You Are Good, We Give Thanks, All the Glory, So Faithful, Christ Be Magnified

If someone would do a ChatGPT or Google search on you, what description about you or your life would come up?

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

For all of us who are followers of Jesus, let us make a commitment to live for our Heavenly Father’s pleasure this coming new year. We can do so in three simple ways:

To know what pleases God and how we may please our Heavenly Father, we must know Him more. What we learn about Christ in our passage today is that He suffered. Jesus Christ suffered though He didn’t deserve to suffer for He never sinned. He took on the mantle of suffering for our sake — to pay for our sins. His suffering had a higher purpose, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus was able to bear His suffering because He also had absolute knowledge that He would rise again. We must have the same attitude when we go through suffering in this world. God allows His children to suffer not because He’s mean, but that there’s a higher purpose being accomplished through it and there is a great reward at the tail end (1 Peter 4:1). Scripture tells us that in this life, there will be trouble, but Jesus tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world. When we suffer the consequences of our wrongdoing or wrong decisions, we learn to avoid doing the same things. As believers in Christ, our conduct must change, putting aside our sinful ways (v.2). Instead, we must live in accordance with God’s will. To know God and His will, we must…

READ ABOUT GOD

God, the Author makes Himself known through His word and it is the medium through which our transformation takes place (1 Peter 1:23). Upon joining a company, you read their manual to know the benefits you can expect and to know what is expected of you (1 Peter 2:1-3). “God formed us. Sin deformed us. The Bible informs us. But Jesus transforms us.” Our lives need to go through a dark phase to turn the “negatives” into “positives”, to get a glorious result after the process is done. “Conversion without formation is fragility”, when you’ve been transferred from darkness to light, but you do not mature in the process, then it won’t take much problems, trials and persecutions for you to fall apart. This is what happens when we don’t practice what we learn from God’s word (Matthew 7:26-27). Spurgeon said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” You should meditate on God’s Word, read it thoughtfully and most importantly, to listen to our Master’s voice to obey Him. Much like how a loyal dog is alert to its master’s command to obey it. Application is very important because even if we know so many Bible verses but don’t apply them, God’s word will not have much effect on us. As A.W. Tozer wrote, “Let us start reading our Bibles with the thought that God means exactly what He says.”

Some people may give the excuse of busyness for not reading the Bible, but if something is important to you, you will carve out time for it. If we can watch K-dramas daily, surely, we can make time for God’s word! Others say that they can’t understand Scripture, but as St. Jerome said, “The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning, and deep enough for a theologian to swim in without ever reaching the bottom.” Even if you’ve read the Bible daily for decades, there are fresh insights that you will glean today that you’ve never had before. As you apply God’s word, there are those who may mock you because your conduct has changed (1 Peter 4:3-4).

SHARE ABOUT GOD

It’s not just about what you say but what you do that’s important in how you live your life as a child of God (1 Peter 2:12, 15-16). “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words” (St. Francis of Assisi). What is needed for people to believe the gospel we preach is for them to see it lived out, more than just spoken. Those who mock or abuse you because of your testimony will be accountable before God for what they say and do (1 Peter 4:5-6). Many believers fear that people will fight them and be nasty towards them if they share Christ to them. We need not fight them, but with great love and concern share God’s truth with them (1 Peter 3:15). Do not be discouraged even if there are those who reject you…they are not actually rejecting you but Christ. But there are those who also have positive reactions to the gospel. They get to reflect on how they’ve been living and are given the opportunity to repent. Seize the opportunity to share the gospel while people are still on earth (1 Peter 4:5-6). God will cause the growth in the seeds of the gospel that we plant, and others will water along the way and someday, these lives will bear much fruit!

LIVE FOR GOD

Today, more than ever, we can see, hear and even feel that the end of days is near (1 Peter 4:7). The Bible has 31,102 verses; how do we begin to make sense of God’s Word? Like a huge jigsaw puzzle, start at the edges and Revelation is at the very edge of Scripture.  Jesus declared, “LOOK, I AM COMING SOON!  …” and we need to obey His word (Revelation 22:7). We are also promised rewards if we live properly and so we’re to emphatically agree for Jesus to come soon (Revelation 22:12, 20)! Because the end is near, we are instructed to live for God, to conduct ourselves towards others in a way that gives glory to Him and as a witness for Jesus to others (1 Peter 4:8-11).  Be a “force multiplier” for God’s Army; use whatever gifts we have received from the Lord to reach souls and raise disciples this 2026! This New Year, let us all live for our Father’s pleasure!

Pray for those who have heard the gospel in 2025, especially those you have witnessed to that they will decide to live for God’s pleasure.

Keep sharing Christ through your life and words as we end 2025 and look forward to giving glory to Jesus in 2026.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word.

• PRAY for the protection, safety and release of kidnapped American Christian missionary, Kevin, serving in Niger (West Africa). For God to turn the hearts of the kidnappers to repentance and salvation. Peace and comfort for Kevin’s family.

• Pray for persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria) — many have been beheaded and murdered; earnestly seek God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed. Pray for freedom from oppression, that God’s word and His people bring them comfort and hope.

• PRAISE God that the rest of the living Israeli hostages have been restored to their families safely! Continue to pray that even all the dead hostages will be returned to their families for burial.

• For Israel’s war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory. For Jewish people worldwide who are experiencing a surge of antisemitism such as in the Bondi Beach (Sydney, Australia) terrorist attack; may this lead them to the Messiah, Jesus as they turn to God for help and comfort.

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• For elders, pastors, dleaders, and families to become holy, humble, harmonious, happy, and heart-working.

• Ministries and churches expand worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.