Daily Inspirations

  Good morning. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience towards God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. In other words, if you are submissive to the authorities/(your master) and you suffer unjustly because of that submission, then this finds favor with God. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. If you sin and suffer for it, you get your “just desserts“. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. Next time we will see how Christ suffered unjustly. Father help us to patiently endure any suffering that unjustly comes upon us for keeping Your word.

  Good morning. Act as free men (we are not under bondage to the law or anything else), and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil (there is no such thing as “greasy grace“; you cannot use that freedom to do just anything that you want), but use it as bondslaves of God. We are free to do what we want, but we choose to do what God wants. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Peter then talks about servants being submissive to their masters; not just to the good but also to the unreasonable. The Bible has talked about this previously. Father thank You that we are free to do Your will.

  Good morning.  Part of keeping your behavior excellent among the Gentiles is … Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do right. Peter did not say to submit yourselves to the human institutions that you agree with. My Bible says that when Peter wrote this, the emperor was the godless, brutal Nero - though obedience to the emperor must never be in violation of the law of God. Why should we do this? For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. They will say that your resistance to the authorities is proof that Christianity is evil. This does not mean that we do not work within the system to remove those leaders (or systems of government) that are godless and to replace them with leaders (or a different system) that are committed to God. Father help us to have the right a...

  Good morning. I urge you as aliens and strangers (this world is not my home; I’m just - a - passing through.) to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. As the end gets closer and closer, people will treat us more and more like those who are aliens in their home country. Our soul continually fights against yielding to these fleshly lusts. Because we are aliens and strangers in this world, we should: keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evil doers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Remember that the world will “call the things that are evil, good; and the things that are good, evil.“ They are going to say bad things about us; so we should not give them any justification for their remarks. Father keep our behavior excellent so that the people of the world may glorify You.

  Good morning. Jesus, our corner stone, was a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense: for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were appointed. Admittedly, this could be interpreted as they were pre-destined, without any voice in the matter, to this doom. But it also could be interpreted as those who are disobedient to the word, to this doom will be predestined. In other words, the people are not predestined, but the ones who perform the actions are. Instead of us having this gloomy future – you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Father thank You that You chose us to proclaim Your excellencies!

  Good morning. Coming to Him as to a living (Corner) stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In a sense, the law was a “dead“ stone; but Jesus is a living One. We are part of a living house, and therefore are living stones. Under the law, the priests offered up sacrifices of animals; but we offer up spiritual sacrifices (of praise – Hebrews). Peter then quotes the verse about Jesus being a precious corner stone. My Bible says that the corner stone which determines the design and orientation of the building, was the most significant stone in the structure. Father thank You that we are living stones, resembling Jesus, the chief cornerstone.

  Good morning. Since we have been born again of a seed imperishable, the word of God… Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander (that is a lot to put aside; but you will never grow if you don’t), like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word (too many Christians only want to hear “the deep things of God“ and disdain the simple truths), so that by it (the pure milk of the word) you may grow in respect to salvation (you don’t want to get born again and then never grow after that), if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Father help us to long for Your word like a newborn baby longs for milk.

  Good morning. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again (having been regenerated) not of seed which is perishable but imperishable (same Greek word used to describe our inheritance), that is, through the living and enduring word of God. Jesus tried to explain to Nicodemus about being born again (or from above). Peter then quotes a verse from the old testament that declares that the word of the Lord endures forever (imperishable). And this is the word which was preached to you. God’s word is the seed; our heart is the ground into which the seed is planted; and the Holy Spirit waters it and makes it grow. Father thank You that You did not cause us to be born again of something that would perish; but You caused us to be born again by a seed imperishable – causing us to live forever.

  Good morning. Speaking of the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God … For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world (my Bible says this could mean that God knew before creation that it would be necessary for Christ to redeem man, or that it could also be translated that He chose Him before the foundation of the world as the Redeemer), but has appeared in these last times (if then was the “last times”, how much more so today?) for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Father, our faith and hope are in You, and You never disappoint.

  Good morning. Conduct yourselves in fear…; Knowing that you were not redeemed (people who were slaves could be redeemed from their slavery by the payment of a sum of money) with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life (trying to live up to the law was futile - you couldn’t do it, and the law would not save you anyway) inherited from your forefathers, (it took a lot more than money) but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Under the law, various sins could be “covered over” by the sacrifice of an animal, such as a lamb. The lamb could not be just any old lamb – it had to be unblemished and spotless. Father thank You that the blood of Jesus, the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God, redeemed us from all our sins.

  Good morning. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts (strong desires) which were yours in your ignorance. The Greek word here for “conformed“ is the same one from Romans 12:2 - do not be conformed to this world. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “you shall be holy, for I am holy“. Being holy is the opposite of being conformed to our former lusts. If you address as Father the One who impartially judges (no matter how hard he/she tries, no human can impartially judge in every case) according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear (that does not mean that you go around trembling lest you do something wrong; but it is out of a respect and knowledge that you on your own can never be obedient) during the time of your stay on earth. Father help us to be conformed to Your Word and not to the things of the world.

