Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Where's the treasure?

3/31/2015

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)

Playing "pirates" with my daughter usually involves searching for treasure or trying to rescue the treasure from Captain Hook. The treasure is always valuable to our pirates characters. The treasures of our real lives are important, too. We can learn a lot about ourselves through the treasures we keep and the treasures we seek.

Our treasures reveal the things that are important to us. If we put our time and efforts into accumulating things, treasures, here on earth, we will be disappointed in eternity as those things decay and disappear. If we put our time and efforts in storing up our treasures in heaven, God will multiply them and we will have these treasures for all of eternity. When our treasures are built with and stored by God, nothing can destroy them or take them away! Treasures built and stored in God can show others the importance of living in God's grace each and every day!

Spend your time storing up treasures in heaven, where they will be protected and multiplied by God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Help me to remember that all of my treasures should be built up and stored in You, so that You can protect them and use me for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Why do you ask?

3/30/2015

"You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." -James 4:2-3 (NASB)

There are times in life when we want things. My daughter is learning that we can't always get what we want. In fact, she sings a song, "You get what you get and you don't get upset!" Sometimes we get upset when we don't get what we want, but that's when we each need to ask ourselves, "Why do you ask?"

When we are wanting, we need to ask. When we ask, we need to be sure that our hearts are in the right place. God will provide for us. God will save us. We need to ask with the right motives, with the right intentions in our hearts. When we have the right intentions, we will get what we want! After God provides for us, we need to "spend" it on worthy endeavors that will glorify God!

Have the right heart and right motives, then ask God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and providing for me. Help me to check my heart and my motives so what I am asking for is worthy of Your attention. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Call on Him

3/29/2015

"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You." -Psalms 86:5 (NASB)

Even if we think we can make it on our own, we experience times when we need a helping hand. It is good to have someone to call on in times of need. When we are reaching out for help, we choose to ask those that are ready and able to help us.

When we are looking for help, we can always call on God. He can provide guidance. He can help us. He is ready to forgive us and love us. He is filled with goodness. He is a reliable rock that we can depend on to anchor us through any storm. All we have to do is call on God. He is waiting to hear from us and ready to help us!

Call on God for help. He loves you and is ready to forgive you and help you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for forgiving my sins. Help me to always rely on You and call on You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sight to Follow

3/28/2015

"And Jesus said to him, 'Go; your faith has made you well.' Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road." -Mark 10:52 (NASB)

Seeing in the dark is hard, but sometimes we find ourselves fumbling through the dark. As we move through the dark, we know we need to move slowly to avoid hurting ourselves. Once we reach the light switch or flashlight, then things can get back to normal. Our spiritual lives can be much like walking through the dark in search of the light switch.

In Mark (10:46-52) Bartimaeus is blind and in search of a cure. He is in need of physical sight. His faith in Jesus is strong enough that he continues to cry out, even after others try to silence him. Jesus hears the pleas of Bartimaeus and heals him because of his faith. In our lives, we don't need to fumble through the dark, blinded by our earthly concerns and desires and searching for the spiritual light in our souls. We need to call out for the light of Jesus to show us the way. Jesus will hear us and give us sight in the darkness. Once we see His light, we need to respond like Bartimaeus and follow Jesus down the road!

Don't fumble through the dark. Call on Jesus for the light, then follow Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for giving me the light of Your Son so that I can know Him and know You better. When I am lost in the dark help me to remember to call for His light and then follow Him. Through Jesus, the Light, I pray, amen.

Busybodies

3/27/2015

"For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good." -II Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NASB)

Many of us know people that are busybodies, people that cannot sit still and are constantly on the go. Some of us may even be one of those people! When we are busy and on the go, we need to stay disciplined and remember the reason for the work we are doing with our lives.

God has given each of us talents and skills that we can use to work for Him. We need to be sure we are focused, disciplined, and using our talents in the most effective way. To know what we should do, we need to be quiet enough to hear God's message. If we are too busy or too loud, we need to slow down, quiet down, and listen to the purpose that God has set for us!

