Friday Devo
Scripture:
1 Peter 3
10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”
10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”
Commentary:
3:10–12 Peter draws on Ps. 34:12–16 (see note on 1 Pet. 2:3). To love life and see good days is the result of the “blessing” (3:9) of God in one’s life. Peter says this will come to the person who will keep his tongue from evil and who will turn away from evil and do good. Obedience to God in daily life is the path to experiencing God’s blessing (cf. Ps. 34:4–10), and by implication disobedience will lead to God’s discipline (cf. Ps. 34:16, 21; Heb. 12:4–11). Peter continues his quotation of Psalm 34: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous (to observe and care for them) and his ears are open to their prayer (for various needs and cares). This does not mean that God keeps obedient believers from suffering (cf. 1 Pet. 2:19–23; 3:14, 17; 4:12–19) but that God will provide his grace “to strengthen and establish” believers in the midst of suffering (5:10) and in times of great need (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9; Heb. 4:16).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2410.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2410.
Questions:
- The Lord is watching over those who do right. He is active and connected. He sees and hears and responds. And He turns His face against the evil doers. This all means if you do what is right, He'll bless you and will repay the evil done against you. He will fight your battles and make things right. Is there a situation in your life you need to entrust to Him? What battles are you insisting on fighting yourself?
- The big idea was that your WALK is your WITNESS. The world is watching how you live and how you treat people. What has God been speaking to you this week? What needs to change?
Pray:
- That you would learn to let God fight your battles.
- That you would live a life that shows the world you belong to Jesus.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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