Weekly Devotional 1-17-22 Do Not Fret, We Are Secured
Our world is becoming increasingly unstable. Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and others are attempting to expand their control of as much of the world as possible. Russia, China, and North Korea are godless countries having ideologies of human government. One only has to consider these countries as they now exist to know that the freedoms of their citizens become increasingly diminished becoming enslaved by those who govern. Iran having a god of human invention, is no different. Absolute control is vested in the most powerful and the freedom of those whom they govern is greatly diminished.
As we go back in history to the first century A.D. we find that much of the world, including Christians, were facing similar difficulties. Non-Christians did not have much hope. They were subject to the authority of Rome and believed they would live and die under that control. They had no assurance of anything better, believing that their death would end their existence. Christians however, even though they were also subject to Roman governance, had the blessed assurance of a future utopia, at the death of their bodies they would spiritually have continuum of life living in the presence of their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, and later have a resurrection of their physical bodies.
This assurance is also our heritage and as an assurance of such I have copied and excerpt from Peter’s first letter to those who were under persecution, both the Roman government and their own people, the unregenerated Jews.
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls. (1st Peter 1:1-9).
We note that we have been chosen by God the Father, set apart by God the Holy Spirit, and covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away. And that this inheritance is reserved in heaven for us and is kept by the power of God the Father
The apostle Paul having these things in mind also gives us this same assurance in his letter Christian’s who were suffering under the governance of Rome.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39).
So, no matter what comes our way, and many things will, we need not fret, we are secured by the power (the authority) of God.
Steve
stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; the Work of God on Behalf of Man