Don't let being a busybody keep you from working for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me talents and a purpose. Help me to slow down and listen so that I can use my talents to further Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Helpers and Peace

3/26/2015

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." -John 14:27 (NASB)

When I was kid, I used to watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood on PBS. I recently came across a quote from Mr. Fred Rogers, who said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" Looking for helpers can give us peace of mind, even in the midst of calamity.

We can look for helpers and we can be helpers, showing love by extending helping hands. We can help each other feel peace, but we should remember that the love and peace we share are small in comparison to the love and peace of Jesus. Jesus came to earth and made the ultimate sacrifice, showing us love. He also promised us the greatest peace. We don't have to worry or be fearful, we should seek the abundant love and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Son that goes beyond anything the world can provide!

Don't worry or fear, but embrace the peace promised by Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the peace that You have given to me through Your Son. Help me to embrace that peace and to be a helper so that others can know Your the peace that You offer. Through Your Son I pray, amen.

Excel More!

3/25/2015

"Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more." -I Thessalonians 4:1 (NASB)

In teaching middle schoolers, I often find myself referring back to or repeating the directions more often than I think I should. As children or young adults (and sometimes as "older" adults), it can be difficult to follow directions the first time they are given. As children of God, we need to remember to listen to and review the directions we have been given.

God has given us directions in His Word, the Bible, and in the many examples of lives after which we can model our own lives. Even if we are walking with God and pleasing Him, we need to follow God's instruction, direction, and guidance for our lives, so we can excel more for Him. We can know God's instructions for our lives by reading the Bible, praying and communicating with God, and listening to His responses. Even if we think we are doing all we can, there is room to improve and still excel more!

Make sure you read the instructions and listen to God's guidance for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your instructions in the Bible and in the examples of the lives of the Godly men and women found in the Bible. Help me to continue to know Your instructions for my life so that I can excel more for Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

God or Man?

3/24/2015

"When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" -Acts 5:27-29 (NASB)

There are times when it is easy to go with the flow. We keep quiet, put our heads down so we're not noticed, and go about our ways. Sometimes silence is necessary, but we shouldn't give in to pressures from people or society when it goes against God's commands!

Peter and the apostles could have been quiet. They could have lived their lives without drawing the attention of many around them, but God gave them different commands. Even though following God's orders brought them before the Council, they knew that they had to obey God. As we live our lives, we must also listen to the path that God wants us to take and know when and how we should speak up for Him. God will be there with us each step of the way!

Who are you listening to: God or man? Be sure you are always prepared to obey God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and supporting me. Help me to know that You are with me and will protect me when I obey Your commands. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Mirrors and Tests

3/23/2015

"Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you - unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?" -II Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)

My daughter loves looking in mirrors. She can't walk by one without stopping to look at herself or make a funny face. She has learned that a mirror only reflects what is on the outside. Mirrors can remind us to reflect

Mirrors give us a chance to examine our physical selves, but we need to reflect and examine our spiritual selves, too. We need to be sure that we are following God's will and producing fruit for Him. We need to test ourselves to be sure that we have faith and are growing in our faith. Reflecting on our relationship with God can help us see our weaknesses. Talking to God can help us see how to strengthen those weaknesses in order to pass any test!

Remember that you need to examine your spiritual self so you can pass any test!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do for me. As I reflect on my relationship with You, help me to listen to You and grow in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Where are you headed?

3/22/2015

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." -Proverbs 16:9 (NASB)

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" -Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)

We can plan and we can think we know where we are headed, but there are times when we get redirected. Success, failures, and other events can push our lives in a certain direction. Even though we think we have everything planned out, God is the one directing our steps!

As God directs us, we should be open and ready to listen. Sometimes we fight God's direction for our lives. We think we know better, but we later realize the plan that God had in store for us. God promises to help us prosper, we need to be in constant prayer and communication with Him so we know we are headed in His direction!

