TUESDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2023
TEXT:
1 Peter 3:8-22
8:
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these
stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9:
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not
produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10:
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11:
John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has
none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12:
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we
do?”
13:
“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14:
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t
extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
15:
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if
John might possibly be the Messiah.
16:
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful
than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17:
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather
the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18:
And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news
to them.
19:
But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias,
his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
20:
Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
21:
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was
praying, heaven was opened
22:
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice
came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
CHRISTIAN DUTIES
Today's
text outlines the responsibilities of Christians which seem to have eluded the
church in Nigeria. The responsibilities are as follows:
To
live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic (feeling the problems of
others); living a life of brotherly love; and be compassionate, humble and
never pay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessings (vs. 8-9).
All
of these are against the norms of the day. Yet Christ wants Christians to be
different because He sees everything and will judge the evil doers (vs. 10-12).
Christians
also have the obligation not to give in to fear but make Christ their Lord and
be prepared to give a good account of their faith when malicious people speak
ill against Christians (vs. 13-19).
QUESTION:
How are you living out your calling and duties as a Christian even in the face
of suffering and persecution?
PRAYER:
Thank You. dear Lord, for calling me and giving me a responsibility as a
Christian. Help me to fulfill my duties and not to fail in the face of
suffering and persecution, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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