Sow to Yourselves Righteousness

Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.Hosea 10:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) Hidden gems abound in the writings of the prophets. This is one of my favorites. In …

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He is Just

This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be …

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Suffering as a Privilege

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ’s sufferings, so that you may rejoice and be glad also in the revelation of His glory.1 Peter 4:12–13 — Modern English …

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Live Honorably Even When Your Beliefs are Called Evil

Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.1 Peter 2:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) Though this was written to Jewish believers, it stands with very …

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The Patient Suffering

Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,1 Peter 4:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) Therefore. Peter is using all he has written before. That is, what Jesus …

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Live Like Jesus

Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?1 Peter 3:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) This is a rhetorical question. One that Peter asks knowing the obvious answer. For us believers, as the previous citation of Psalms 34 teaches--the eyes of the Lord …

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Live as Servants of God

Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees, abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.1 Peter 2:11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) Now comes the practical application again. This echoes Peter's introduction to this epistle where he calls his audience pilgrims or refugees. We are …

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It’s Time to Take in Jesus and Put Away the Former Things

Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.1 Peter 2:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014) Because of all the things Peter addresses previously, we ought willfully live differently. That means putting away the former things we did by habit. That different way of living would …

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Guard your Minds

Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children do not conduct yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as He who has called you is holy, so be holy in …

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Those Who are Sanctified are All of One

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that should come to you have inquired and searched diligently, seeking the events and time the Spirit of Christ, who was within them, signified when He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not …

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