1Peter 2:1-10 KJV 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The tranformation from night to morning, is like a transformation by noon is only remember by the clock of coming once more. Time goes through a cycle, Faith is never changing, it begins with belief and their times our faith maybe hidden by the darkness around us, but it last night for the Praise God must come forth from those that believe. What am talking about a believer when he first receives Christ, he/she desire the milk of the word. Even word of God seems ever so precious. After all we follow the living stone, the rock and foundation of our faith as a child. His name is Jesus in whom we follow. We learn that obedience is important to our faith. Then one begins to wonder what is wrong in our life. How are we in disobedience to our Lord. Sin we understand is in direct disobedience to God, but it more then that, everything we do or say is noted in our minds as being right or wrong. The Holy Spirit speaks to the heart of whether what we do is good or bad. Then the war of faith begins when it comes to those things we enjoy that are hearts are pricked over. One goes to a party, and their beer and drugs, and even if you participate not in the things that corrupt the mind, you in the presence of the things that will corrupt your mind. Jesus went to one wine party, a wedding feast and even made more wine. Yet he was not drunkard. See most people serve the good wine before the people get drunk not after. We can assume their were some drunk at the wedding, but not all. Story in John 2. Jesus was among sinner, but not a sinner. No I am not saying go to such a party of drunkness, but remember if you find yourself at a party consider are you serving God there too. If being somewhere or doing something that is on the line of sin, best thing is if you can not resist the sin do not be present. If you have no trouble resisting, and can be witness go. One must ask where are we as newborn christians looking for answers on rights and wrongs of situations. Who will know if you have changed but your friends. Some friends will reject you and others will want to change too. Our job as believers is to show forth the praise of God. Who needs to hear the praises of God, and the testimonies of God but people who believe not. Every believer loves a good testimony of God and how God is working in other's lives, but those that need to hear about the power of God is the lost. It is by our testimony of God's grace and mercy that people desire the hope of faith too. God can use our testimony of praise to speak to the heart of the sinner. Speak to the heart of man. It not just scripture that speaks, but the Spirit of God of truth that speaks testimony and praises of God to both a believer and non believer. The testimony and praise does not have to be grand story of much detail, for God saves us where we are, and our testimony may be simple, not complex but we still know the power of God. There is something I got to say, what happens when our testimony stops echoing from our mouth to the world. Is our light gone. No it like we hiding it for a time, because our obedience to God is not where it should be. It is okay that our testimony is not so alive during the dark times in our life, See Christ came to shine in our life. He does shine in our life, but as children we make decisions of obedience. When we live in disobedience Christ light does not shine of the hope, we have in him. Yet Christ called us out of the darkness of sin for us to return, no. However our humanity creeps in. We begin doing things we should not do. We fail to walk by the Spirit. One might ask if we love God and love His Son and the Holy Spirit how can we walk in disobedience to His will? Jonah ran out of fear, Moses was angry and hit the rock twice, and Samson, he desired a woman in the neighboring town. Jonah turn around after spending time in the belly of a fish. Moses continued his journey leading the people and Samson would destroy the idol temple. All Jews all called to serve God but not all going in the right direction all the time, or without following their own desires or ways. Yet the light of God still showed forth through these men. I really love going around robinhoods barn to get to the point, the light of God is going to shine forth in the believer, but in times of our humanity God not shining, until we turn back around. God called us to be peculiar and to be obedient. Yet are we living in disobedience. If the temptation of sin is at the door and you want to turn the door knob and sin, consider turning away. The door of sin is closed to you as a believer. You have to turn the knob to open door of sin to enter it. God has called us to be peculiar people to walk in the light of Christ. To desire the milk of the word. To desire to testify of the greatness of God. First rule is obedience to turn from sin, the second rule is to love and forgive as Christ loves and forgive each of us. If we turn the knob, make sure you turn around and lock the door, do not go further then to turn the door knob's lock on. If you fail to resist, get up dust yourself, repent and run back to the light of Christ. Sounds simple but often it hard because we know we are disobedience children and we failed. God does not want us to fail, he wants to continue to walk in His light so that we will shine for Him. Do not worry if you like Jonah, Moses or even Samson, God can use you, just get to that place of surrendering it all to Jesus. Get to that place where you realize the marvelous light you walked in was the best thing that ever happened to you. Peter even fell when the rooster crowed. We are after all saved by grace, not by our works. We are called to be a royal priesthood to show forth His praise. Dear Heavenly Father, help us to walk as peculiar people unto God. To walk in your light and not open the door to sin, but if it should open even a crack that you will help us lock the door of sin. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Ephesians 2:4-10 KJV 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. http://www.turtle30cshell.com