Meditations

Meditations by Mark — Mark’s comments on CLP Sunday School lessons. Read them for personal encouragement and challenge as well as for preparation for Sunday School class or some other study of the Scripture passages.

Please feel free to use the comments to add your own perspectives and questions.

Be as the Bereans of old — study the Scriptures to be sure these things are so. And if you find something amiss or unbiblical, please let me know — I do not want to be in error!

Oh, and you can find more of these archived at my Anabaptists site. For more than a decade, I wrote a page called “Applications for Youth” in the Sunday School quarterly for youth produced by Christian Light Publications. I have most of them online at Thoughts for the Week.

The Believer’s Deliverance

2 Peter 2:1-14, 19-21

Deception among God’s people is nothing new (2 Peter 2:1). Neither is it something that the New Testament church is immune to.

As those who have been bought, redeemed, and rescued from perdition (2 Peter 2:1), let us beware lest we ourselves go back into it (Hebrews 10:39). May the way of truth never be blasphemed because of our living (2 Peter 2:2).

God provided Noah a way of escape (2 Peter 2:5), provided Noah believed and obeyed. Noah is a great example of faith at work doing the work of faith.

We live in a time when the example of Sodom and Gomorrha (2 Peter 2:6) is forgotten or ignored, explained away or shrugged off.

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7). For me, this is one of the Bible’s great astonishing and convicting statements. I look at the witness of Scripture against Lot and I see a man who went further and further among the ungodly. Eventually he even offered up his virgin daughters for the sexual pleasure of perverted men! The time came when angels had to forcibly remove him from Sodom. “Just Lot” and “righteous man” indeed! And yet the licentious behavior around him wore at him. Read it all

The Believer’s Stability

2 Peter 1:12-21

“I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Just like John and Jude in their epistles! So let’s not forget two lessons:

We don’t always remember what we know.
We need someone who does remember to remind us.

Remember: forgetfulness of God and His work leads to bad things. Don’t resent and resist reminders to do good and live right. Read it all

The Believer’s Character

2 Peter 1:1-11

Obtaining faith is essential, but I must not remain static in my faith (1).

To experience God’s grace and peace, develop your relationship with Him (2).

He has empowered us for life, godliness, glory, and virtue. If it has to do with real life and with being godly, He has given it to us! We get this by knowing Jesus (3).

His promises make me a partaker of His own nature. Those who are sharers of His divine nature will live according to that nature (4).

What I do must be part of adding to my faith (5).

We are called to growth (5).

We aren’t saved by the skin of our teeth (11)!

Our life here should be fully engaged in being faithful followers of Jesus (11).

Some words in 5-7 and 10 Read it all

The Believer’s Submission and Steadfastness

1 Peter 5:1-14

Am I Resisting?

What the devil is up to today:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

What I am up to today?

“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9).

What God is up to today!

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Unless I remember — continually, consciously — life consists of far more than I can see, I frequently will be lunchmeat for the roaring lion. And not only I, but also those for whom I am responsible — primarily my wife and children and, as patriarch, grandchildren.

Let me also remember — continually, consciously — to live by God’s grace. May I put behind me my careless, self-sufficient, ego-centric ways of dealing with life. Read it all

Acceptable Offerings

Why should God be satisfied with whatever He can get from us.

Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33

“Give of your best to the Master, give of the strength of your youth.” In the Old Testament, God refused any imperfect sacrifice. His standard has not been reduced. God wants our best. So many have the mentality that God should (and will) be satisfied with whatever He can get from us. No He won’t! He wants our best or nothing at all.

Oh, you say that you aren’t at your best yet…that you need to improve more before you can give it back to the Master? God wants your current best! You can always give your best. Always.

He wants you to give your best heartily and with your might because when you reach the grave your opportunities will be exhausted. I assume you entertain the great expectation of going to be with the Lord when you die. That means you are the Lord’s! That also means that while you are yet living here He expects to have you live for Him (Romans 14:8)! Read it all