Talk to God, then make your plans and allow Him to direct your steps!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for caring for me and for being willing to guide me steps. Help me to talk more to You as I plan, so that I am headed in Your direction. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Awesome and Loved

3/21/2015

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." -II Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

I recently received a message on social media reminding me that I am "awesome" and "loved". The creator of the message believed that we neglect to tell each other that we are awesome and loved. While we need to show love, we also need to remember the love that has made us awesome!

God's never-ending love allows us to know and share love. God sent His Son to die and offer us salvation. This salvation allows us to be a new creature, to shed our old ways, to change our lives, and to become awesome through the grace, mercy, and power of God. Once we remember that we are awesome because of God's love, we need to remind others and share God's awesomeness!

You are awesome! Praise God for His life-changing power!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and making me awesome! Help me to live for You and help others to be awesome through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Responding

3/20/2015

"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." -Colossians 4:6 (NASB)

It can be difficult to deal with people. Whether strangers, friends, coworkers, or family, some people can "push our buttons" and evoke a response that is often negative. When dealing with these people, we need to think about the advice of Paul and Timothy.

In their letter to the Colossian church, Paul and Timothy reminded the church to speak with grace and respond appropriately to each person. When teaching, teacher can change strategies to meet the needs of each student through "differentiated instruction." In dealing with people, we need to practice "differentiated responding". We need to know how to respond to each person in the best way possible for that individual. How do we know how to differentiate our response? We need to begin with a deep breath, a base of grace, and reliance on prayer to understand the wisdom and guidance of God in directing our words and actions.

Differentiate how you respond based on grace and God's guidance!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your guidance. Help me to remember to take a deep breath and respond in the way that You tell me is best for each person and each situation. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Role Model

3/19/2015

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life."
-I Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)

Even though I am getting older and have the responsibilities of adulthood, I sometimes find it hard to see myself as an adult. It can be even harder thinking of myself as a role model. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul gives all of us a reminder that we are role models!

We are all sinners, but we can be saved. Paul uses himself to demonstrate that the sacrifice of Jesus is powerful enough to save even the worst sinners. We can each be an example or a role model for the saving power of Jesus and for a life well-lived in Him!

Be saved by and live in Jesus so you can be a role model for others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me from my sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Help me to live me life as a role model for others searching for salvation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Surviving Floods

3/18/2015

"I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." -Genesis 9:11 (NIV)

Saint Patrick's day may bring thoughts of leprechauns and rainbows. Rainbows can brighten our day. They can also remind us of the treasure at the end of the rainbow, especially the greatest treasure of God's promises to protect us and keep us safe!

After God destroyed life with the floods, He promised to never flood the earth again. God showed this promise to Noah, his family, and all surviving creatures by giving the sign of a rainbow. While there are times in our lives that we might feel we are "treading water" to survive a "flood", we can be reminded by the rainbow that God is there with us to protect us. God has given us the rainbow to remind us of His promises and He has given us His Son to save us and help us safely through any flood that may come our way!

Remember the promise of the rainbow and then rely on God to survive your floods!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for everything that You give to me, including Your promises and salvation through Your Son. Whenever I am experiencing challenging times, help me to remember Your promise to protect me and help me to rely on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Judge, but Beware!

3/17/2015

"Do not judge so that you will not be judged." -Matthew 7:1 (NASB)
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." -Matthew 7:15 (NASB)

Sometimes we get caught up in things that sound good. As the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!" The message of God is an exception to this "rule". God's message both sounds too good and is true! Even so, there are times when people try to distort that message.

We are called to love others and not judge, but that doesn't mean we should be blindly accepting of everything we are told. We can leave the judgments up to God, but we do need to be discerning about the messages that people are sharing. Not everything is as it appears! Sometimes we have to make the choice to love someone while rejecting their message. We have to be prepared. How will we know God's truth? By reading His Word and talking to Him through prayer. God will protect us from false prophets as long as we are listening to the one true voice of God!

