SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
OBSERVATION: A thought came strongly to my heart as I was reading this passage. This letter was written to people who did not have a Bible. In the Jewish synagogue they would have had access to some scrolls of Jewish scripture. They may have had access to copies of some letters that had been sent to the early churches.
Letters like this taught them about the church being the body of Christ in whom the Holy Spirit lived. Passages like the one above taught them who Jesus is and what He had done for them. Holy Spirit anointed preachers and teachers used such passages to proclaim truth, but the scriptures had not yet been gathered into one authoritative book.
APPLICATION: Surely God would have had a plan to help those whose sins had been forgiven to live as His children! Yes, He did! He sent the Holy Spirit to live in the heart of each new believer!
His presence within gets excited when we hear and follow truth. His presence within draws back when we start to slip into error. He guides us into truth. We may not have a Bible, but we all have the Holy Spirit! We must learn to listen to Him!
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, Father God, in His wisdom, sent you to live in our hearts to teach us and help us recognize truth. Guide my thoughts and my steps. Show me truth and help me glorify Jesus with my whole life. Oh, the joy of having you in my life. Amen
Pastor Leon
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