  Good morning. Because of the grace and salvation that came to us… Therefore, prepare your minds for action (action begins in the mind), keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. My Bible says that this is the first of a long series of exhortations (actually imperatives) that end four chapters later. In the language of the first century it meant that the reader should literally gather up his long, flowing garments and be ready for physical action. This means that Peter was not just pontificating, but that he meant serious business. Too many times we hear an inspiring message and say “yes, we should do that“, but then we never put it into action. We have received grace upon grace, but it pales in comparison to that grace that we will receive when Jesus returns. Father help us to “be ready to roll“ at a moment’s notice from You

  Good morning. It was revealed to them (the prophets) that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preach the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look. My Bible says: The angels’ intense desire is highlighted by the Greek word rendered “to look into.“ It means to stoop and look intently“. It is the same Greek word used in John chapter 20 when John and Peter ran to the tomb and John was described as “stooping and looking in“. Right after that, it was also used of Mary looking into the tomb. As eager as these people were to see if the body of Jesus was still in the tomb, so the angels longed to look into the gospel; but the gospel is not for angels, it is for humans. Father help us to have that same strong desire to look into Your Word and apply it to our lives.

  Good morning. And though you have not seen Him (Jesus), you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (In the Upper Room Jesus said to Thomas, “because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.“) obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. And to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries. Imagine the faith that it took for the old testament prophets to speak the words God gave them about the salvation to come, and yet not have a clue of how it was going to come about. Father thank You that You tell us through Your Word what is to come. Help us to act on it in faith.

  Good morning. In this you greatly rejoice (in our salvation and inheritance to be revealed), even though now for a little while (it may seem long while you are going through it, but relative to eternity, it is but a moment), if necessary (not all will go through trials), you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith (James said “show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works”), being more precious than gold which is perishable (a few verses before Peter said that our inheritance is imperishable), even though tested by fire (remember that “our inheritance will not fade away“ is the negative of quenching a fire), may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gold is made pure by fire, and so is our faith. Father help us to keep our eyes on the prize and not on the trials that we have to go through for Your sake.

  Good morning. Why did God cause us to be born again to a living hope... To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable (moth and rust do not corrupt) and undefiled (The treasures of earth could be defiled) and will not fade away (in Greek, this is the negative of quenching a fire), reserved in heaven for you, who are protected (as with a garrison of troops) by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (it has not yet been revealed what we shall be like; but we know that when He returns, we shall be like Him). Exactly what is the extent of our salvation and our inheritance? It is veiled to us right now, but it will be revealed at the end. Father thank You for our salvation which will be revealed in the last time.

  Good morning. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again (this is what Jesus said to Nicodemus, and Nicodemus did not understand) to a living hope (why would the Father have Jesus go through all the pain and suffering, obtaining a way for us to be born again, and then abandon us to the grave? Our hope is not wishful thinking, but confidence that we will be resurrected one day) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Next time we will see why He did it. Father thank You for causing us to be born again into a living hope.

  Good morning. Today we begin with I Peter. Peter identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus. There was only one, so we know who is writing. To those who reside as aliens (believers are aliens to this world), scattered throughout (different places), who are chosen (we didn’t earn it) according to the foreknowledge (this comes from the same Greek word from which we get the medical term prognosis) of God the Father, and by the sanctifying work of the Spirit (this shows that the third Person of the Trinity is also involved), to obey Jesus Christ (which we are incapable of doing without being sanctified) and be sprinkled with His blood (all articles of worship in the tabernacle and then in the temple were sprinkled with the blood of animals – we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus): may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Father thank You that You chose us despite knowing all of the awful things that we would do before and after becoming Christians. Help us to walk in Yo...

  Good morning. However, if you have committed sins… Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. It is possible that a sickness arises because of some sin that you have done. We have no inkling of just how much can be accomplished through our prayers. James then talks about Elijah: he prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years; then he prayed again and rain poured down. Can your prayers do that? Can they move a mountain, like Jesus said? If any of you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. That’s even more powerful than healing. Instead of turning our backs on someone who strays, we should be helping that person to commit their lives to Christ. And that is the end of the book of James. Father help us to be ope...

  Good morning. Is anyone among you suffering (then be sure to tell everyone in the church so that you can have a pity party, and they can empathize with you – no!)? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick (then be sure to run to the emergency room)? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith (not one of those “if it be Thy will“ kind of prayers) will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up (that’s my kind of guarantee), and if he has committed sins (it didn’t say that he had committed sins, and that’s why he was sick), they will be forgiven him (that’s a side benefit you don’t see coming). If the people in the church did just those things in those two verses, it would truly be a dynamic place of God. Father help us to always seek You first for our healing, unlike the king in the Old Testament who sough...

