Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
1 Peter 4
17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”
17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”
Commentary:
4:17–18 In the OT, household of God (lit., “house of God”) refers to the temple but now God’s people are his temple (see 2:4–10). “Judgment beginning with God’s house” alludes to Ezek. 9:1–6 and Mal. 3:1–4, where the Lord purifies his people. Judgment here is not punitive, however, but purifying and cleansing. The suffering of God’s people refines them (1 Pet. 1:6–7). what will be the outcome …? If the people of God need purifying, then surely the judgment of those who do not obey the gospel will be much more severe (cf. vv. 3–5). Peter reinforces this point by quoting Prov. 11:31 from the Septuagint (Greek OT). Scarcely saved does not mean that the righteous just barely receive salvation. “Scarcely” (Gk. molis, “with difficulty”) means that the righteous are saved in the midst of suffering; their salvation is not easy and simple.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2412.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2412.
Questions:
- Verses 17 and 18 speak of trials being a kind of judgment for both believers and nonbelievers, both now and when He returns. When Jesus comes back, He will judge both the living and the dead. On that day, He will separate the sheep from the goats. Jesus talked about this day, and said that there will be many who think they are good with God, think they have a relationship with Jesus, even ones who have done great things for the Kingdom, that will be on the wrong side of things. He will tell them to depart because He doesn't know them. Are you sure of which side you'll be on that day? Is there anyone in your life that you might suspect has convinced themselves they are good with God when they probably aren't? What can you do to start ministering to them?
- Personally, trials test our faith to make sure it's really legit. It also refines us, burning out our impurities so we look more and more like Jesus. Brandon shared this description of a silversmith on Sunday: "When silver is refined, the silversmith places the metal into a crucible and heats it until it melts. As it heats, the impurities—the things that don’t belong—rise to the surface, where they can be removed. The silversmith carefully watches the process, because the temperature must stay just right. Too cool, and the impurities stay mixed in; too hot, and the silver could be damaged. He knows the refining is complete when the silver becomes pure and smooth—clear enough to reflect an image like a mirror- where he could see a reflection of himself." How have you seen this process happen through trials in your own life?
Pray:
- That you would show the ones around you what it looks like to follow Jesus.
- That you would learn to embrace the refining fire.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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