do fathers need to do? The answer is to train and instruct the children in the way of the Lord. OK, so I think it goes a little further than that in this passage. And that's what I am going to do, take it a little further.

Training (noun)

paideia (pronounced: pahee-di'-ah)

• Tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
• The whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body.
• Whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
• Instruction which aims at increasing virtue.
• Chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment).

Instruction (noun)
nouthesia (pronounced: noo-thes-ee'-ah)

• Calling attention to, that is, (by implication) mild rebuke or warning: admonition.
• Admonition, exhortation.

Admonition (noun)

• Mild, kind, yet earnest reproof.
• Cautionary advice or warning.
• Cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness).
• Counsel, advice, or caution.
• A gentle reproof

Exhortation (noun)

• A communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action.
• An utterance, discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendations.
• A speech or discourse that encourages, incites, or earnestly advises.

Exhort (verb)

• Spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
• Force or impel in an indicated direction

I felt the need to check out exhort, since that is the root of exhortation. There were several definitions on how exhortation is the process of exhorting... so I checked out exhort. So, Fathers, do not frustrate and anger your children; instead, bring them up by correcting mistakes and curbing passions and exhortation of the Lord. Johnny Out.

Thirteen - Edition #9

Ephesians 4:22

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.

Old (adjective)
palaios (pronounced: pal-ah-yos')

• Antique, that is, not recent, worn out: old.
• Old, ancient
• No longer new, worn by use, the worse for wear, old

Self (noun)
anthrōpos (pronounced: anth'-ro-pos)

• (The countenance); manfaced, that is, a human being: certain, man.
• A human being, whether male or female
• Generically, to include all human individuals
• To distinguish man from beings of a different order
• Of animals and plants
• Of from God and Christ
• Of the angels
• With the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin
• With the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity
• With reference to two fold nature of man, body and soul
• With reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
• With reference to sex, a male
• Indefinitely, someone, a man, one
• In the plural, people
• Joined with other words, merchantman

That's too much information. I think the red information, however, is what I am looking for in this Greek definition. Put away your corrupt self and follow God. And what is the corrupt self? It is the part of man that is controlled by your deceitful desires. So, my old self is my desires of my flesh. That's what it is. The King James Version says deceitful lusts. But before I dig even further from other translations, here is what the Greek has to say:

Deceitful (noun)
apatē (Pronounced: ap-at'-ay)

• Delusion: deceit (deceitful, deceitfulness), deceivableness (deceiving).
• Deceit, deceitfulness

Desires (noun)
epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah)

• A longing (especially for what is forbidden): concupiscence, desire, lust (after).
• Desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust

Concupiscence (noun):

• Sexual desire; lust.
• Ardent, usually sensuous, longing.
• A strong desire, especially sexual desire; lust.
• A desire for sexual intimacy.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your ancient nature, which is being corrupted by its delusional lusts. Johnny Out.

Thirteen - Edition #8

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This is a great little passage. Living Sacrifice, what is a living sacrifice? Just looking at the phrase implies a person who is living for dying. It gives a feeling of someone who lives a life for not today or of this world, but with thoughts of what the afterlife will bring.

To put it into comparison, what is a life on earth of 80 years compared to 20,000 years in heaven with God? There really is no comparison when you look at it like that... but, I still feel the need to check out the Greek.

Actually, the Greek has living sacrifices as two words. I was thinking in the Greek it might have been just one word.

Living (verb)

zaō (pronounced: dzah'-o)

• To live (literally or figuratively): life (lifetime), (alive) live (lively), quick.
• To live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
• To enjoy real life
• To have true life and worthy of the name
• Active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
• To live, i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting
• Of mortals or character
• Living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
• Metaphorically to be in full vigour
• To be fresh, strong, efficient
• As adjective active, powerful, efficacious

Now... for sacrifices.

Sacrifices (noun)
thusia (pronounced: thoo-see'-ah)

• Sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively): sacrifice.
• A sacrifice, victim

OK, this is going to take just a little more digging. I could be a living victim or a living sacrifice. But I like the concept of being a living victim.

Sacrifice (noun):

• The offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
• The person, animal, or thing so offered.
• The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
• The thing so surrendered or devoted.
• A loss incurred in selling something below its value.

Sacrifice (verb):

• To offer as a sacrifice to a deity.
• To forfeit (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value.
• To sell or give away at a loss.

OK, now to look at victim in the dictionary.

Victim (noun):

• An unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance.
• A person who is tricked or swindled.
• One who is harmed or killed by another.
• A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.
• One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition.
• A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking.
• A person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of.

So, here's my thought on all this... if I am to be a living sacrifice and a living victim, per se, then I am to be a person who is offering myself to my God daily, CONSTANTLY. I am to be a person who constantly taking a loss for the benefit of others. That may sound a little strange, but that is where the "victim" part comes in. Jesus was a victim at the hands of sinful men. He was sacrificed. And I am to immitate Christ. And if I am immitating Christ, then I am to be a victim of this world for the gain in the next.

I guess that is where the transforming comes in, when this attitude is attained. I guess to follow Christ, you have to be more than meets the eye. Post a comment if you get that one... anyway,

Transform (verb)
metamorphoō (pronounced: met-am-or-fo'-o)

• To transform (literally or figuratively "metamorphose"): change, transfigure, transform.
• To change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.
• Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration.

Looking at the Greek word "metamorphoo", it looks like metamorphasis. And when I here that, I think of a catapillar turning into a butterfly and a tadpole into a frog. Both go through a metamorphasis. And for me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, I have to go through a mind-change, which is a repenting of my old ways and turning to new ways, Biblical ways. Well, Johnny Out.

Parenting Workshop

This is the invitation for the Parenting Workshop. Since we have a 2 1/2 year old, we'll be attending "The Wonder Years". If you are interested in attending and have a particular concern with your child, send me an email and I can forward it to the proper party. Thanks.