Reflections of a lost sheep

  31 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Our atoning sacrifice Sometimes it is difficult to forgive those who wrong us. Imagine how hard it would be to forgive everyone, no matter what they had done! This is what God has done in Jesus. No one, no matter what he or she has done, is beyond forgiveness. All a person has to do is turn from his or her sin, receive Christ's forgiveness, and commit his or her life to him. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————- Reflections Jesus died for us and for our sins. He became our atoning sacrifice once and for all so that no more sacrifices need to be made. The only criteria is that we turn our eyes and hearts to Jesus, accept that He died for our sins, recognise that we are sinners, come to Him to confess our sins and seek His forgiveness and commit our lives to Jesus. As we come to the last ...

  30 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Confession of sins Here, John was attacking the second claim of the false teachers: that people had no natural tendency toward sin, that they "[had] no sin,'' and that they were then incapable of sinning. This idea is at best self-deception and at worst a bald-faced lie. The false teachers refused to take sin seriously. They wanted to be considered Christians, but they saw no need to confess and repent. The death of Christ did not mean much to them because they didn't think they needed it. Instead of repenting and being purified by Christ's blood, they were encouraging sin among believers. In this life we are always capable of sinning, so we should never let down our guard. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————- Reflections This verse from 1 John 1:8, usually follows by the next verse in verse...

  29 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Be ready for His return We should not become lazy and complacent because Christ has not yet returned. Instead, we should live in eager expectation of his coming. What would you like to be doing when Christ returns? That is how you should be living each day. “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ———————— Reflections I think while working would be nice? Hahahaha. Definitely not while I was sleeping as I sleep like a log and with messy hair hahaha. Well jokes aside, we definitely should be in a state of continuous readiness. Just like a guard or watchman who is on standby, always ready, armed, protected and never let our guards down.  This constant state of readiness is also what prepares us for His coming. The anticipation that He can come this evening or evening ...

  28 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Repentance before the year ends God may have seemed slow to these believers as they faced persecution every day and longed to be delivered. But God is not slow; he just is not on our timetable. Jesus is waiting so that more sinners will repent and turn to him. We must not sit and wait for Christ to return, but we should live with the realization that time is short and that we have important work to do. Be ready to meet Christ any time, even today; yet plan your course of service as though he may not return for many years. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections I was writing my refl...

  27 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion He will return "In the last days'' scoffers will say that Jesus is never coming back, but Peter refutes their argument by explaining God's mastery over time. The "last days'' is the time between Christ's first and second comings; thus, we-like Peter-live in the last days. We must do the work to which God has called us and believe that he will return as he promised. “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.””2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ———————— Reflections Do you believe in Christ’s second coming? Do you know that He will come at an hour nobody will know? There are many people out there who has been Jesus is coming back at x date and the ...

  26 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Chosen by God Peter wanted to rouse the complacent believers who had listened to the false teachers and believed that because salvation is not based on good deeds, they could live any way they wanted. If you truly belong to the Lord, Peter wrote, your hard work will prove it. If you're not working to develop the qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7, maybe you don't belong to him. If you are the Lord's-and your hard work backs up your claim to be chosen by God ("called and chosen'')-you will never be led astray by the lure of false teaching or glamorous sin. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————— Reflections “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-c...

  25 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Keep doing what is right It is not shameful to suffer for being a Christian. When Peter and John were persecuted for preaching the Good News, they rejoiced because such persecution was a mark of God's approval of their work. Don't seek out suffering, and don't try to avoid it. Instead, keep on doing what is right regardless of the suffering it might bring. “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections I was just thinking and also reflecting that being Christian is tough work. I guess nobody also said that it is going to be easy except for certain places who preached prosperity gospels. We all know that the Lord holds us up to certain standards and the whole world looks at us with those standards as well. Even before a Christian open their mouth, they are already being judged. It i...

  24 Dec 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Using your gifts to serve others Some people, well aware of their abilities, believe that they have the right to use their abilities as they please. Others feel that they have no special talents at all. Peter addresses both groups in these verses. Everyone has some gifts; find yours and use them. All our abilities should be used in serving others; none are for our own exclusive enjoyment. Peter mentions speaking and serving. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections Just about two days ago,...