For "[w]hoever desires to love life and see good days...let him turn away from evil and do good[.]

1 Peter 3

For "[w]hoever desires to love life and see good days...let him turn away from evil and do good[.] 1 Peter 3:10-11

 

 For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at 1 Peter 3:10-11 and how Peter gives hope to believers to obey hard commands.  John Piper starts the devotion by explaining how "[t]here is only one basic reason why we disobey the commands of Jesus: it’s because we don’t have heartfelt confidence that obeying will bring more blessing than disobeying. We do not hope fully in God’s promise."  Piper then highlights from the text today - in its broader context - how we are commanded to avoid vengeance - the natural inclination to seek harm from those who harm us.  Peter's hope reminds us of the blessing realized from the promise of obedience.  Piper provides Mark 10:29-30 as another text where the blessing (a hundredfold!) is realized despite loss of family and property.  Piper wraps the devotion by sharing: "[t]he only way to have the power to follow Christ in the costly way of love is to be filled with hope, with strong confidence that, if we lose our life doing his will, we will find it again and be richly rewarded forever."  Be encouraged and have confidence that obedience produces blessings!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and Your promises always come true - including that I will be blessed by following You regardless of the cost.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love you with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

 Daniel 1

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. v20

I am excited to start my reading in the book of Daniel, which is the last of the books of the major prophets.

Daniel is taken captive in Babylonia, and much like Joseph, he is a man of integrity and a man that desires to obey God and follow His will, regardless of the circumstances.  In fact, it is the difficulty of the circumstances that allows God's light to be seen. 

The early church in Thessalonica is another example and encouragement for how all believers can find joy in suffering and therefore be a light to draw others to Him.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia— your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

See also posts on joy in suffering.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are!  I love You and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.