Good morning. Speaking of patience… As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. James then talks about the endurance of Job and the outcome of the Lord’s dealings. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. Job went through a lot, but in the end he was faithful to the Lord, and He restored all that Job had and more. The Jews used to swear by things (remember Jesus talking about them swearing by the temple, etc.); but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. When you say yes, you will do something or no, you will not do something, that should be all that you need to indicate certainty. You should not need anything else to emphasize that you are telling the truth. Father help us to endure all that comes against us because we are standing on Your promises.

  Good morning. James then tells us to be patient until the coming of the Lord, just like the farmers are patient about the crops. You too be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Just like Jesus talked about, too many Christians think that because “the coming of the Lord is a long way off”, they can do what they want now and clean up their act later. However, He could come at any moment and find you doing wrong to your neighbor. Do not complain against one another (Ouch!), so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold the Judge is standing right at the door. If we believed that Jesus was going to return at any moment, we would not do or say the things that we do. Father help us to be patient for Jesus’ return and to treat others the way we would if we knew for certain that He would come at this moment.

  Good morning. Come now, you who say, we are going to do thus and so. You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. Instead, you ought to say, “if the Lord wills…“ As it is you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. And now an observation that sets the standard high, and one which most of us do not adhere to: therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. It’s not that you did something that in and of itself was not right; it is that you neglected to do something that was beneficial to others. James then scolds the rich people who treat their workers unbecomingly. He tells them that the workers will cry out unto the Lord of the Sabbath. Father thank You for all that You have given us. Continue to bless the reader and his/her family.

  Good morning. Continuing with those 10 commands: humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Again action is required on your part first. This is almost an exact quote from Jesus. This does not mean that you are a doormat. Remember that Moses was known as the meekest man on earth; and yet he got very angry with the people. Do not speak against one another. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. Here is another instance where James goes back to the law – as Christians we are not judged by the law. We are held to an even higher standard. If it is wrong under the law to judge or speak against a brother, how much more is it wrong as a Christian? We can’t even want to judge or speak against a brother. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor? Father...

  Good morning. He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud (those who think they did it all on their own), but gives grace to the humble“. My Bible says that the following verses contain 10 commands, each of which so stated in Greek that it calls for immediate action and rooting out the sinful attitude of pride. The first one is a positive: draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Note that it requires us to do something first, and then God will respond to that action. If your heart is impure, then you cannot draw near to God. So, cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded (literally means two-souled). If your heart is not pure, you will be “touching“ things that you should not. And if you have an impure heart: be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom. We will continue these commands tomorrow. Father help us to draw near to You, under the shadow of Your win...

  Good morning. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. “Gimme gimme gimme, my name is Jimmy.” That’s the way we ask God for things. We don’t ask so that we can help those in need; we ask so they can we can buy the things that we want. Now comes a very sharp rebuke: you adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? They were having “an affair“ with mammon. Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. The things of the world do look inviting; but the end results are things contradictory to the kingdom of God. He jealously desires the Spirit (could be lower case “s” meaning our human spirit) which He has made to dwell in us. He wants our spirit to desire Him and not the things of the world. Father thank You that when we ask for things for others, You give us things for ourselves.

  Good morning. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (you don’t get the fruit of righteousness from a “non-righteous tree“) is sown in peace by those who make peace (blessed are the peacemakers). Want to know why there is all this fussing and fighting – what is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust (remember that it just means very strong desire; not necessarily sexual) and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. All of this is obvious, especially today. You don’t get what you want, so you get angry at those who do; even though it’s not their fault that you don’t get what you want. You lash out at them, even possibly to the point of killing them. First of all, did you ask God for it, or did you just assume that it was your right to have whatever it was? Next time we will see that there is a correct wa...

  Good morning. What about that heavenly wisdom? The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. That is powerful! First it is pure. You can trust it, unlike the wisdom of the world. As Sergeant Friday on Dragnet used to say, “just the facts ma’am“. It doesn’t use lies or try to deceive you. Is there disorder and discontent? Then that wisdom is not from above. It is gentle and does not try to force you to believe what it says. It only brings forth good fruits (so you know the tree is good). It is steadfast – you don’t have to worry that it will all change tomorrow. Father help us to only listen to the wisdom from above – Your wisdom.

  Good morning. … His deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. If you have either jealousy or selfish ambition, many times you will tell lies to your advantage or others’ disadvantage. It may seem like wisdom for the moment. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic (the devil and his minions are happy to supply you with things to say). In other words, it may seem like the smart thing to do – spread lies. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. We see this today when people tell lies to elevate themselves or or to demote others. Everything is in disarray. Next time we will see the characteristics of the wisdom from above. Father help us to not speak lies out of jealousy or selfish ambition. Continue to go with the reader and his/her family; bringing relief from affliction along with ...

  Good morning. Continuing with the tongue : with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. We “speak out of both sides of our mouths“. In church we say, “bless you brother“. In the workplace ... well, we won’t go there. A fountain does not send out both fresh and bitter water; a fig tree does not produce olives, etc. This reminds us of when Jesus said, “you will know them by their fruits“. Or, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still wallow in the mud. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. Next time we will see that James explains the difference between the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of the world. Father help us to have good things in our hearts so that we will have good things coming out of our mouths.