Godliness: Eternal Perspective
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
"Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness."
2 Peter 3:10-13 NLT
Thoughts for Today
It's so easy to get caught up in the things this world values—things like possessions, popularity, power, bank accounts, and leisure—and let them extinguish our desire for holiness and the things of God.
Today's scripture reminds us how temporary this world is. We need to live in a way that reflects our knowledge of what is to come. The things the world values will be destroyed. We shouldn't build our lives around them. Instead, we should seek to live a godly and holy life. To make an eternal difference by sharing the love of Jesus with others.
Consider this …
We need to focus on eternal pursuits. Righteousness. Godliness. Faith. Endurance. Love. "Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live."
Focus on preparing for the eternal. Focus on helping others get ready for the eternal. Everything else should pale in comparison.
Prayer
Father, I know I get caught up in the day-to-day busyness of life. I often place far too much importance on things that really won't matter in the long run. Please forgive me and help me live with an eternal perspective. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …Insight Group: Discover the Path to Christian Character by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. With its emphasis on developing Christian character, it is a powerful group for those who want to be sure to prevent life-controlling problems from developing in their lives, as well as for those who need to overcome a current problem.
- It enhances people's understanding of themselves and others.
- It helps people bond together in meaningful relationships.
- It helps prepare people for more meaningful relationships in subsequent small groups like home groups and Sunday school classes.
- It surfaces people for help who may otherwise never seek help.
- It helps break down the segregation of people in churches, turning "those people" and "our kind of people" into just "us."
- It helps prepare people to minister to others.
- It serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by ministering to people's felt needs and then pointing them to Christ.
Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
©Living Free 2019. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
©Living Free 2018. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
