Third Week of Lent ~ Saturday

​Christ suffered a physical, mortal and fleshly death to rise in Spirit and in Truth. When we live for good and we suffer for doing what is right in the kingdom, we may experience a disappointment or retaliation from the world now, but we rise higher in our Spirit with our Father.

This chapter is all about living for what is unseen. It is about leaving behind what is valued and treasured in the worlds eyes, and taking a hold of the value that God has for different things in the perspective of the Kingdom.

- Read 1 Peter 3

This passage is great in the New Living Translation.

- Devotional Thought

​This chapter opens with some counter cultural directions for a marrige in the life of a Christian. It talks about the value of the heart over the external image, the value of the living a godly life over living a anxious life. It’s not about one over another or one competing for another, it’s about building each other up, lifting the eyes of all to heaven.

It is not about my beliefs against anothers beliefs but about the way that I can show you love in how I treat you. That without speaking a word of scripture, I can preach to you.

It’s not about levelling up our actions or responses but since we have been instructed to live a good life, the one that is not widely accepted or received, that when we turn from doing what we know is not good in the kingdom, we receive our reward, with our father in heaven.

As we read yesterday and the day before, suffering is not a pointless mortal experience, but a godly reminder that we are not made for this alone, not made for flesh and bone and getting the upper hand, but you have been chosen by the Creator of the universe for something beyond here and now, beyond what you see and beyond how you are treated. Even the act of baptism, a washing and a cleansing is far more than going under and coming up. It’s removing the sin that so easily entangles us and being set from darkness into His light, from sorrow into His joy, from current into His eternal and everlasting life.

- Passage to focus on 

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

- Image for today 

Today's image is of a flourishing heart. Our reactions, attitude and outward approach comes from whatever is rooted inside. How we cultivate our internal world will deeply affect how we are able to navigate how we treat others.

- Prayer 

Father God,

It is not easy to follow your call on our life. We face opposition and we face trials every single day. Your way of life is so different to how the world expects us to live, but we know that the greater our struggle, the greater we get to lean into you.

We love you Lord and we declare that no matter what we face, you are the one we set our eyes on.

- Active idea

In the passage for today, we read a bit about turning away from evil. In our thoughts, words and attitudes. What lies are circulating your life now, how are they affecting what you say and what you think, how you treat yourself and others?

Thank you for joining me today! Hope to see you again soon!

Have a blessed Lent

~ X ~