DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MY ONLY DEFENSE

 MY ONLY DEFENSE
I Peter 3:15-16
　
"... And always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed."
 
The Greek work translated "defense" is apologia, from which we get the words apology or apologetics. (The discipline of Apologetics is the reasoned argument in justification of an action or belief, not something to apologize for.) The only defense of my faith is that Jesus died and rose again for my salvation. He is my hope, not my goodness. My hope of eternal life is not based in pride of how good I am, but in humility and fear of God. I have nothing to add to what Christ has done. However, the boldness of my witness is affected by my conscience. If I am consciously living in sin, it hinders my ability to speak of a Savior who saves from sin. Living a godly life may cause sinners to be ashamed and cause them to ask about my faith. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16). I am sometimes ashamed of the way I live.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The only justification for my faith is that Jesus died and rose again.
 
[end]
 
Have a good-conscience day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME

 QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME
I Peter 3:13-14
 
"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled."
 
Question: "What kind of person would repay your goodness with evil?" Answer: The godless sinner. Peter acknowledges that sometimes the reward for doing good is suffering. We have examples in the good old USA of people who are going to jail for their righteous deeds because there are ungodly people – inspired by their father Satan – who do not like God's way. So I can expect to pay a price for pleasing God. But I need not be afraid of them because I will receive God's blessing, which is better than praise from the world-system.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's blessing for doing what is good outweighs the abuse by ungodly people.
 
[end]
 
Have a God-pleasing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GOOD LIFE

 PURSUIT OF THE GOOD LIFE
I Peter 3:10-12
 
"For 'He would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.' "
 
Ahhh, the good life!!!! We all want it. Contrary to common opinion, the good life is not marked by financial security and a life of easy, or as our founding fathers said,  the "pursuit of happiness."  Rather, it is a life of peace. Peace does not just happen; it is the result of intentional pursuit – the striving to live pleasing to God. When I pursue God's way, He sees me and listens to my prayers, and I can rest in peace with that.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The "good life" is the result of living at peace with God.
 
[end]
 
Have a "good life." Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HARMONIOUS LIVING

 HARMONIOUS LIVING
I Peter 3:8-9
 
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this that you may inherit a blessing.
 
Here are some common sense practices that promote good relationship.
1. Of the same mind – agreeing, but sometimes agreeing to disagree agreeably.
2. Compassionate – sumpathic (sympathetic) – encompassing a suffering person by wrapping your arms around them.
3. Loving – philadelphos -- living as a family, united by a mutual Father.
4. Tenderheartedness – having a tender spirit.
5. Courteous – gracious words and deeds,  the oil that reduces friction.
6. Not reviling but blessing – absorbing the blows of mistreatment with grace.
When these attitudes and actions are present, relationships runs smoother and life is better.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Life is better where harmony prevails.
 
Have a harmonious day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HUSBANDS

HUSBANDS
I Peter 3:7
 
"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
 
Learning to understand how a woman ticks is a lifelong educational experience. Knowing how a woman functions – physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually – takes effort. It begins with the understanding that men and women are different, that we are both weak and infected by sin, and that we are only saved by grace. This is so important because it impacts my relationship with God. When there is disharmony and disruption in the marital relationship, it affects my communion with God. I'm so glad that God understands me intimately, and deals with me with grace as a weak vessel. I must admit that I am still in elementary school in this area and have a lot to learn.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The relationship between husbands and wives affects their relationship with God.
 
[end]
 
Have an understanding day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RELEASING THE STEERING WHEEL

 RELEASING THE STEERING WHEEL
I Peter 3:5-6
 
"For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror."
 
The essence of submission is relinquishing control. It is so tempting for wives – and husbands – to want to control everything and do it their way. We are afraid that things won't be done right so we grab the steering wheel. I think the key words are not submission and fear, but "trust in God." Trusting God to work things out according to His divine way and time is the basis of submission. When I trust Him, I can do what is good and right without fear that there will be a disastrous wreck. As the Psalmist said, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). There is a place of rest when I submit my life to God and turn the steering wheel over to Him, even when things seem out of my control. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). "Therefore submit to God" (James 4:7).   This is not always easy, but it is the way to peace. 
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Submission to earthly authority is grounded in submitting to God, the highest authority.
 