Don't judge, but beware. Prepare by listening to God's Word!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your protection from false prophets. Help me to know Your Word and listen to Your voice, so I can discern the false from the true. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Secret Pals

3/16/2015

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." -Matthew 6:2-4 (NASB)

At work, I am involved in a "secret pal" activity. Those involved have anonymously selected a "secret pal" and secretly give a small treat each week throughout the winter months and into the beginning of spring. Even in something small like being a "secret pal", we can get joy by giving a gift and brightening someone's day. Whether we are giving a something small or something large, whether it is a planned or spontaneous effort, we are making a difference, but we should take time to evaluate why and how we give.

Jesus warns us that we shouldn't be giving just to receive honor and glory from other people. If we give with the goal of earthly recognition, that is all we will receive. When we give and help others, we should do so out of love. When we give from love, like Jesus demonstrated for us, without thought or focus on earthly rewards, then we are truly giving for the right reasons and God will notice! We can be "secret pals", spreading love and joy to many people in all different ways!

Think about why you give, then be sure it is out of love like Jesus has shown you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have given me. Help me to act out of love, without regard for earthly reward, so I can help others and spread Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Go to Him and Learn!

3/15/2015

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

Life can make us weary. The challenges of life can seem heavy. Sometimes it is hard to get rest. When we are experiencing these feelings, we can turn to Jesus to help relieve our stress and heavy burdens.

Jesus taught us that we can bring our burdens to Him and He will help us. Jesus will trade His yoke for ours. His burden is light and will allow us to rest. He is gentle and humble, filled with love, and ready to make our lives easier. The hard part can be our unwillingness to let go. We have to go to Jesus and learn from Him, so our path will be smooth and the weight of our burdens will be light!

Go to Jesus so He can teach you and lighten your burden!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus and for His willingness to trade burdens with me so my burden will be light. Help me to remember to let go of what is weighing me down and help me to learn to be gentle and humble in the heart. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Think it through!

3/14/2015

"It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." -Proverbs 20:25 (NIV)

Middle schoolers are a unique group of students. They can be both mature and impulsive almost at the same time. Watching their behaviors and teaching them provides a reminder to take time to think things through, remembering that we have to live with our decisions.

When dedicating things, committing ourselves, or declaring things "holy", we need to take time to think through our actions. While it may seem easy to commit to or dedicate something in the moment, we will have to be able to stand up to (and with) the vows we make. Before we commit ourselves to an endeavor or declare something holy, we should seek God's guidance by asking Him through prayer and listening for His answer!

Don't act rashly! As God for wisdom as you dedicate things and make vows.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the reminder to think through my actions and commitments. Help me to rely on Your wisdom and guidance in all of my words and actions. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hard Days to Glorious Days!

3/13/2015

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." -Romans 8:18 (NASB)

Life isn't easy. There are challenges in life. There are times that we feel suffering and pain. Even in these difficult times, we can be reassured of glory and greatness when we look at God's big picture!

God is faithful and He has promised us glory in Him and through Him. He has provided us with a pathway to salvation. Even if the road is bumpy now, it will be paved with gold when we see the glory that He will reveal in us!

Take heart, turn to God, and prepare for better, glorious days!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me. Continue to guide me and comfort me in difficult, suffering days, so Your glory can be revealed in even me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Rejoice Always!

3/12/2015

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4 (NASB)

Some days are good and some days challenge us. Some days seem to fly by, while others seem to drag on and on. No matter what we are experiencing, we are never along. The Lord is with us and we should be thankful and rejoicing in all that He is and does for each of us!

Rejoicing and praising the Lord is one way to show our thankfulness, show our love, and acknowledge His power in our lives. He has given us salvation from our sins. He gives us love. He provides for us throughout our lives. Jesus is constant and never-ending. He gives us reason to celebrate and rejoice each and every day, so we should rejoice always!

Rejoice in the Lord for He is always with you and providing for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do for me. Thank You for the forgiveness You have given me and for all that You provide for me. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord, I pray, amen.

