The Gospel for the Philippines

Virtue: Moral Excellence "Add To Your Faith, Virtue" (1 Pet. 1:5a KJV).... "...but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior..." (I Peter 1:15). I once read about an individual who had traveled to interview for a position with a large business firm. The man had an impeccable resume, strong references, and solid experience in the field. During the interview, the man and the potential employer went for lunch at a local cafeteria. While in line, the job applicant hid a pat of butter under a slice of bread to avoid having to pay. After witnessing this behavior, the employer passed on hiring him. One pat of butter proved to be quite expensive. The man in the story lost out because he lacked integrity. Stealing a pat of butter may not seem like much, but from an employer's standpoint, it indicated a behavior that could possibly be costly to the firm in the long run. Peter, in 2 Peter 1:5 - 7, lists virtue as an attribute of the fruit of the Spirit. Believers validate faith by adhering to high moral standards. Notice in the queue of words that virtue comes immediately after faith. I believe this to be intentional, as it would be difficult for a believer to be credible if his or her morals are askew. I've never been one to "toot my own horn," but I recently experienced a personal situation that demonstrated the importance of virtue. I learned that an older lady in my town had requested that I deliver the eulogy at her funeral. When I asked why, one of her children said, "She believes you to be genuine in what you do." It warmed my heart, but it also reminded me that we live in a world of fruit inspectors. People notice what believers do. When people see me, I want them to see ripening fruit and an image of Jesus. Sing: "Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me" Pray: Father, may I always live a righteous and virtuous life - one that presents an image of Jesus. I give thanks for all of the blessings I have received. In Jesus' name, Amen. Kenny Westmoreland, Celina, TN (

Add Knowledge Text: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6 ESV). In a section of his writing, often referred to as "Confirm Your Calling and Election," Peter writes, "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge" (II Pet. 1:5). A little la...ter he writes, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Pet. 3:18). It is imperative that we understand: 1) the value and the type of knowledge in which we must grow and 2) the danger of not growing. In the early days of the church there were people who were referred to as Gnostics. Their goal was to obtain knowledge, any knowledge. Once knowledge was attained, whatever the topic, it was combined. They would declare themselves "the inventors of any sort of opinion which they may have been able to call into existence" (Against Heresies, I, 28, 1). Paul wrote to Timothy, instructing him to "guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you" (I Tim. 6:20-21). Peter is more specific. He exhorts us to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has a special knowledge in mind and this sets a precedent for the value of any knowledge gained. In addition to gaining the proper knowledge, we must then apply that knowledge. Our lesson text speaks of two grave errors relative to knowledge. One is a rejection of knowledge. The other is forgetting it, resulting in a failure to apply it. Peter says, "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins" (II Pet.1:9). If we grow in grace and faith, adding the things mentioned by Peter, including the proper knowledge, he assures us, "that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption" (II Pet. 1:4). Friends, don't be destroyed for lack of knowledge, rather grow in grace and knowledge which leads to eternal life in heaven. Hymn: "The Precious Book Divine" Prayer: Eternal God and Father, may we make every effort to supplement our faith to Your glory and to our salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen. Roy Allen Crutcher, Mount Carmel, IL

Add Perseverance To Your Self-Control ". . . and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness" (2 Pet. 1:6). Peter certainly knew a lot about self-control, or should I say the lack of it! He almost cut off the head of the Priest's servant at Jesus' arrest! He caved in to the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem at Antioch and refused to eat with the Gentile Christians in their presence. And how can we forget his deni...al of Christ, not only once, but three times? Shall we be less forgiving than our Lord who, foreseeing this fall, showed confidence that Peter would come around, repent, and become the great apostle Jesus knew he would become? Tradition puts Peter in Rome under Nero's reign, and that he was captured and crucified. His request was granted that he be crucified head down because he felt unworthy to be crucified as was his Lord. His request was granted according to this tradition. The two letters from Peter are biographical in the sense that we can learn a lot about someone from their writings. Peter was esteemed as a man, a Christian and as an apostle for what he was, despite his past foibles. He persevered to the very end. I'm sure He often recalled Jesus' words, "The one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt. 24:13). Peter was faithful "unto" death (Rev. 2:10), which means even if it means our death. Perseverance is a quality built on self-control. Our emotions have a powerful effect upon our actions, or decisions, or responses. Self-control reels in emotions that tend to blind us to God's reality. The fruit of self-control is perseverance. Other translations broaden our perception of his amazing word: patience, endurance, steadfastness. Like Peter, from time to time we fall off the tracks, we, like a poor trained hunting dog, chase our tail. And at times, worse than all that, we fall on our faces, break our noses! Plainly stated, we fail our Lord, and we fail ourselves. But like Peter, let's get up, brush off our pants, and get back in the game! Get back in the battle, fight like a warrior! Persevere!! Hymn: "Soldiers of Christ Arise" Holy Father keep us from those distractions that take us away from Your purposes. Help us to see things as they are, and not as the world sees things. May we see Your presence in our lives. Open our eyes so that we may see Your marvelous plan unfolding in front of us. Empower us to be faithful in the best of times and in the worst of times. In Jesus' name, Amen. Rob Redden, Arroyo Grande, CA

"Enter Thou Into Thy Chambers" "Come, my people enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be over past" (Is. 26:20, ASV). ... When Egypt and Assyria oppressed the Israelites and took them into captivity, God promised Israelites deliverance from their captors and to bring judgement on their captors. During this period, God promised to protect his people from the impending judgment, and had issued instructions "enter thou into thy chamber." Let us look at another verse, "And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip in the blood that is in the basin, and strike on the lintel and two side- posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning" (Ex. 12: 22). Moses' call to the Israelites here was for the purpose of the impending danger of the destroyer. Blood was to be splashed on the lintel and the door posts and the inside occupants were to stay indoors until morning. The presence of these blood stains was for the destroyer to pass over the house. In both incidents, the Israelites were asked to do certain things for a purpose. In the first incident, it was for the purpose of saving themselves from God`s judgement. And the second incident was for the purpose of God`s people escaping from the danger of death. But the verses do not say anything about coronavirus and they are not the fulfillment of Isaiah`s prophecy. Besides bringing fear and death, COVID-19 has also brought in suspicion and confusion amongst religious workers. It has given way for many fake prophets, apostles, fake miracle workers and date setters, with some going so far as to claim that Christ has arrived on earth and is secretly gathering his saints for the eternal home. The reality is, it is the world governments, and health workers who have been actively encouraging that everybody needs to self quarantine, so that the disease does not spread and number of deaths might be controlled. Song: "Send the Light" Our God, almighty Father, thank You for all the blessings of life. Especially I pray for those suffering with covid19. Help them to be relieved of their pain and suffering. Also pray for all those that are attending on the patients and give them good health. If it be Thy will may the vaccine for the disease be found soon. In Jesus name, Amen. Nehemiah Gootam, Kakinada, India