[end]
 
Have a trusting day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- INNER BEAUTY

 INNER BEAUTY
I Peter 3:3-4
 
"Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."
 
The TV series, "Extreme Makeover," turned plain Janes into beauty queens. It is amazing what beauticians, new clothes, and jewelry can do to the outward appearance.  However these things can do nothing to make the spirit beautiful.  It is not wrong to care about my appearance, but it will fade.  Inner beauty will remain.  God is not impressed with my outward beauty, but He is pleased with the "hidden beauty of the heart." So that is where my emphasis should be – to develop a gentle and quiet spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Inward beauty is more precious than outward beauty.
 
[end]
 
Have a "beautiful" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WITNESS WITHOUT WORDS

 WITNESS WITHOUT WORDS
I Peter 3:1-2
 
"Likewise wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."
 
Peter had said to be submissive to the civil authorities (2:13-14), to bosses in the workplace (2:18), and here is addresses the home. God has ordained authority and government to keep order in society. As in the civil arena and in the work place, violating this rule in the home brings chaos and confusion. God's plan for the home is the man as the leader, with the wife in submission.  Peter says that if the wife wants to influence her husband, it should be  with "fear," that is respect and honor.   Her influence on her husband comes more from how she lives than what she says. I think this rule applies to all witnessing. Jesus said we would be witnesses – not do witnessing (Acts 1:8). There is a place for words, but if they are not backed up by my life and an attitude of respect, then they become nagging, like water dripping from a faucet (Proverbs 19:13). Sometimes it is better to witness without words.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Living a godly life gives power to the words I speak.
 
[end]
 
Have a being day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HE TOOK MY PLACE

HE TOOK MY PLACE
I Peter 2:24-25
 
"...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
 
What a marvelous wonder! The Great Shepherd gave up His own life for the sheep who had strayed. He, the Shepherd, was also the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for the sins of the world when He died on the tree (John 1:29). And not just for the world, but for me. Peter echoed Isaiah when he wrote, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). What a wonderful Shepherd!!!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus, the Great Shepherd, was also the Lamb of God Who bore the penalty of sins for the whole world.
 
[end]
 
Have a thankful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COMMITTING TO GOD

 COMMITTING TO GOD
I Peter 2:20-21
 
"For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps..."
 
It is one thing to pay the penalty for my misconduct. There is no great praise for me when I suffer the consequence for my wrongdoing. I earned it by my foolishness. But when I suffer for charges that are not true, this is praiseworthy. Jesus gave us the supreme example of undeserved suffering. He, Who was completely innocent, endured tremendous suffering at the hands of cruel men without reviling them or threatening them with retaliation. What was His secret? He committed Himself to God, the righteous judge, Who sorts everything out and justifies the innocent (vss. 22-23). When I am faced with false accusations and mistreatment for righteous living, the only proper response is to commit it to God and let Him defend me.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When faced with unjust treatment, the proper response is to not retaliate but to commit it to God.
 
[end]
 
Have a committed day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COMMENDABLE TO GOD

 COMMENDABLE TO GOD
I Peter 2:18-19
　
"Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully."
 
To my natural mind, there seems to be something wrong with this picture. It is bad enough when I have to pay the price for doing wrong. But to keep a good spirit when I am wrongfully accused or mistreated by someone just because they are mean just doesn't seem right. I want to fight back at the injustice, defend my ego, and protect my reputation. I have to remember that God keeps score, and above all, I want to be commendable and pleasing to Him. Lord Jesus, help me to not retaliate when I suffer wrongfully, but to endure it with a good spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God is pleased when His children commit their mistreatment to Him.
 
