Tag: 2 Peter

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Stir it up

Recently, I have been trying out this online task manager called Remember The Milk. It seem pretty good at helping me keep track of the little things that I am always forgetting.  Yesterday, I was messing around in 2 Peter  and I stumbled into this set of verses:

12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

Yes, its right to keep reminding you, The Message might even make the point stronger

12-15Because the stakes are so high, even though you’re up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I’m not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. This is the post to which I’ve been assigned—keeping you alert with frequent reminders—and I’m sticking to it as long as I live.

But what is it that would stir you up so much with a reminder?  What message is so important that we should constantly alert ourselves about it? It’s this one found earlier in the chapter

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

and here

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

That’s a great promise of a great reward, and that’s the reason we buffet ourselves daily.  So I thought it good today that I stir you up by reminding you of these truths.  So I think I will need to add an reminder in Remember the Milk that pops up each day to remind me to “Remember the Promise”.  It’s something that should keep us focused on the good things in life.  What will you do with the promise today?

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A New Hope

Last week I was privileged to drive the middle school band to Pigeon Forge TN for a trip to Dollywood and a band festival.  On the way there, the guys in my van decided to watch one of the Star Wars movies.   Of course, I was there in the front seat with nothing to do but follow the bus and think.  The one they were watching was the actual first one in the series where little Anakin is discovered and the Jedi place their hope in him.

Of course the movie that most readers of this blog remember as the first one is called A New Hope.  A New Hope because little Anakin doesn’t turn out so well, and they place their hope this time in his son Luke Skywalker.  Despite all of his childish whining Luke saves the day, and provides peace and joy for everyone with a nice party in the woods at the end of the saga.

The story has several parallels to life, and would probably make for a good study, but today I was just thinking about hope.  What so great is that we have A New Hope!

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 2:3-4

We have a hope that gives us a gift in heaven.  That should bring you joy today.  When you live with a hope like that joy should abound, and others should notice.  Go through today remembering the hope you have, and since it is Star Wars Day,  May the Fourth be With You!

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Taxes – Yuck

I finally did my taxes last night – which by the way is an interesting way to account for your year.  I entered all the data provided for me by my financial institutions and employers in the nice little boxes.  I scowered my online checkbook looking for deductions.  Alas, I could not get the red number to turn to green and gave up the fight with a dreadful result:

Federal Tax Due - Yikes!
Federal Tax Due - Yikes!

Yes, I owe.  It’s times like this that real challenges can sit in front of you.  Paying is of course one of those, but not really the challenge that crossed my mind today.  The challenge is how you look at this bill.   I am not a big fan of taxes, but I do understand the “give to Caesar what is Caesar” thing.  The real question is do I understand the give to the Lord what’s the Lord?  I am going to be resentful and frustrated?  I am going to be filled with anxiety over this money?  Or alternatively, am I going to trust that there is a reason that I will be separated from so many portraits of dead presidents?

Last night, I started out thinking, man, all the things I could do with this money.  I could have bought a chaise lounge for my back porch, or I could have padded my bank account, or I could have taken a trip back to West Virginia to see the championship trophy ( oh, that’s right, scratch that one!)  But you get my idea and my lament  – oh,  all the things I could do with that money.  But then this morning I stumbled across an underlined verse in my old college Bible – which I have been using quite often lately – from 2 Peter.

19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:19

Hm, Money can be a dangerous master.  Maybe, its becoming my master?  So, that’s the way I am trying to think about this little dent in my check book.  Am I a slave to money? Or am I going store up my treasures on spiritual things – like relationships, and contentment and joy.

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 16:19-20

Can we look at things like this that happen to us in life as a gift from God as well?  Maybe sometimes, we need to have gentle reminders of what we are slaves to?  What has mastered you?  What should you give away?