Are You Ready to Face the Judgment?

What are you living for? Are you ready to face the judgment? Time's up!

Our Scripture reading today is 1 Peter 4:1-19. I'm telling you, Peter packs a powerful punch!

Are you living for evil, human desires, or are you living for the will of God? There's no gray answer here; it's pretty black and white. Either you are living for God, or you are living for yourself. You are chasing your own dreams, or you are chasing God's purpose for your life. Actually, I don't know why we waste our time dancing around answering this question. It's pretty clear based on how you talk. Your mouth is full of praise and thanksgiving and seeking after God, or it's not. Period.

If you are still doing what pagans do, then your time is up. God says enough is enough, and very soon you will have to give an account of your actions as you stand before His throne in judgment. Are you ready for that day? What if you had to face Him right now, this very moment? If you have any doubt that God means business when it comes to judging your sin, do a Bible search of these words: judge, judgment, justice, justified. The Bible speaks of God's judgment from Genesis to Revelation.

One of the biggest complaints our world has against Christianity is that we are too judgmental. I've lost count of how many times people have said they don't come to church because they don't want to be judged. Wake up! Your enemy, the devil, has blinded you and convinced you to run from God's judgment here on earth. Stop running! If you willingly confess your sin now, Jesus will forgive you and wipe your slate clean. Satan knows this. If he convinces you to resist God's grace now, the devil wins your soul for eternity. Face your judge now while there is still time to come clean. If you wait to bow at the throne of judgment, you have no hope. Confess your sin now and receive eternal life! The only people who need to fear God's judgment are those who keep running away from Him. Come to God and find grace and forgiveness.

Peter teaches us that the end of time on earth is near, and he gives us very clear instructions.

• Be clear minded and self-controlled
• Pray
• Love each other deeply
• Offer hospitality
• Stop grumbling
• Serve others with God's grace
• Praise God and give Him glory

Be done with sin. Revere God. Judgment begins with the family of God (4:17) Are you ready?

Hope Changes Everything!

Ya'll, I don't know about you, but I need me some hope! God bless you people who watch the daily news. I can't do it. It makes me too depressed. If I believe the mainstream media, or social media, I lose all hope.

Almost everyone I know is facing some sort of struggle. In the past two days, I have been made aware of at least six families who need a miracle. They need clothes, food, shelter, transportation, and health care. They need hope. It is overwhelming, and I feel powerless to help because the needs are so great. I need hope!

So, I opened God's Word, and I found hope in the book of 1 Peter Chapter 1. We can praise God for His mercy, which fills us with a living hope (1:3). We can set our hope on the grace to be given us when Christ is revealed (1:13). Our faith and hope are in God (1:21).

Our hope cannot be in the material wealth of this world. Even gold will perish in a fire (1:7). Our hope cannot be in people, because they will disappoint us and disappear when we need them the most (1:24). Our hope cannot be in our own good works, because even when we try to obey God's Word, our evil desires get the best of us (1:14).

Our hope is in our heavenly inheritance (1:4).  Even when we suffer grief in all kinds of trials (1:6), we can have hope. Even though we cannot see Christ, we love Him. We believe Him. We are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy (1:8). Our goal, our hope, is in the salvation of our souls (1:9). Now, that's the kind of hope I've been looking for!

How Blessed Are You?

What does it mean to be blessed by God, to be chosen by Him to serve in the Kingdom? Peter addressed his letter to God's elect. What does that mean?

In American culture, we somehow equate prosperity with spiritual blessing. We look at our beautiful homes, campers, boats, motorcycles, sports cars, lawn tractors, gym memberships, and 2.4 children, and we say, "I am SO blessed!" Our intentions are good. In our western, Christian worldview, we are making an honest attempt to recognize that all we have is good, and we recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. (James 1:17)

However, at the same time, we make a subconscious judgment of anyone we consider to be less wealthy than we are, and we deem them "less blessed," or even "judged by God." Come on now, we have to admit that deep down we live as though we are blessed because of our works. We may not say it out loud, but we judge others and think, "If only they would work harder.... If only they would serve God, then they could live the blessed life I'm living."

Our theology is wrong when it is not applicable around the world. Would you say to an Iraqi Christian who is running for her life to escape persecution, "If you would just give glory to God, He could rescue you and bless you with a boat and a camper"? The book of 1 Peter is addressed to people who were exiled because of their faith in Christ. They gave up their homes, businesses, land, and families to follow Christ. Peter deemed them God's elect and called them chosen and blessed because of their obedience. They were persecuted and scattered, but they had grace and peace in abundance. God knew in advance the hardships they would endure, and He chose them specifically for His service. They were blessed.

I urge you to pray for the persecuted church of our day. Pray they will know that God is near them. Pray they will stand firm and be obedient to God's call. Pray that God's grace and peace will surround them. Pray for their strength as they press on toward their heavenly prize. Pray for yourself that you could have even a mustard seed of faith.

Learn more about the persecuted church at persecution.com
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