Heart – Page 6 – Three Minute Bible

July 15, 2020July 16, 2020

1 Peter 2:5 (c) — At the Foot of the Cross

Picture of the cross silhouetted against the morning sky.

…offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

This may be one of the most important verses in the Bible. Oh, I know…it looks benign. You can read it and think, “Nice verse…” and go on with your reading. But when I look at this verse I see all the threads in the Bible coming together into one place.

I can guess what you are thinking. You are probably thinking, “Okay, Jeff. Go ahead. Show me how this ties together all the threads in the Bible. But remember, this is ThreeMinuteBible.com, not TwentyYearBible.com, okay?” Okay. Fair enough. Since we are constrained on time, I will use large brush strokes again and see if I can paint a picture of what I see.

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

1 Peter 2:3 — Yum!

Picture of a cup of ice-cream and berries.

… now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I don’t know why this should be, but there are some verses in the Bible that seem to jump off of the page. Then they grab me by the lapel and shout, “ISN’T THIS THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER?!” For me, this is one of those verses.

Peter has been talking about nourishing our spirit using the food we feed our bodies with. Specifically, he uses the example of a newborn baby craving milk. His example is ripe with all kinds of inferences that color our understanding of what he means. Then he goes on to say, “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020

1 Peter 2:1 (a) — Inside Outside

A man's head half out of the water stares at the camera

Therefore, rid yourselves of …

In our post, “Checklist for Love,” we outlined some of the key points Peter has made in the first chapter of his letter. Today we begin the second chapter with, “Therefore…” As Pastor Rich loves to remind us in Bible study: “Always ask the question, ‘What is the ”therefore” there for?‘”

Peter has finished summarizing his thoughts by saying (in effect) people die, God’s Word is forever. Therefore…

July 4, 2020July 4, 2020

1 Peter 1:22 — Checklist For Love

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

So far in these first few words of Peter’s letter to us, he has touched on a number of points:

We have been chosen by God (v 2)
God’s Spirit is sanctifying us
We are to be obedient to Jesus Christ

He continues with more insights into the Christian life:

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020

1 Peter 1:17 — Boxes

A check box on a piece of paper next to the words, "I Agree."

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

The question today is what does Peter mean when he writes, “…a Father who judges each person’s work impartially…?”

Wait a minute…

Doesn’t Peter know about grace? Doesn’t he understand that if we believe in Jesus we get a pass on judgment? How can he say that God is judging our “work?” What is going on here?

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020

1 Peter 1:15-16 — Picking Nits

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

The word, “holy” suggests that something or someone is pure, sinless, upright, and set apart for God. God, Himself is the definition of holy. As I understand Peter he is saying that we who are called by God should be like God. Not in the things that are unique to God, his power, omniscience, and authority, etc., but in his character. God is humble and loving, patient, kind, and long-suffering. Those are the things we can emulate.

Discerning the difference between what is unique to God and what he can share with us is important. We need to understand that He is God and we are not. It is the lack of discernment in this area that led Lucifer to presume he could be like God. I think we are in danger of falling into the same trap when we presume upon God’s authority.

June 4, 2020July 9, 2020

1 Peter 1: 1 (c) — God’s Eye

A green heart shaped stone represents the heart of man without God.

To God’s elect…

If you live in a place where there are elections, you might think that being one of God’s “elect” has something to do with being chosen. Looked at in a certain light, you would not be far off. Some people like to make a fuss over the idea that some are chosen and others are not, but it is not that simple. We all come into this world the same way by birth. We all leave through the same door; death. The problem with being human is that we cannot “see” things the same way that God sees them.

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020

1 Peter 1: 1(a) — Everyman

Two men work on fishing nets in the early morning light.

Peter…

As we begin our meditations on 1 Peter, it seems fitting that his text begins with his name. Since this “book” of the Bible is a letter, Peter follows the tradition of letter writing used two thousand years ago. Today we would begin with, “Dear Sir and/or Madam,” or something similar. Not until the end of the letter would our signature reveal who the author is. In Peter’s time, that was not the case. He begins, “Peter…” and then continues with a description of his credentials. Only then does he tell us who he is writing to.

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020

Jude 1: 25a — Doxology

… to the only God …

The last sentence in Jude’s letter is spread out over two verses. Together they comprise a doxology. If you don’t know what a doxology is, that is okay. Even if you do, it is worth taking a minute of our “Three Minute Bible” post to review.

The word doxology comes from the Greek, doxologia. The two root words are “doxa” meaning “glory” and “- logia” meaning “divine sayings.” It a way of praising and glorifying God. It is a beautiful way of turning the reader’s attention back to God at the end of the letter.

May 26, 2020May 26, 2020

Jude 1: 24b — The Heart of Jude

The nativity is intertwined with the word, "Love" against a colorful background.

…and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

At the beginning of Jude’s letter (verse 1) he writes: “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ…” These people, he adds, will be presented before Christ “without fault and with great joy.”

How?

This is the heart of Jude. This is what he wanted to write about in the first place. What is the amazing secret? How are sinful people to be presented before Jesus Christ without fault? As he pointed out earlier, the answer is Jesus Christ himself.