[end]
 
Have a commendable day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- VALUING PEOPLE

 VALUING PEOPLE
I Peter 2:17
 
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
 
This verse is a challenge for me. I get the love of the brotherhood and the fear of God. But "honor all people and honor the king?" That is difficult. The Greek word translated "honor" is timao, and means to esteem or place value on something. (Sidenote: the name Timothy is a combination of time and theos – honoring God or honored by God.) I find it hard to esteem and value some people, like the indigent people who sponge off of others, or ungodly politicians. I don't need to esteem everything they do, but I have to understand that they have value as people whom God loves. Lord Jesus, help me to see people as You see them, as people You value and love.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We are called to value all people as God values them.
 
[end]
 
Have an honoring day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOOD LIVING

 GOOD LIVING
I Peter 2:15-16
 
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to shame the ignorance of foolish men – as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God."
 
God's grace is great, and covers a multitude of sin. But the freedom of grace is not a convenient excuse or cover for me to do what is wrong. Vice is anything bad and is translated as evil, maliciousness, wickedness, and naughtiness. When I do evil, no matter how innocuous or justified it may seem, I give the critics of the Gospel ammunition to attack. Good works disarm their guns by showing their ignorance and foolishness. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify" (I Corinthians 10:23). The parameters of Christian living is "what is helpful and what edifies," and not "how much can get by with and still be a Christian." Pleasing my Master should be my motivation. It is not just my reputation that is at stake, but God's honor.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Good deeds should mark the Christian's life to diffuse the attacks of the critics of the Gospel.
 
[end]
 
Have a "good living" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE

 THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE
I Peter 2:13-14
 
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."
 
This is a challenging verse. Do we obey man or God? The God-follower is caught between these two opposing allegiances – to the laws of the world-system or to the heavenly kingdom. As citizens of God's kingdom, we are bound to its laws, but we are also subject to the laws of the state. Peter understood this conflict from personal experience. In the early days of the movement, the Apostles were commanded by the authorities to not preach in the name of Jesus. When called before these rulers, Peter said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). When they persisted in disobeying the worldly laws, they were arrested again, and Peter answered, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), and they were beaten for their disobedience of man's law (Acts 5:40). Martyrs through the centuries have faced this challenge, and paid the price for their allegiance to God. Even in America today, people are being persecuted and paying the price for rejecting man's ordinances, "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God...esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches" (Hebrews 25:26). We are obligated to submit to the laws of the land, but when those laws conflict with God's laws, we are bound to the higher law.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Obedience to God's law takes precedence over the ordinances of this world.
 
[end]
 
Have an obedient day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIMS

 PILGRIMS
I Peter 2:11-12
 
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, that they may, by your good works which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation."
 
It is so easy to forget that I am a pilgrim just passing through this world. I don't belong to this world system. I am a citizen of another Kingdom which is at war with the kingdom of this world. The subjects of this world will mock, criticize, denigrate, and speak evil of me when I don't live by their code. But it is better to live honorably before my King than to please this world. Some day Jesus will come and hold court. My good works will be introduced as evidence for the unbelievers to see, and they will confess that God's way is best. In the meantime, my job is to please the King and not this world.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: People may reject godly living now, but some day they will see how it glorifies God.

[end]
 
Have a pilgrim day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A TREASURED POSSESSION

 A TREASURED POSSESSION
I Peter 2:9-10
 
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praise of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who were not a people, but now are the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
 
The Church, composed of individuals who have obtained mercy, is a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). In the Old Testament, the Israelites were God's special chosen people to demonstrate His love and power to the rest of the world. They were "a holy people to the LORD ... chosen to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2; Exodus 19:5). He chose them, not because they were anything great, but because He loved them (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). In this era, we are God's special beloved treasure, purchased at a great price, like a slave who is bought and thus belongs to the new owner. We are God's purchased possession – His treasure – bought with the precious blood of Christ, to bring glory to Him. Now I belong to Jesus.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Church is God's special treasure, created to show His glory.
 
