King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Living The Christian Life
Date: Saturday December 17, 2011
Chapters: I Peter 1-2
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version, words in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 7:15-21.

If you were to ask anyone who Jesus is, most will tell you that He is God's Son, a prophet, or has something to do with God. Of course, Jesus is the Son of God, the great prophet, and God Himself. However, me knowing this is not what is saving me from being cast into the fire, it is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ Himself that is saving me, meaning that I believe that Jesus died, was buried, and arose three days later to pay the price for my sins, I accept that He is the only one who can save me from hell, and I have asked Him to save me. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -Romans 10:13.

While our behavior can be a sign that we are Christians, it really does not indicate that we are, in fact, saved, born again Christians. There are many who say they are Christians, even pastors and teachers, they talk about Jesus and what He has done, but deep down they do not believe nor have received Christ as their Savior (example Judas Iscariot). Their objective, to exalt themselves, to make themselves at the level of God, to promote a worldly lifestyle, and to make lots of money off of people who want God in their lives and the world.

The Book of I Peter is the twenty-first book of the New Testament, the sixtieth book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) is Peter and it was written around 60AD to exiles who were being persecuted for their Christian faith. The purpose of the letter was to warn them of the persecution they would face from those outside of the Church and how to handle those situations. What we are to learn from the book is that walking with Christ will enable us to suffer godly persecution patiently, joyously and to the glory of God. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

As Christians, to live a joyous Christian life, it is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, repent from living in sin, live a godly, holy life, love one another as Christ, and that we lead the lost to Christ. This is God's will for us, even our sanctification, it's what truly separates us from the world and sends the blessings from God while here on earth. While it's not our works that save us nor keep us saved, it is living in God's will that brings others to a personal relationship with Christ. That's what it is all about, seeking and saving lost souls. Of all the apostles, Peter was probably the most recognized, he was not perfect, he had his bouts with his faith, yet, he lead the way for thousands to be saved during Pentecost, and traveled all over the world leading both Jews and Gentiles to Christ. In his first letter, Peter states to those who are saved that the persecution they are facing is God's will for them. Why? To be ready for the day they see Christ face to face.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - I Peter 1:3-7.

The true Christian’s hope of eternal life and a glorious inheritance through the precious sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, is a hope that enables them to be tried with praise and honor to God, knowing that the trials of their faith will strengthen them, bring them closer to God, and bless them. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” -Romans 5:3-5.

The closer I get to Christ the more I see how wretched I am and wonder why I have been blessed to even be accepted as one of God's children, let alone be able to serve Him. I know that I am not perfect, I never will be, no one ever will be, but we are being perfected as we grow closer to Christ and become more like Him. I know people grow at different levels of their Christianity and depending on their surroundings they grow more quickly than others, but all who are saved should give some kind of indication that they saved by their actions. We have been saved, redeemed from the sins that would send us straight to hell, by the only perfect man, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us to give life to us. How hard is it to show our appreciation to Him by living a or working at living a godly life. Peter reminds us of this.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” - I Peter 1:13-19.

We must choose Christ or the world, we cannot have both, all it does is create more trials, unnecessary sufferings, and discontentment in our relationship with God, perhaps even walking away from God altogether. There truly is no better life than one with Christ in it, I have faced many trials without Christ even before I chose to live my life for Christ after I got saved, and all they did was dig me deeper into the pit I dug myself into. I never want to go through the stress, pain, depression, and illness that I suffered because I tried to bring God in my life rather than go to His. Peter stressed the importance of separating ourselves from the world.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”- I Peter 2:11-16.

We might think that we are missing something by choosing to live a godly life, but the truth is the more you do to life for Christ the less you miss the things you use to do. I talked with an old boy friend that I have not seen for a long time and after talking to him for a while I was glad that God separated us. I do not want that life anymore, I wasn't happy in it in the first place. Can any person who lives a wicked, immoral life truly say that they enjoy it? Oh, they enjoy satisfying the flesh, but what happens after they get their fix. Just like any drug, once it wears off, they cannot face themselves and search for more wickedness to hide the guilt. All they need is Jesus and they can remove all the guilt and shame. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -I John 1:9.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, Your mercy and grace is so great that I will never understand why You chose me to be one of Yours. As much as I want to live in Your will I know that I am going to mess it up sometimes, but I know that Your grace is sufficient enough to get me back into it. Lord, let me not fall into the temptations that seem to come around every day to hinder my relationship with You. Keep me reminded of the life that You took me out of and the miraculous, blessed life I now life with You in it so that I can be both a testimony and a witness of a joyful life with You as my Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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