Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
1 Peter 1
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”
Commentary:
1:17 Father who judges impartially may refer only to the final judgment, when believers will be judged according to their deeds (cf. Rom. 2:6, 16; 2 Cor. 5:10). More likely, Peter has in mind both this present life and the last day as well. God is not only the Father of his people but also their judge. Fear is not a paralyzing terror but a fear of God’s discipline and fatherly displeasure; it is a reverence and awe that should characterize the lives of believers during their exile (cf. 1 Pet. 1:1) on this earth.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2406.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2406.
Questions:
- In verse 17, Peter gives us a little motivation for WHY we are to think and live in a holy way; it's because Jesus is coming back, and we will all be judged according to what we've done. This should give us a little holy FEAR. Did your mom ever say, "Just wait til your father gets home!"? That will strike fear into a rebellious child ! This is what Peter is reminding us of. We are merely temporary residents in this world, and one day all of this will be gone and we will stand, alone, before the throne to be judge for how we lived in this life. Yes God is loving and kind and merciful and good. But he's also infinitely righteous, holy and just. Are you guilty of treating God casually, without the proper fear, awe and respect?
- We are all occasionally guilty of treating God too casually. Peter is reminding us we should be living in a way that is motivated by fear of His fatherly discipline. The writer of Hebrews says we should worship God with holy FEAR and AWE, because "our God is a devouring fire." How might your life look differently if you lived with a holy fear of God?
Pray:
- That we would develop a healthy fear of God.
- That we would learn to worship him with holy fear and awe.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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