Daily Bible Reading and Prayer 2, ESV, Hebrews 7-, Psalm 62-, Nov 10, 2018-

Dec 11, 1 Peter 2

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
That is very good advice.

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
'Taste and see that the Lord is good' I think that's from a Psalm or something.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The light is indeed marvellous!

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Everything you do is judged by unbelievers, so many people reject the gospel because of things hypocritical Christians do and say.

13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
If any crazy person says Christians are against the government, show them these verses.

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Our deeds are a huge part of our witness.

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
We are free!

17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Those are very good rules to live by.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
That means employers too.

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - 1 Peter 2

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for everything You have done for us, thank you for all the opportunities You give us to witness, please help us not just witness with words, but be a witness by how we live. Let Your Light shine through us in our day to day lives, don't let us hide it under a bushel. Father please bless the caroling my youth group plans to do. Father please be near everyone in my prayer journal, please bless and keep them, in Jesus's name, Amen