May 21
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THOUGH YOU CAN’T SEE HIM, YOU LOVE HIM
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-9
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This is a powerful text that Peter writes to the believers in the Roman provinces. It is encouraging to hear Peter tell them not to be distressed by the trials and adversities that they are currently facing. But he reminds them of how precious the proof of their faith is because it is tested by such suffering. It helps them to endure and thus grow their faith. He wants them to focus their eyes on the result of such patient endurance. It brings praise, glory and honor to God.
In verse 8, Peter explains the concept of true faith. Even though they can’t see God they still love him. Humans are visual beings. It is hard to love someone you can’t see or hold. Faith makes loving someone you can’t see possible. Many people stopped believing God because their minds cannot fathom someone not visible to them. Our nature wants to understand something before we do it. That is why faith is not something we can do or achieve. It is a gift from God himself when he chose all those who belong to Him. Peter also explains here that faith leads to rejoicing and hope that is fully glorious.
I was raised by my mother and aunts because my father worked abroad. My father was always gone. If you sum up the number of years that I spent with him in my entire lifetime, it wouldn’t even add up to five years. Yet, I connected with him through letters, almost weekly if not daily since I was seven years old. We communicated our thoughts and ideas and feelings and I felt much closer to him than I was with those were physically around me. I had reassurance that my father loves me and that I can believe that one day, we will be reunited again. The absence didn’t change the way I love him. This is almost the same with our Father in heaven. We can continue to love him even though we don’t see him. If we continue to remember his promises and live in that knowledge, we can grow our faith.________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we continue to love the Lord our God even though we don’t see him?
Tag Archives: Christian blog
BY THE SPIRIT, BELIEVERS CAN OBEY CHRIST
May 20
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BY THE SPIRIT, BELIEVERS CAN OBEY CHRIST
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:1-5
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This letter is written by Peter, the apostle and is addressed to the believers who reside in Pontus, Galatian, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. He reminds these people that it was God himself who chose them in the beginning of time and by the work of the Spirit they are able to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter continues to ensure that they must obey Christ since the Holy Spirit has given them the ability to do so. He greets them with the grace and peace that comes from the Lord Jesus himself.
According to ESV Global study bible, this letter was written in A.D. 62–63 Peter, probably writing from Rome (called “Babylon” in 5:13. These places mentioned as the recipient of this letter are all believers in places referred to Roman provinces in Asia Minor, north of the Taurus Mountains.
Peter is addressing the believers so that they can never forget how to be grateful to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants them to remember that if God the Father has not chosen them, they will not be able to be born again and have that living hope through the resurrection of Christ. It was God’s great mercy that we are able to obtain the inheritance that is eternal, holy and will never die. Peter wants every believer to never forget that everything comes from God and every protection they will ever receive is also from him.
Peter warns the believers that we can never do anything for ourselves because it is God who has chosen us ahead of time so we must never boast about anything for all things come from our Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why should every believer always remember that we can do nothing because all things come from God?
PRAY LIKE ELIJAH AND LEAD OTHERS BACK INTO TRUTH ILMA’S VLOG
May 19
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PRAY LIKE ELIJAH AND LEAD OTHERS BACK INTO TRUTH
A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:16-20
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In these passages from the letter of James, he tackles two things: the importance of praying like Elijah. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of God who had the right heart. Because of his righteous life, he is able to pray powerful prayers. Elijah predicts a drought in 1 Kings 17:1-7 and then when Elijah prayed for rain, God sends him rain in verses 14-46. James gives the example of Elijah because this man prays with faith. How many Christians really pray with faith? Oftentimes, we pray like asking God to grant us something and yet not have that expectancy to be granted whatever we prayed for. Many of us get consumed by the desire to long for something and forget that it is in God’s preference that it be done. We need to be able to pray like Elijah did, never faltering, never doubting, but truly believing that the Lord will grant it. Earlier in his letter in chapter 4, James talks about not having something we desire because we haven’t asked and when we ask, we ask for pleasure.
James admonishes the believers to make sure that not anyone of them strays from truth which led someone to stray as well. Many people who have fallen out of faith was a result of witnessing someone who turned away from their own faith. James warns the believers to make sure that they are seeking truth all the time so that the enemy will not have a chance to entice them back to sin. If we are accountable to someone to make sure that we are growing in the faith, we must also strive to be responsible to grow our faith through suffering and endurance. He talks about this in the beginning of his first chapters.
On a positive note, in verse 20, James gives Christ’s promise of the consequence of leading back someone again to God: he is guaranteed salvation and a coverage of a multitude of his own sins. What a great result for those who lead the stray back into God’s fold! Wouldn’t you want to receive that promise yourself?
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REFLECTION
• Why is expectancy important when you pray?
PATIENT LIKE A FARMER ILMA’S VLOG
May 17
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PATIENT LIKE A FARMER
7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. – James 5:7-11
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In this letter, James talks about patience, as a fruit of the Spirit. He illustrates the importance of patience in a believer’s life by referring to a farmer. Farmers get up very early in the day to feed their animals, clean the barns and get their equipment or machineries ready to either till their grounds, sow, plant or harvest. Weather is one of the things that they work with on a daily basis. The success of their work is purely dependent on the weather. They have a vision and a rigorous schedule to follow, or they won’t have a product to feed either their family or merely to be sustainable or to have their farming businesses prosper and make a living out of it. My grandfather was both a farmer and a fisherman. I remember those summer vacations we spent with them and he shows me how to sow, plant and harvest. Getting the grounds ready for sowing takes a lot of work, but once you wait to watch how the seeds germinate, it is magical. This is probably why James uses farmers to illustrate patience and expectancy in this letter. He advises the believers to have the patience of a farmer and also to emulate their hope and expectancy.
In verse 9, he discusses about complaining and endurance. He cautions them from whining about their situations or suffering because when they do, they fail to grow in endurance. James gives Job as an example of someone who endured so much after all the disasters and losing his family has brought about. Without Job’s knowledge, it was God who allowed the devil to tempt this favorite of his. In fact, God was so sure of Job’s loyalty to him that is why he allowed the devil to tempt him. He didn’t falter during all those trials. Because he remained faithful to endure, all of this, God rewarded him a double portion of what he had lost.
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REFLECTION
• Why is patience such a challenging virtue in our world today?