Peter talks about submitting and suffering and often those go together. Submitting can be very hard, especially when we are submitting to what we see as wrong, unfair, or just plain ridiculous. However, the Lord still calls us to submit and trust Him.

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

Peter calls wives to “be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct… as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.” Remember that Sarah’s husband, Abraham, selfishly and foolishly passed her off twice to foreign rulers to save his own neck (Gen 12 & 20). However, despite her husband’s foolish decisions, Sarah submitted and trusted God with her life and with transforming her husband. The Lord protected Sarah and used her to grow Abraham into a godly man who fully trusted the Lord and walked by faith. So we see that submission isn’t a form of weakness at all. It actually takes a person strong in their faith to be able to submit and trust the Lord.

So even if we are suffering unjustly, we can trust God. And during our trials, we can point others to the One, Jesus Christ, that gives us hope so we may endure – “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”

Pain and suffering are part of living in a fallen world, and suffering for the sake of Christ in this dark world is to be expected – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you… Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Tomorrow we will read Peter’s second letter, so keep reading. (1 Peter 2:4-5:11)

Today we read the final words to the Hebrews where the writer tells them that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Therefore, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines… Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Then we begin reading the first of two letters written by Peter shortly before his death during the persecution of Nero in Rome. His first letter is written to Christians dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Peter encourages the Christians, who are under great persecution, to endure and remain faithful to Jesus, whose life and death provide them with living hope of eternal salvation. Therefore, they do not need to fear their persecutors because no one can take away their eternal salvation that is kept by the power of God for those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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, whom having not seen you love… Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’”

More from Peter tomorrow, so keep reading. (Hebrews 13:1-25, 1 Peter 1:1-2:3)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 12/20:

Today the author of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The writer says it is by faith that we believe that the universe was created by the word of God. Then he gives the Hebrews a history lesson of people who walked by faith, beginning in the Creation Era.

Creation Era:

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”

“By faith Enoch [Seth’s descendant] was taken away so that he did not see death…”

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Patriarch Era: 

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance…”

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age…”

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son…”

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph…”

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

Exodus Era: 

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents…”

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter…esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king…By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood…By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land…”

Conquest Era: 

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”

“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

Judges Era and forward: 

“Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment…”

“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.”

The promise of the coming seed was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Those in the Old Testament were saved by faith, looking forward to the coming Savior, the final sacrificial Lamb, just like we today are saved by faith looking back at what Jesus did for us on the cross. So although the ones in the Old Testament did not see the fulfillment of all of God’s promises in their lifetime, God did deliver on His promise He made back in the garden to Adam and Eve, to send a Savior. So we can be assured that He will deliver on the promise that one day Jesus Christ is returning, and in that day He will restore all that is broken. 

Therefore, the writer of Hebrews tells us to live our lives, enduring this day, trusting in the Lord and His promises, and expectantly looking forward to that Day, the Day Jesus returns – “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

Tomorrow we conclude the letter to the Hebrews and begin a letter written by Peter. Keep reading. (Hebrews 11:1-12:29)

Today the author of Hebrews tell us that Jesus Christ is the High Priest of a new covenant which is better than the old covenant under the Law of Moses; for he “has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

Under the first covenant, the high priest went alone inside the tabernacle behind the veil to the “Holiest of All” once a year to offer sacrifices “for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” This act was symbolic of the work that was done through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice and foundation of the new covenant. “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Back in the garden, after the fall, the Lord established the way to approach Him when He killed an innocent animal to atone for the sins of Adam and Eve. Then He covered them in that animal’s skin, illustrating that the shedding of the blood of the innocent atones for the sins of the guilty. In the wilderness with Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites, the Lord gave rules and regulations regarding the sacrificial system. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Therefore Jesus “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself… so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many… By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

We end the reading with a word of encouragement to the Hebrews to persevere and draw near to Christ “with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching… Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading. (Hebrews 8:1-10:39)

Today the author of Hebrews says that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ. And because Jesus suffered many trials and temptations while on earth, as we do, He can empathize with our suffering. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

Our inclination can be to run to family and friends with our problems instead of first going to the One who is in charge, the Lord. We have a Savior who knows us and loves us more than any other person. In fact, Jesus loves us so much that He went to the cross and died a horrific death for us becoming “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” So we can trust Him with our lives, and we can trust that His ways are for our good regardless of our feelings.

The author continues by rebuking the Hebrews for being lazy Christians – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

All Christ followers should be growing in the knowledge of Jesus and sharing with others. We are not called to be lazy, passive Christians who want to be entertained and who constantly have to be fed by others like a baby. We are called to be ones who are actively pursuing the knowledge of our Savior to help mature other Christians and to share the good news of Christ with this lost and dying world.

