The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 4:3-5,
"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
Peter reminds his readers that, as they are now members of the kingdom, it should be expressed in their lifestyles. He points out that at one time, before they came to know the Lord, they were given to a worldliness as expressed in things like "debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."
These believers that Peter speaks to had earlier lived among the pagans and engaged in the same things their fellow cohorts engaged in. They became members of the Lord's kingdom by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. As they did so, the change in the direction for them was a turn to Jesus Christ which necessarily brought a turn from worldliness. This is the very definition of repentance. It is then inconsistent for a believer to live a lifestyle that doesn't reflect his new life in Jesus Christ.
Paul provides a similar admonition, In Romans 12:2 he says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Later, in Romans 13:11b-14, he goes on to say, "The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."
Peter says those of the world who live consistent with their sinful nature will have to give an account of themselves to God. I am reminded of the sobering reality the writer of Hebrews points out, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.
The wonderful thing for us is that we will not have to pay the penalty for those things as we are forgiven of them! Now that those things are forgiven by God, they now need to be forsaken by us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
Peter reminds his readers that, as they are now members of the kingdom, it should be expressed in their lifestyles. He points out that at one time, before they came to know the Lord, they were given to a worldliness as expressed in things like "debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."
These believers that Peter speaks to had earlier lived among the pagans and engaged in the same things their fellow cohorts engaged in. They became members of the Lord's kingdom by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. As they did so, the change in the direction for them was a turn to Jesus Christ which necessarily brought a turn from worldliness. This is the very definition of repentance. It is then inconsistent for a believer to live a lifestyle that doesn't reflect his new life in Jesus Christ.
Paul provides a similar admonition, In Romans 12:2 he says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Later, in Romans 13:11b-14, he goes on to say, "The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."
Peter says those of the world who live consistent with their sinful nature will have to give an account of themselves to God. I am reminded of the sobering reality the writer of Hebrews points out, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.
The wonderful thing for us is that we will not have to pay the penalty for those things as we are forgiven of them! Now that those things are forgiven by God, they now need to be forsaken by us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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