Daily Devotional
Does Anything Come Before Jesus?
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
1 Peter 3:15
May 22, 2023
Ponder This
Christians have faced bad times throughout history. Christians in the Roman Empire were perceived as enemies. The early Christians Peter wrote to were accused of insurrection because they would not proclaim Caesar as lord. Peter’s letter was more or less of a handbook for survival for Christians in that time. Peter spoke to those Christians in distress, and in verse 15, he said, “Sanctify the Lord.”
This is for us too. The very first thing we’re to deal with is the principle of lordship. “Sanctify the Lord.” You have to make up your mind that nothing will stand in the way of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you enthroned Him as Lord? Or have you come down the aisle of church and gotten baptized only because you want fire insurance and don’t want to go to Hell? He must be Lord. Everything in your life must get in line behind the lordship of Jesus Christ, never ahead of it. Our job is not ultimately to save America. Our first responsibility is not to preserve our freedoms, as important as they are. Our prime responsibility is to stand up for Christ and witness to His grace and His power, telling and showing the world, “Jesus is Lord.”
- What are some things that have come before, or threaten to come before, Jesus in your life?
- How do you need to take action to make Jesus Lord of your life?
Practice This
Talk with an accountability partner about how you can encourage one another to keep everything in line behind Jesus.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
