Live Love 2.0
Question of the day. What are you missing or needing most in this crazy time?
This has been an incredibly busy week for me. Henry Johnson married on Thursday at our church and Chris and I were there helping to make sure everything went as planned. It was a very small "Covid" wedding complete with face masks etc. It was a lot of fun, but so good to be doing something around other people.
We also have our niece and nephew here with us this weekend. They came in on Wednesday. Their mom is a nurse and dad is a cop working 12 hour shifts every night, trying to help keep the peace in Richmond VA. So the parents needed help with childcare this weekend.
That has also been a joy.
Today's lesson may be very short...
I am hoping to get back to my family soon.
READ: 1 Peter 4:1-6
First the NIV
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 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. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Second the Message
Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
3-5 You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.
6 Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.
I am not going to write out all the questions etc. here. I hope you can join us on the zoom call. I will here just write a conclusion to the lesson. I hope you spend sometime doing your own study on this passage. See you in class!
My conclusion:
Because of what Christ has done for us we are free to live a very different life! No matter how strong the pull is into the former life, no matter even much "pleasure" we have received in that old life, the NEW life even with it's sorrow and suffering is so much more! It is where real living is!
It may be easy for us to read these passages and not think of ourselves, but of those who are still in a world full of partying and craziness. We may think of others who have been deep in a life of obvious sinning. This passage though is for you and me today!!!! What suffering is in your life... remember that He suffered so much for you! He gave it all up for you so that even in your suffering you can know that he has been there with and for you! What in your life is God asking you to give up? We don't need to explain to the world why we are giving up certain things, just be willing to do it because living a life for Christ is always the better more fulfilling way.
Whatever He is calling you to it is far better, far better than your former life, even if it means giving up some relationships. With Christ there is so much more available to us, so much more joy, so much more LIFE! So let's keep living for him!
I am not going to write out all the questions etc. here. I hope you can join us on the zoom call. I will here just write a conclusion to the lesson. I hope you spend sometime doing your own study on this passage. See you in class!
My conclusion:
Because of what Christ has done for us we are free to live a very different life! No matter how strong the pull is into the former life, no matter even much "pleasure" we have received in that old life, the NEW life even with it's sorrow and suffering is so much more! It is where real living is!
It may be easy for us to read these passages and not think of ourselves, but of those who are still in a world full of partying and craziness. We may think of others who have been deep in a life of obvious sinning. This passage though is for you and me today!!!! What suffering is in your life... remember that He suffered so much for you! He gave it all up for you so that even in your suffering you can know that he has been there with and for you! What in your life is God asking you to give up? We don't need to explain to the world why we are giving up certain things, just be willing to do it because living a life for Christ is always the better more fulfilling way.
Whatever He is calling you to it is far better, far better than your former life, even if it means giving up some relationships. With Christ there is so much more available to us, so much more joy, so much more LIFE! So let's keep living for him!
Comments
Post a Comment