Perfect time for bible study

With the perceived worship of "God's chosen people" Israel, with the supporting of "taking up swords", with the way that mainstream Christianity unfortunately has ingrained themselves into world political parties, how we are being taught to excuse, justify, and endorse wars and killings, and with the every day attacks on those in authority in this country, I thought today would be a perfect day to study the Bible.

Would you care to join me?

I sure hope so, do you have your bible nearby, or a bible app on your phone? I'll give you a couple minutes to get it loaded up.

Ok, here we go, friends.

Let us open to 1 Peter 2, and begin with verse 4, I am reading out of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), but you are welcome to use your favorite translation.

Ready?

Ok, read along with me...

And coming to Him as to a living 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. For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”

and,

“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 also appointed.

But you

[let me interject something, this is speaking of you, a believer in Christ just in case you are confused, now continue reading]

are a chosen race,

[did you catch that?]

[Ok, I wont interrupt anymore, continue please]

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; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Honor Authority

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 evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 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.

Christ Is Our Example

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, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

That was great everyone.

I hope we didn't read to fast for anyone and everyone had a chance to really take it in, if not take a couple minutes to catch up.

Good, now do we have any questions about the preceding verses?

I am opening the floor to ask some questions that we can discuss.

You know, as far as for myself, I know I needed to spend some time in silent contemplation with His Spirit really letting the words soak in to me and renewing my mind.

My friends, sometimes it does a lot of good to really meditate on certain verses because in our world, with the way our media manipulates us, and the way we can become indoctrinated to things, many times not only our actions, but our thoughts, are the complete opposite of how they should be.

We can find that it's hard to let Him break through with His truths because we become very stubborn and hard hearted about certain issues.

I know by reading this that I personally have some things to work on.

Do you?

If you are willing, let me know in the comments below.

Have a great day.