Episodes

  • Jesus Leads Us to Eternal Light

    Jesus Leads Us to Eternal Light
    Sep 23 2024
    Jesus - the Light of the World - did not simply come to illumine our lives here but to lead us to His everlasting light! Revelation holds before us the hope of the new creation, our eternal abode where God’s presence, glory, and light (the lamp of the Lamb) alone beautify us and satisfy our every need. There may or may not be a literal sun and moon in the new cosmos; either way, the lamp of Christ is sufficient to make the saints resplendent. Moreover, the absence of night and darkness here emphasizes the fact that (1) nothing from the old world will be able to hinder God’s glorious presence from filling the new creation; and (2) God’s children will enjoy unhindered access to the full presence of Yahweh. God’s presence does not fully dwell in this creation because evil still resides here, and our access to God here is limited to faith, not actual sight. In the new creation, however, the age-long benediction of Numbers 6 reaches its fullest possible extent where God’s face forever and unhindered shines upon us.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Jesus Makes You to Shine

    Jesus Makes You to Shine
    Sep 16 2024
    When Jesus came into our heart with all of His light, He re-made us to shine His light right where we live, work, worship, and play. God didn’t give us His light so that it could be hidden or kept on the DL; rather, God gave us His light that we would shine brightly. Moreover, Jesus underscores our identity and calling when He says: “You, yourselves (emphasis), are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” This identity and calling is unique to Christians; no other people on earth can truly illumine this world. Moreover, we enlighten this world and bring glory to God when we do good works in His name, which is precisely what God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10).
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Jesus is the Transformative Light of the World

    Jesus is the Transformative Light of the World
    Sep 9 2024
    In a world that was captive to the darkness of sin, evil, and the evil one, God sent His Son to bring us true light. Granted, His light exposes our sin, yet just as quickly, He expels it from the deepest recesses of our being. In this way, exposure to His powerful light actually brings freedom and release from even the oldest habits, hurts, and hang-ups. As “children of the light” now, Jesus calls us (1) to walk as children of the light (i.e., in all that is good and right and true); (2) to discern what is pleasing to the Lord; (3) to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; and (4) to actually expose such works of darkness.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • I Am His Story: Suzie

    I Am His Story: Suzie
    Sep 3 2024
    Less than 1 minute
  • Standing Firm in Our Faith

    Standing Firm in Our Faith
    Aug 26 2024
    Continuing his thought from v5 on clothing ourselves with humility towards one another, Peter ends his epistle exhorting us from firsthand experience himself to humble ourselves under our faith in God (v6). Two particular ways in which we express our humble dependence upon God is: (1) by casting all our anxieties on Him as worry is a form of pride; and (2) being sober-minded and ever-watchful in faith given the constant danger of the evil one (v7-9). Our time of suffering here is short compared to the joys of eternity, and the God of all grace will exalt us on the last day when He restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes us and all creation in Christ (v6, 10).
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Standing Firm as a Shepherd

    Standing Firm as a Shepherd
    Aug 19 2024
    As part of Peter’s words to suffering Christians, he has a specific word for the shepherds who care for Christ’s flock. He calls shepherds/pastors to shepherd God’s flock via three exhortations: (1) pastors are to “shepherd” the church gladly in accordance with God’s will, instead of doing it out of a sense of compulsion; (2) they are to do the work of shepherd eagerly and not out of greed or for shameful gain; and (3) they are to serve as examples to the congregation, and not to use their place of leadership as a means to be domineering. Shepherds too have an endtime promise: “when the Chief Shepherd appears, they will receive the unfading crown of glory” (v4). Finally, both shepherd and sheep are exhorted to clothe themselves with humility towards one another, for the humble receive grace from God (v5).
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Standing Firm in Fiery Trials

    Standing Firm in Fiery Trials
    Aug 12 2024
    Peter tells us that “the heat will be turned up” as Christians in this world, but our “fiery trials” are tests by which we share in Christ’s sufferings. As ironic as it sounds, we actually “rejoice” in our trials that we may also “rejoice and be glad” when Christ’s glory is revealed (v13). Likewise, if we are verbally assaulted for the name of Christ now, in reality we are blessed in the Spirit who rests upon us (v14). Suffering as a Christian, therefore, is not to our shame but to the glory of God’s name (v16). God is the end-time judge for everyone (v17-18); so according to God’s higher will, when we do suffer for Christ-like behavior, we entrust our souls to our faithful Creator – just as Jesus did when He suffered (v19; 2:23).
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Standing Firm Against Worldly Passions

    Standing Firm Against Worldly Passions
    Aug 5 2024
    The suffering of Christ in the flesh once again (2:21; 3:18) functions as a model and inspiration for Peter’s readers. Though we live in the flesh, we die to our flesh and worldly passions daily and live rather for the will of God (v2). What kinds of worldly passions do we forsake? Peter lists living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry (v3). When we refuse to participate in these carnal lusts as perhaps we did formerly, we can expect some family and friends still in those behaviors to malign us. However, we do not answer to them and their desires for us; rather, Peter reminds us that our oppressors too will stand before Christ as judge. We draw inspiration to persevere against worldly passions from Christians who faced similar pressure and malalignment but now rest in the spirit with God. Moreover, because “the end of all things is at hand” and Christ’s return is imminent, we live self-controlled and sober-minded, devout in prayer and kingdom-work.
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    Less than 1 minute