Today, I am sitting in my room and the sunshine is streaming through the window, highlighting the folds of my blanket and the mess i have created. Yesterday was a rough day with pain and i should go back and reread what i posted yesterday. Haha.
Here’s what I am learning over and over again, the time I spend reading the Bible gives God more opportunities to speak, to guide and to steer this little boat. The time spent watching videos or tv or whatever, does not have the same redemptive value.
Why do I do it? Why do I waste time? Maybe a root here is the way I can distract my mind and think about something else. Yet, when I think of the beauty of my time in the word as compared to watching a video of a dog or a whale or…fill in the blank, there really is no comparison. It’s really time for me to take some steps to limit my time.
Something I tried while listening the word of God was type out notes from the reading. things i wanted to remember and I do! A friend recommended that to me and I want to do more of that today. If I shared the notes with you they would make no sense, but to me, it helped my retention.
Today’s passage in 1 Peter 1, the Lord is showing me more on how to think about suffering. As I mentioned yesterday, in Acts 5, the disciples left the Pharisees after being beaten and “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.”Acts 5:41 HCSB
I want to get this and understand this! You should see me as I am typing, I am gesturing. I am frowning. Full body experience.
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:3-7 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1pe.1.3-7.AMP
So much here! First, we bless the Lord. We praise Him for his abundant and boundless mercy. I thank you that I am born again, I am transformed, renewed and set apart of His purpose.What a gift. What a Savior. I am born anew into a living hope and confidant assurance. Guys, just think about that. What part do we play so far? Blessing the Lord, he has done the rest! The the bodily resurrection from the dead, so it’s been a few years, but i think as a kid, I always thought about Jesus returning, of course, but in my mind, I didn’t think through the fact, this was Jesus’ flesh and blood body visiting Mary. There was no ethereal, ghostly component, which is why he tells the disciples to touch the wounds, watch him eat. I guess when I was younger, I never really thought that through. The power over the grave. Ponder that power.
Now remember that we are each “guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation..”1 Peter 1:5 If we suffer for a short time, our faith is proven through this. Our faith, more valuable than gold, is refined by fire. So this suffering today? We are being refined. We are being taught. And the more time I spend in the word, the more I learn this. God brings to mind.
Peace and love, friends. If you have any other ways to help with retention of the word, I would love to hear it!
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