Meditate. How are you living your life today? How will you live your life tomorrow…next week, next month…or all through the New Year?

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:1-6

 

Living your life like Jesus? That is a tall order. Jesus was sinless—and although we can never be truly sinless, we can make choices that result in holiness. God had rules for living a pure life—that included what the Israelites were to eat and how they were to treat each other. We would do well to observe that advice, too. Peter wrote about holiness in his letter to the church…which applies to us.

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

Sometimes when I am reading scripture I just get caught up in verse after verse. I think that is a God thing. He wants us to treasure His word. May a share a few more verses with you? We can never have too many reminders about God’s love for us…and Christ’s sacrifice for our sin.

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 1 Peter 1:17-23

We are in the last days. Peter’s words remind us that eternal life is just that. It will last forever—and my question for you today is…where will you spend eternity? I have the assurance that as a believer, I will be with Jesus forever. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior—you’ll be spending eternity with Him. Live your life today as Jesus did.

 

Prayer ~ Lord God, You have a plan…For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 1:9. Thank You for including me in Your Plan.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. - 1 Timothy 4:16 NLT

 

© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://www.blueletterbible.org

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins of the Bible: New Testament Stories

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Do you have a daily devotional for next year?

May I suggest the Parenting Day by Day?