Dressed in God's Armor

3/11/2015

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." -Ephesians 6:11 (NASB)

Many of us depend on the weather forecast to help us know how to dress and prepare for the day. Whether bundling up in the cold or putting on shorts in the heat, grabbing the umbrella to keep us dry or sunglasses to protect our eyes, or any other choices of outfits, we like to be ready for whatever we will face. Spiritually, we need to dress for the occasion, too!

Whenever we head out into the world, we will face different environments with different climates. Some climates will seem warm and welcoming, while others might feel cold and uninviting. Regardless of the environment, the devil can be waiting and scheming against us. To be prepared, we must be dressed appropriately. Fortunately, God has provided us with the armor to wear. We just need to rely on His Word and put on His truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, and salvation as we prepare for each and every day!

Get dressed in God's armor so you can stand up against the devil!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing me with Your armor so that I can be prepared for anything the devil may bring my way. Help me to rely on Your Word in order to live for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Share!

3/10/2015

"And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." -Hebrews 13:16 (NASB)

Learning to share is a lesson that we learn early in life. Whether it is sharing with a sibling or sharing with classmates, we learn that we have to take turns and share. As we become adults, we sometimes seem to forget the lessons of sharing from our childhood!

Doing good and sharing are pleasing to God. There are lots of things we can share: God's love, our love, forgiveness, time, talents, resources, and the list could go on and on. Whenever we look around, we can begin showing God's love by sharing. Remembering the lessons we learned in our childhood, we should make the world a better place by doing good and sharing God's love with all those we meet!

Don't forget to do good and share!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love for me. Help me to please You by always doing good and sharing Your love through my words and actions. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

More than Silver and Gold!

3/9/2015

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." -I Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

When we speak of the value we place on something, we often assign a monetary value. We may say something is worth its weight in gold or we may even say it is priceless. What value would we place on ourselves, on our souls?

God loves each of us and values each of us. He values us beyond all of the silver and gold that can be found on earth. Gold and silver will one day be destroyed and so will the things that we give a value based on silver and gold. What won't go away is the presence of God and redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. God values us so much that He sent His perfect Son to redeem us. That shows that we are worth more than silver and gold!

You are worth more than silver and gold, so accept forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins and for allowing me to be redeemed through Him. Help me to live my life so others can know that they, too, are valued more than silver and gold! Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Growing Up!

3/8/2015

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ." -Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

My four-year old daughter reminds me often that she is growing up. At school, my students are also ready to be grown up, even though they are still in middle school. Both my daughter and my students don't realize that growing up is more than getting bigger or getting older. Growing up includes being more mature.

We are all children of God. Sometimes we think we are growing up and ready to be more than His children. We may think that we can do things on our own, but we need to remember that being grown up requires maturity and wisdom, not just getting bigger and older. To grow in maturity as individuals and as the church, we must speak the truth in love. As we rely on God for love and wisdom, we become His body, with Jesus Christ as our head. We grow up and become ready to continue to building the body and God's Kingdom!

Speak the truth in love and grow up in God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your love and Your truth. Help me to speak Your truth in love so that I and Your church can grow. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Doing What's Right

3/7/2015

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." -I Peter 3:14-15 (NIV)

It can be hard to do what is right. Sometimes when we stand up for what we believe, we can be ridiculed and "suffer". While it is not always easy, we know that standing up for what is good and righteous is better than the consequences of the alternative!

The author of I Peter reminds us that if we are ready and willing to do good, who can harm us? This is the attitude we should have in our lives. God has told us and shown us what is right, so we know it. God has revealed his grace, glory, and power through His Son, Jesus Christ, so we have hope in our salvation through Jesus. Since we know what is right and have hope, it is up to us to stand up and do what is right. Keeping Christ in our hearts and approaching others with hope, gentleness, respect, and love can further God's Kingdom and all that is right!

Know God and keep Christ in your heart so you can do what is right!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and showing me what is right. Help me to do what is right, standing up for You in whatever I face. Through Jesus I pray, amen.