Lunch: Healing and Salvation

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Read Chapter 2 of 1 Peter

There are two kinds of healing: physical; and spiritual. Some interpret this verse as referring to physical healing, while others believe it to be a reference to spiritual healing. Personally, I believe it is a reference to spiritual healing. Spiritually, we are all sick. Jesus heals us. Amen!

As a result of being healed spiritually, I don't have to worry about my physical well being. Whether sick or healthy, injured or fit, I live with the confidence of my salvation.

With regard to Adam, I have every confidence that he has been spiritually healed, which is more important. We can all praise God for that. Whether he is (fully) physically healed is yet to be seen. Let's rejoice in Adam's spiritual healing and salvation...and keep praying for his physical healing.

1 Peter 1:9

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.



Pray

• That Adam's clarity and memory would improve.

• For Adam's ability to process information.

• For God to bring increasing volume to Adam's speech.

• That God would guide the hands of the surgeon operating on Amy's back.

We'll pray together, again, at dinner time.

Breakfast: Praise, Glory, and Honor

1 Peter 1:6-7

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Read Chapter 1 of 1 Peter

We cannot know God's ways. He sees the world from a much different perspective than we do. The apostle Peter writes that we suffer grief so that the genuineness of our faith will result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. God works everything to bring Himself glory. After all, He is God!

When I think of the grief that so many have endured over the past 10 months, I have confidence that the end result is to bring praise, glory, and honor to God. As I mentioned above, I do not know God's plans, I just know this outcome. I wonder, however, if maybe God is waiting for the right person or persons to praise Him.

This morning, as we pray, be sure to ask God for help in rejoicing despite Adam's long, painful, recovery process (and for other trials that you may be suffering). Ask that your faith will genuine, and that it will result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus is revealed.

Praise God for the great progress that Adam has made in recent weeks. And, continue to pray for a smooth transition to Orlando.

    When all God’s children sing out
    Glory, glory, hallelujah
    He reigns, He reigns
    ~He Reigns, Newboys



See you at lunch time.

Eve of Fasting: Looking for Hope

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Why am I quoting this verse, tonight? Last week, I read 1 Peter. Of all the authors of New Testament letters, Peter is the one that we seem to know the most about. There are various accounts of him interacting with Jesus, including some very "human moments," where he lacked faith. Despite all of his weaknesses, Jesus told him that He would build His church on Peter. Pretty heady stuff.

Anyway, if it was upon Peter that Jesus would build His church, then a letter from him should be very authoritative instruction. So much so, that tomorrow's posts will all be based on passages from this letter to believers in what is now Turkey. Peter wrote this letter to offer encouragement in the midst of their suffering. We all face trials, and many of us are probably in the midst of one, right now. We know that Amy, Mackenzie, Jack, Cookie, and the rest of Adam's family and close friends have been in a severe trial for the past 10 months.

Tomorrow (and Thursday morning), I will include a link to a chapter in the book of 1 Peter. I ask that you would take time to read the complete chapter (it will only take a few minutes) at the designated times (breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening, and the morning after).

Why a new format? Peter's letter instructs us that God can use challenging times to strengthen us. Knowing this can bring hope, and I believe that it is important for all of us to have hope. Taking a few minutes at four intervals throughout the day is a small commitment, when the reward is to receive hope in return.

    In this trial that I'm going through
    I don't question 'cause I know it's true
    That the sorrow brings me back to You
    And You have made me stronger
    ~40 Days, Third Day



Let's pray that God would make Adam, and his family, stronger.

We'll meet in the morning.