The author then compares Jesus to Melchizedek, a king and priest who entered the scene of this story in the beginning, during the Patriarch Era (Gen 14:17-24). Melchizedek was without genealogy, just like Jesus who entered the scene without genealogy as a seed from outside of the human race – “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated ‘king of righteousness,’ and then also king of Salem, meaning ‘king of peace,’ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.”

Melchizedek, who has no recorded ancestry and was both a priest and a king, was a foreshadow of the coming Priest, King Jesus Christ. As Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, so the Levites receive tithes from the people according to the law. But these tithes would not provide salvation, just as the Levitical priest could not provide salvation. The Levites were broken sinners just like everyone else. Therefore, they had to offer sacrifices for themselves before they could offer sacrifices on behalf of others. There was still a need for a Savior to come from the outside – “For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.”

Mary and Joseph are both from the tribe of Judah. Jesus came as a seed from heaven, was birthed by Mary, and became the perfect High Priest and “a surety of a better covenant… For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.”

The perfect work of our salvation was completed on the cross when Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, laid down His life as the final sacrificial Lamb. The free gift of eternal life is now available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus as their Savior. More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading. (Hebrews 4:14-7:28)

The letter to the Hebrews explains that, in the past, the Lord spoke through prophets. But in these last days, God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ, “the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Jesus is more excellent because He is the Son of God, whom even the angels worship.

In the beginning of this story, the Lord gave dominion to Adam and Eve over all things on the earth. But when they did not exercise their dominion over the serpent and gave in to the temptations from Satan, that dominion was transferred to Satan and his evil powers. These powers are described in Ephesians 6:12 as the rulers of darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. However, God sent Jesus “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).

Jesus came so “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” And one day Jesus will return and destroy all evil for eternity.

Jesus “has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

The author warns the Hebrews not to go astray in their hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness with Moses during the Exodus Era – “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). A sign of a true believer’s faith is their endurance to the end. God promises an ultimate rest for those who endure, trusting in Jesus and His word – “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading. (2 Timothy 4:19-22, Hebrews 1:1-4:13)

Paul instructs Timothy to pass down what was taught to him about Jesus Christ to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” It is crucial, as disciple makers, that we aren’t seeking to entertain the crowds and build our own platforms. Disciple making is intentionally pouring into others who will reproduce by teaching others the word of God and how to walk with the Lord. If you are pouring into others, deep bonds will form like Paul and Timothy’s, but the goal of disciple making is multiplication. That’s why Paul says we are called to be diligent like soldiers for Christ spreading the gospel – “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 

Paul exhorts Timothy, who has followed in his footsteps, to continue growing in the things that he has learned, beginning when he was a boy and was taught by his mom and grandmother – “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul speaks of the importance of understanding the Bible, the power of God’s word, and our call to share truth from Scriptures – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul ends his letter encouraging Timothy to finish well as Paul has done – “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing… At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

We live in a world where many have turned their backs on the word of God. As Christ followers, we are called to endure and continue teaching sound doctrine from the Bible, until God takes us to our eternal home.

Tomorrow we begin reading a letter written to the Hebrews (it is debated whether or not Paul is the author of this letter). Keep reading. (2 Timothy 2:1-4:18)

In the ministry there are many false teachers who are in it for their own personal gain and recognition. Paul ends his first letter to Timothy encouraging him to remain faithful – “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses… O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”

Paul also writes a letter to Titus, who Paul left on Crete, so that he would “set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.” Paul warns Titus of the false teachers who are teaching what “ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain… They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

Paul exhorts Titus to rebuke the false teachers and to promote right teaching. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Paul says that once we all were “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul concludes his letter to Titus telling him to “avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

We end today’s reading with Paul writing another letter to Timothy shortly before his death in Rome, around 64 AD, during the persecution of Nero. Paul, probably knowing that death is near, encourages Timothy to stand firm in his faith, “which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

More from Paul to Timothy tomorrow. Keep reading. (1 Timothy 6:11-21, Titus 1:1-3:15, 2 Timothy 1:1-18)

Today Paul gives Timothy standards for choosing church elders and deacons as well as the guidelines for the caring of widows.

Elders – “Must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Deacons – “Must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience… Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”

Widows – Paul instructs the church to let her family take care of her first. However, if she does not have a family, the church is to provide for her. But Paul tells them to refuse the young widow; “For when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

We end the reading with Paul stressing the importance of being content with what the Lord has given you in this life – “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Tomorrow we conclude this letter to Timothy, read Paul’s letter to Titus, and begin Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Keep reading. (1 Timothy 3:1-6:10)