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Today is Thursday December 17, 2009 and we are beginning our studies in the book of I Peter, please read chapters 1-2 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. You can also copy & paste this URL to your browser http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-december-17

Today's Message: God's Elect
We are God's elect, those whom are chosen by God Himself to represent Him and prove to the world that one can live the way God intended and enjoy a wonderful and blessed life no matter what circumstances we face.

The book of I Peter is the 21^st book of the New Testament, the 60^th book of the Bible, and contains 5 chapters. The author of the book is Peter and it was written to the exiles who were being persecuted for their Christian faith. The purpose of the letter was to warn them of the danger of persecution from those outside of the Church and how to handle these situations. What we are to learn from the book is that our response to persecution need to be based on Scriptural principles not emotional.

As Christian's we have the most greatest gift ever given to us, and that is our salvation. Not only are we blessed to be able to see Jesus face to face one day we are also able to profess our faith in Him without shame because we know that no matter what we are going through God is with us and will protect us. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” - I Peter 1: 2-5. We are God's elect, those whom are chosen by God Himself to and no one can take that away from us. It is through the power of God that no matter what we are going through God is always with us and will take care of us.

Sadly, people are getting hurt by churches, now, I admit that there is a lot of churches sending out bad reps which not only effect their congregation, but all of the churches around the world, including those who are truthfully living by God's Word. These false churches are deceiving many people and unfortunately the people do not realize it until it is too late and something happens. Then those whom have been hurt are scared and not only leave the church, but God as well, sometimes never returning, believing God to be a liar. The truth is that these churches are not churches built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, they are built upon men themselves, men looking for nothing, but to fill their pockets and using God's name to do it. It is very crucial that we pay attention to what is being taught in our churches, if what is being taught does not line up with God's Word it is time to get out of there. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy............Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” - I Peter 1:13-16,22-25. You have been blessed to know the truth about Christ, therefore, in order to continue to learn the truth you must seek the truth. No matter how many people try to tell you that the Bible is not from God do not believe them, it is the only way we can know the truth about Him. Think about it? Do you think that God would create the world and not let us know how He want us to know Him? The only way to know if it is God's Word is by reading it for yourself and I mean God's Word, not some book that someone wrote saying that this is what God meant when He said this. Of course, there are wonderful commentaries and devotions out there to help you, such as this one, but one must never replace these with the Bible, I am merely here to help you along the way as the Holy Spirit teaches me. If I did not read the Bible myself, these messages would be worthless. The Bible is our one complete source of guidance and strength, the nourishment of the Word is essential if we are to live the way that God intended for us to live. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” - I Peter 2:2-5. Our desire to know the Bible in order to do the Lord's will is always in our very best interest.

Each of us is a sacred Temple for the indwelling Holy Spirit. In addition, we have been chosen to represent God, we have no need to seek vengeance on those whom have hurt us because God will take care if it for us. Therefore, we are to keep seeking the will of God for He will put to silence every person who has wronged you. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy...........For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” - I Peter 2:9,10,15-19.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and Merry Christmas.
God Bless You,
Christina

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