HAVE
YOU TASTED HIS GRACE? Devotion for Tuesday July 19, 2016
Text:
1 Peter 2:1 – 3
Memory
verse: 1 Peter 2:3 - If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The worst thing a man can do to himself is to
taste the grace, mercies and goodness of God, and still go back into sin or
keep on living a compromising life. This is the basis of Peter’s admonition
here. He urges us to lay aside (put away, get rid) of any attitude or hindrance
that could threaten our love for one another in Christ. He listed several types
of sin to be removed from our lives. The sins Peter listed here fight against
love and cause dissension among believers.
1. Malicious behavior means doing evil despite
the good that has been received; the desire to harm other people. We should note
that malice may be hidden behind good actions. The case of Judas Iscariot betraying
his master, Jesus Christ easily comes to mind. We should avoid such behaviours as
Christians.
2. Deceit means deliberately tricking or misleading
by lying (1 Pet. 3:10).
3. Hypocrisy means that people say one thing
but do another; playacting; presenting good motives that mask selfish desire. This
is one problem facing the church today. If only all who confesses Christ live well,
the effect of our Christianity will be seen in our political, social and economic
lives.
4. Jealousy means desiring something possessed
by someone else especially in spiritual gifts. This causes discontent and
resentment as believers make unhealthy comparisons to one another. It also
makes them unable to be thankful for the good that comes to others.
5. Backstabbing means destroying another’s
good reputation by lies, gossip, rumor-spreading, etc. Malice often manifests
itself through back- stabbing (slander). Unfortunately, this is very endemic in
our present day Christianity. Otherwise how can there be infighting in churches
as we have witnessed in recent time?
These should not be part of our Christian
lives as people who have come to know God and are now enjoying His grace. We should
get rid of them if indeed we are a Christian and they are found in us. We shouldn’t be seen as Christian while
our lives do not correspond with ethics of Christianity. Let that God we have tasted
manifest in our lives.
Food
for Thought:
Are you still living a compromising Christian life?
Prayer: Almighty God, help me to get rid of any attitude or hindrance that could threaten my love for fellow Christians and non Christians.
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