As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Jeff Miner):

I had never done anything quite so bad before. My little sister had been tormenting me mercilessly all morning long, and finally I snapped. I began shouting and cursing. She just laughed at me, which only enraged me more. That’s when I did it . . .

I hit her. I doubled up my fist and hit her in the mouth. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she realized what I had just done. The hurt in her soul was obviously much greater than the physical hurt. Her big brother had hit her! In that instant, I realized I had lost something I could never regain — her trust. Overwhelming regret rushed over me. If only I could rewind time just two minutes. If only. . .

Then I woke up.

Words cannot describe my relief when I realized it hadn’t really happened! It was all just a bad dream. I sat up in my bed and said, “Thank you, God! Thank you that I didn’t do that!”

Have you ever had a nightmare like mine — where you did something too horrible for words? Do you remember the relief you felt upon awakening and realizing you hadn’t done it after all?

That feeling is precisely what God is offering us — for real — in today’s Scripture passages.

In the first cluster of verses we read, Peter does something unthinkable. In Jesus’ hour of greatest need, he denies ever knowing Jesus. Imagine, the leading Apostle, the one who’s supposed to set the example for others, denies Jesus! Not just that, but in other Gospel accounts of this same story, we’re told that Peter laced his denial with a few choice curse words — so as to be more convincing. In those other accounts, we’re also told that Jesus saw all this take place.

If we had read the entire story as it unfolds, we would see that, after his denial, Peter seems to give up. He seems to feel that what he’s done disqualifies him from ever serving Jesus again. His famous words of resignation are: “I go fishing.” John 21:3. Peter, who was a fisherman before meeting Jesus, seemed determined to go back to his old occupation.

Then comes the second cluster of verses we read, where Jesus makes a gracious resurrection appearance to Peter. As they converse over breakfast, three times Jesus tells Peter that he still wants him to “feed my sheep.” In other words, Jesus invites Peter to pick up where he left off — as if it never happened. What a profound sense of relief Peter must have felt.

This is grace.

And God offers us the same grace. “If we confess our sins, God if faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9. What awful thing from your past still weighs you down? Isn’t it time to accept the new beginning that God freely offers?

Thought for the day: The only thing that stands between me and complete freedom of conscience is my refusal to believe the greatness of God’s grace. Stop limiting God!

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

Today’s scripture: I Peter 2:1-10 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Steve Adams):

There are some amazing, positive, exhilarating truths here, aren’t there? God has called us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light to become “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” We are like living stones that comprise a spiritual house with the foundation being our precious Lord, Jesus Christ! Some highlights include:

1. God has called __________ (put your name here!) out of darkness, into God’s marvelous light.
2. God hasn’t chosen you alone, but rather, you are part of “a holy nation.” Think of the potential for good God’s group has in this world!
3. We have received God’s mercy, meaning God’s “kind and compassionate treatment of an offender” (The American Heritage Dictionary).

Notice that our reading begins with “Therefore” (or a similar word, depending on your translation). This directs us back to Peter’s statements in chapter one, which give the reason we are to get rid of all malice, guile, insincerity, envy, and slander. There, he speaks of our inheritance in Jesus Christ which is imperishable, secured in heaven for us. He also proclaims we’ve been ransomed (or literally, paid for), not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, implying that it is imperishable. And, we have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable. So, he’s talking about eternal realities here, not what we buy on a trip to Target!

“Like spiritual babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” This is Peter’s portrait of beautiful Christian character. Once you have received God’s pure, uncontaminated truth, your spiritual appetite is satisfied. You don’t crave hearing gossip or spreading it. You have no desire to deceive someone for personal gain. There is no urge to injure someone’s reputation, even if that person has hurt you deeply.

What a pure and innocent picture God is painting for us here! Once a baby receives the warm, soothing, pure milk from the mother, the child is perfectly content — it’s absurd to think of a baby who’s just had a meal from mother sit up and say, “Come on, mom, I want some pop and candy! No? Well, can I at least have a cigar, then? It’s been a rough day!”

As we come to Christ and give him our hearts, we are to give our gifts to others so they may benefit. This sounds easy, but life often makes it hard to do! How often does “I just don’t have time,” or “I can’t really love that person” run through your mind?

However, we do expend the effort to serve others, because we “have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” Once you’ve experienced God’s mercy, there’s a motivation that overcomes fear, fatigue, resentment, and hurt. If you fall, His mercy will help you get back up! As part of God’s royal priesthood, there’s a fire in your heart to follow Christ, no matter where he leads! May God bless you today in your adventure of walking with Christ!

Thought for the day: Thank you, Lord, that I can be one of your people, so I can declare and display your love.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Pam Beutler):

Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5

As a young child in a parochial school, the good sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary taught us that when unpleasantries come our way, we should offer our small struggles to Our Lord. Not so that we’ll always find an easy way out, but offer ourselves to God for God’s purposes.

Over the years, I’ve realized how I had incorporated this simple lesson into my life. I try to remind myself often that I am here for a bigger cause. I may not have all the luxuries that the 21st century offers, but I have joy and love surrounding me everyday. I try not to let material things weigh me down, and keep my focus on God’s purpose for me.

I learned as a child to thank God every day for my life and things that God has brought into it, good or bad. I’m amazed by God’s everyday miracles — a sunrise or a sunset, the smell of a spring field or the fury of an Indiana thunderstorm. I often take a moment to clear my mind from the bustle of life, and have my conversation with God.

Many of us are bruised souls, making it through this world and waiting for the next life. I know there is more. I give each day to God: my breath, the pain in my joints, the laugh in my belly, each day in full. When life overwhelms me, and it often does, I stop and pray — I give my life to the One who made me. I ask God to help me look beyond what is taking place. Spiritual transformation through learning is a continuing process.

Thought for the day: As you go through the day, ask yourself, “How can I offer this moment, right now, to God?”

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Jenni Clarkson):

Do you recall the movie City Slickers, with the unlikely pairing of Billy Crystal and Jack Palance? Jack played the gruff old cowboy Curly. He shared the “meaning of life” with Billy Crystal’s character, and that was “just one thing.”

He held out his gloved hand with his index finger extended, “Just one thing.” “What is it?” Crystal’s character wanted to know. “That’s for you to figure out,” was the response. It’s been a long time since I saw that movie in the theatre, but it came to mind again when I read this scripture.

Martha welcomed Jesus and then was distracted by her many tasks. This summarizes Martha’s story and the story of many of us. We may have welcomed Jesus into our lives with the best of intentions, planning and meaning with all of our hearts to make time for him every day, but life happens. We have work, school, family, adorable pets that require our attention. We have floors to scrub and grass to mow. Yet the Savior waits.

I think Martha really believed she had the right idea. She wanted to serve Jesus, which certainly seems noble and honorable. Then she got rather peeved with her sister for not helping out. But Jesus said “there is need of only one thing.” Mary, it seems, had discovered the “one thing.” She “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.” Sometimes I need to be reminded to do that. I may run off with many tasks, thinking that I just want to serve Jesus, when the better thing to do would be to listen to him.

Thought for the day: Think about your “one thing.” Set aside your “many tasks” for a few minutes to simply listen to Jesus.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.