Seeking Jesus First June 24, 2025
Why do we fight with Scripture? Why do we wrestle against The Word of God? As believers, even as those who are “spiritually mature”, we may seek to justify ourselves rather than allow the word to justify us.
We are sanctified and justified by The Word of God - not by our own words, thoughts or actions. Therefore, allowing God’s word to justify us carries the understanding of hearing, receiving, believing and doing God’s word. How can God’s word justify someone who does not hear and believe and receive? How does one claim to have believed and received if they reject the doing of it? Thus, ”faith without works is dead.”
When we read The Word, do we rationalize or do we believe and receive? Here is a test for us in 1 Peter 3:1-12. Do we believe and receive it?
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:1–12, NKJV)