The Time Is Past

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 4-5

Live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (1 Peter 4.2-3)

Devotional Thought: Several years ago, my daughter was trying to coax my granddaughter to stay in her bed.  She told her the floor was lava!  Adalyn understood that Mommy meant she better not get out of bed.  After thinking for just a moment, however, Adalyn jumped out of bed and said, "I’m a ‘lava-human’!" In other words, "I won’t get burned!"

That’s funny for a small child who wants to get out of bed.  She really won’t get burned by walking on the floor.  But we can’t say the same thing about people who choose to ignore God’s warnings.

Newton's Third Law - For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction - applies spiritually as well as physically.  When we choose to do "what the Gentiles want to do," we are setting in motion things that will ripple for "the rest of the time in the flesh."

When people and societies choose to live "in the flesh," destruction is certain.  Consider the harm found by living in the ways that Peter mentions:

·       Sensuality: living for what feels good now has ruined families and nations.

·       Passions: acting without regard for others has made this a very dangerous world.

·       Drunkenness: living in a stupor robs people of dignity and responsibility.

·       Orgies: despising sexual morals has torn apart our social structure.

·       Drinking parties: expanding the opportunities for drunkenness has compounded society's ills.

·       Lawless idolatry: naming our own right and wrong has brought moral confusion and decay.

The time for such pursuits is past.

Prayer: Lord, it has become painfully obvious that living for human passions brings about misery and futility.  Help me to live for the rest of my time in pursuit of you and your ways.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 63.8-11

8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.