[end]
 
Have a "treasured" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PRECIOUS

 PRECIOUS
II Peter 2:6-8
 
"Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.' Therefore to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,' and 'a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.' They stumble, being disobedient to the word to which they also were appointed."
 
This word, "precious," was one of Peter's favorite words.  It speaks of great value.  He spoke of our precious faith (I Peter 1:7; II Peter 1:1), a Savior who shed His precious blood (I Peter 1:19) who gives precious promises (II Peter 1:4), and is the precious cornerstone of our faith (I Peter 2:4, 6, 7). To those who believe, He is indeed precious. I have always loved this verse. My Savior is very precious to me. To those who reject Him, He is a stumbling block – a stone on the road of life to be trodden and trampled underfoot. They take His name in vain and treat Him as nothing, of no greater respect, honor or value than Mohammed or George Washington. But Jesus is very precious to me. As the old song goes, "O He is so precious to me; 'tis heaven below my redeemer to know, for He is so precious to me." I love Him.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Lord Jesus is precious and deserves all the honor, respect, worship, and love we can give Him.
 
[end]
 
Have a "precious" day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ACCEPTABLE TO GOD

ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
I Peter 2:4-5
 
"Coming to Him as a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
 
I need to keep this in focus: my goal is not to be accepted by people, but to be acceptable to God. Because God is building my life to be pleasing to Him, I may be rejected by society which operates by a different criteria for what is good. So why do I spend so much energy trying to be accepted by the world?  Which is more important: to be accepted by God or to be accepted by this world? I need to keep Romans 12:1-2 fresh in my mindset. I am called to present myself as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God instead of being conformed to this world, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Thank you Jesus for making me acceptable to the Father.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE:  A life that pleases God may be rejected by the world.
 
[end]
 
Have an "accepted" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COORDINATED COLORS

 COORDINATED COLORS
I Peter 2:1-3
 
"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
 
God is gracious with newborn believers as they grow into maturity. When children dress themselves, they are not very savvy about the coordination of colors. So they may choose to wear orange and blue together. As they mature, they understand that these colors clash and they lay them aside and choose other colors that match. Newborn believers may not understand that there are some things that do not coordinate with their Christian life, but as they drink in the word, they grow in their understanding of what fits. It is shocking when we see Christians who have tasted of the Lord for years who still wear the old ugly clothes.  It jars our senses.  The mature believer lays aside those things that do not fit the new nature.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Maturity brings a consciousness of what fits with the Christian life.
 
[end]
 
Have a "coordinated" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A BRIGHT FUTURE

 A BRIGHT FUTURE
I Peter 1:23-24
 
"Having been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and aides forever, because 'all flesh is as grass, and the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."
 
I am more than flesh and blood; I am also spirit. Jesus spoke this same truth when he said to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).The physical part of me, which was conceived by human seed, will wither and die, just like the grass and flowers. But the spiritual part of me, which is conceived by the Spirit, will live forever. The world with its lusts is passing away, but he who does the will of God abides forever (I John 2:17).  When I was young, people may have thought I had a bright future ahead of me.  That future is long past, but I still have a bright future.  Age may take its toll on my physical body, but the future is bright for my spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Though the outward body may perish, the inward spirit will live forever.
 
[end]
 
Have a bright future. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRUE LOVE

 TRUE LOVE
I Peter 1:2
 
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love for the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart."
 
Love that is sincere, fervent, and pure is a high standard. It is love that is without hypocrisy, fervent or earnest, and clean from corrupt desires. It seems that much of what we call "love" does not meet that criteria. Commonly, love is based in selfish motives of what I can get back, even if it is just a word of thanks and appreciation. Jesus gave the illustration of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan's love was not dependent on any kind of repayment. It sprang from pure, intense desire to minister to the other person's needs. Lord, Jesus, help me to love purely, and not for what I can get in return.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Pure, unhypocritical love, is based in another person's needs, and not in what I can get in return.
 
[end]
 
Have a "pure love" day. Love you.