November 27

Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for a new day, a new start and another opportunity to be a follower of Christ. Give me the strength to stand in the face of adversity and grace sufficient to see me through. Today I give You my all. In Your precious name, Amen.

Read: 2 Peter was written during the height of the persecution of Nero (the guy who burned Christians for lamps in his courtyard). The opening chapter begins the process of denouncing the teachings of false teachers who were causing people to doubt their faith and turn away from Christianity. Peter writes to these confused Christians and reminds them that a “life of moral excellence” (vs. 5) is produced by faith that is put into action and all of this comes from knowing God. Peter reminds believers that God will provide for all of their needs and that they must practice patient endurance (vs. 6). 

Have you ever listened to someone speaking or teaching and wondered what Bible they got their information from? I can only imagine that this is the audience that Peter is writing… a bunch of confused followers of Christ who have been given some bad teaching and were starting to wonder what the truth really was.

Edify: Are you like King Nebuchadnezzar or do you know someone who is? Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged and even praised God, but never fully and completely submitted to Him and Him alone. There are many people who call themselves Christian that attend worship on a regular basis, maybe they are in a life group, or maybe they even serve… but they haven’t fully given themselves over to God and trusted Him with their whole heart. My study Bible says it this way… “profession doesn’t always mean possession.” Does your life line up with what you profess to be true? Is the way you live a reflection of Christ or does it depend on the time and place as to what you reflect?  

This was ultimately Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall. He never gave God anything more than lip service. God wants our hearts all of the time… not just on Sunday or when we need something or when it’s convenient. To be a fully devoted follower of Jesus means just that… fully devoted. 

Practice: Focus on your walk with God and your dedication to being a student of Scripture. Beginning with daily Bible reading is good, but have you ever done some research on something that wasn’t quite clear? Have you spent any time reading the notes if you have a study Bible? Let’s take a few extra minutes today to become a student of Scripture rather then merely a reader of Scripture.