Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “1 Peter 2

Stones in the Sanctuary


Marty—As the people of God assemble today, may each person realize the importance of, and see the value of their place as, a lively stone in the household of God. May they fit appropriately into the wall where the Lord God has set them and augment the local work and the other lively stones they have been set with.  (1Pe.2:5, Msg) “Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.”


Deliver Us From Evil

There was an intercessors meeting where I was asked to speak. I was talking about all the demonic activity and agendas being promoted in our culture and that it might be a good idea for us to look to Scripture and heed our Lord’s instruction in the Lord’s Prayer to ask our Heavenly Father to deliver us from evil. There was a known minister from the region in attendance and he spoke up and said that in that particular context (Matt.6:13), the original language isn’t referring to evil in general but to “the evil one” and we were delivered from him at the cross. (In that particular context it seemed as though he was implying that we are not supposed to pray to be delivered from evil.) And, believe it or not, I am actually aware of the truths stated by that gentleman. But, first of all, I still desire to continue to be delivered from the evil one (it appears these days that he is still quite active), his activities and his agenda in my generation and I desire the nearly-destroyed-by-evil people I minister to, to be delivered also. Then, when I further consider him and all that is quite apparently evil and devilish in the culture of this nation, I think the present condition of the world around us begs the question, “How many know that you don’t get the dog without his fleas?” There is not only an “evil one” but it is my belief that in Mk.5:9 where the man said, “My name is Legion, for we are many” we are shown that, though he was just one man, the “dog’s fleas” (more than one) had so infested him that he was tormented and terrorizing the region of the Gerasenes. That level of demonization and demonstrative display are not the only ways evil is manifested. Evil can function quite often in disguised, subtle and hidden ways, yet leave its disturbing, harassing residue over a wide area. I regularly pray for said deliverance from evil in society and regularly declare it over hurting people. I shall continue to pray for insight, wisdom and discernment for myself and others as we move forward in facing the challenges of evil and move forward in the purposes of the King of Kings as the powers of darkness continue to oppose the Kingdom of Light (Jn.3:19-20;Col.1:13;1Pe.2:9;1Thess.5:22).


The Never-Ending Warranty

MELISSA—God simply does not produce junk. He didn’t create humanity with only “one shot” to make it a good life, so “you better not mess up” or get sick in the process or “your life is over”. In fact, God Himself created the original warranty when Jesus took those stripes on His back (Isa. 53:5 &1Pe. 2:24). Yeah, that’s right, we have a never ending warranty on us, signed in blood. This warranty includes, “…all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2Pe. 1:3). We have in us what we need right now, at this moment in time, for ourselves AND for our nation. Dare I even say, for the world. We have it because we have a relationship with Jesus Christ which opens us up to be a floodgate of Heaven on earth. It’s only through relationship that we gain understanding of the covenant. It’s our relationship with the King of Kings that sharpens and broadens our vision to see the treasures and promises in His covenant.


Prophetic Lifestyle Opens Opportunities

Melissa — You are a representative of heaven during your lifetime. “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of lookintodistancedarkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, Amplified) The prophetic lifestyle opens opportunities, timing, and connections. Opportunities: having the ears to hear to be at the right place at the right time for yourself and others. Timing: none of us understand the timing of God because He is working on so many levels. It takes a prophetic lifestyle to see beyond the limited vision of our normal dimensions. It can keep you sane where timing is concerned. Connection: Brings lives together for God team-ups, projects, events, etc. We were never meant to do life alone (1 Corinthians 12:20-21). In this day and age, this way of life is a total necessity for the body of Christ. 


Insights to Impact

God is giving His people loving and creative insights into impacting people’s lives. People in this present culture are not wondering whether or not they will go to people talking2heaven or hell if they die, they are concerned whether they have a purpose and what they will do if they continue to have to deal with present moral and cultural challenges. God will speak to us about what He is concerned about in a person’s life while steering us away from pet peeves (religious pet peeves and pet peeves formed from our family paradigms) so that we can effectively impact them with His love and compassion.  “Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.” (1Pe 2:12,Msg)