GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 20

We have finished Erwin Lutzer’s book, CHISELED BY THE MASTER’S HAND, and have hopefully learned about the Lord of the Universe, and about ourselves and our walk with Him.  Dr. Lutzer sums it up nicely, as usual, in his epilogue to the book.  The next three days we will see him pack it up for us to remember in our lives.

EPILOGUE

THE LEGACY OF ONE LIFE

         ~ ~

WHAT WE BECOME

“Character,” said D.L. Moody, “is what a man is in the dark.”  What we do FOR GOD is not as important as what God does IN US.   This is why Peter listed the virtues for which we must strive, with God’s help.  Here ultimately is the secret of true greatness:

“by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.   But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 1:4-8).

Why should we give ourselves single-mindedly to such character qualities?  Because when Christ returns and the earth is burned up, all that will last are the people we have influenced and the inner lives we have developed.  Cars, clothes, status, and pleasure – all these end at the beginning of eternity.  Only faith, hope, and love, along with the fruit of godly character, will pass from this life to the next.

From Peter we learn:

1.  EVERYONE HAS AN ETERNAL IMPACT.

Yes, even unbelievers will live eternally, in the presence of their own sin and rebellion.  Believers will live eternally in heaven, rewarded for the degree of their faithfulness while on earth.  The purpose of life is preparation for eternity.

     2.OUR LIVES ARE A MIXTURE OF GOOD DEEDS AND BAD; WHEAT AND CHAFF.

Even after about fourteen years of courageous, powerful ministry, Peter still returned to his past fears.  None other than the Apostle Paul himself had to rebuke Peter when his actions were contrary to the gospel.  To quote Paul, “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11).  Then follows an explanation:  Specifically, Peter was influenced by the Judaizers (who insisted that it was necessary to become a Jew to be saved.)   Out of fear Peter stopped eating with Gentiles and appeared to be agreeing with the Jewish legalists.  Paul publicly rebuked him for his inconsistency.

Peter had his failures, his moments of doubt and fear.  He was far from perfect, but he strove to develop the positive and diminish the negative.  As someone has said, it is not where you are spiritually that is as important as the direction you are moving.  It is not what we do but for whom we do it that makes the difference.

•  ULTIMATELY, ONLY GOD’S EVALUATION, AND NOT MAN’S OPINION, REALLY MATTERS.

Who cares about the plans of the Sanhedrin, or the intentions of a Herod?  It has always been God’s plan to win with few rather than with many. 

It has also been His plan to wait until eternity to reveal the full extent of His undiminished victory.

Tradition says Peter died a martyr, perhaps in Rome, and requested that he be crucified upside down for he felt unworthy to die in the same posture as his Master.  Like the ancient lamplighter, future generations can see the legacy that he left and the light he left behind.

We have the opportunity to share in his reward!

*** ***

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

*** ***

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

*** ***

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

*** ***

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

*** ***

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

***   ***

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

*** ***

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord