Your Word is a Lamp....

1Peter1 1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.   ***Not only foreigners in the natural sense...(many of whom were driven from Jerusalem by persecution from their fellow Jews - which would have been a hard thing)... But also foreigners in a spiritual sense (see vs17; ch2:11; Hebrews 11:13) - which is a glorious thing!*** 2  God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. (In other words: His Spirit has set you apart from the world, for God). As a result...(it is because of this that)...you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Read Ephesians 1:4-10; 2:8-9) In other words: Salvation is, in its entirety, the work of God’s grace - from start to finish...And this is why we ask for more -indeed, we need more!)... May God give you more and more grace and peace. The Hope...

 Scripture Reference: Matthew 25:31-46:  Coming back to the Cross: Who are these sheep and goats?  Read Luke 23:32-33 What do they look like? Read Luke 23:39-43.... what happened here (repentance or rebellion) marks the beginning of everything else. Our choice to either accept the sacrifice of Jesus or reject it is the difference between Heaven and Hell and when we accept it we must be aware of this. Like the rebel on the cross, we must be fully aware that we are accepting something we absolutely do not deserve and by no means could ever earn.  It is from this place that true gratitude is birthed and selflessness begins to arise. It is from this place that every valley is raised up; and every mountain leveled (Matt 23:12): Where who is the ‘least’ or the ‘greatest’ in this life becomes irrelevant (for all have sinned) and where, whether we’re doing for the ‘least’ or for the ‘greatest’, we’re doing for Jesus (Matt 25:31-46). Therefore if I do not, like this criminal,...