Walk With Scripture

Find your inner peace...

✨ 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 ✨

Today we celebrate our 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, Jesus Christ, who 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵, conquered the grave, and secured our 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The tomb is 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆. The grave has 𝗻𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. Our Savior is 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

“𝟱𝟰 Death is swallowed up in victory. 𝟱𝟱 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54–55

Because 𝗛𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, we have hope when life feels heavy. Because 𝗛𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, we have peace in the middle of the storm. Because 𝗛𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, we know our 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is real and our 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 is secure.

What amazing love. What amazing mercy. What a 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 we serve.

Let’s never stop praising the One who walked out of the tomb and changed everything forever. 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻, and that truth still saves, still restores, and still gives new life today.

🙌 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 🙌

🌍 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 🌍
𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱
𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿
1 Peter 3:8–22

Peter reminds believers that living faithfully in a broken world means choosing a different path than the world around us. Instead of retaliation, Christians are called to reflect the heart of Christ.

Let’s walk through what that looks like.

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🤝 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿

Peter begins with a powerful picture of what Christian community should look like.

Believers are called to live with:

• Unity of mind
• Sympathy toward one another
• Brotherly love
• Tender hearts
• Humility

Instead of returning evil for evil, Christians are called to bless others. Why? Because we ourselves have been called to inherit a blessing.

📖 1 Peter 3:8–9

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🕊 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆

Peter echoes words from Psalm 34 to show what a life that pleases God looks like.

If we desire a life that honors the Lord, we must:

• Guard our tongue from evil
• Turn away from sin
• Actively do good
• Seek and pursue peace

God watches over the righteous and hears their prayers, but He stands against those who practice evil.

📖 1 Peter 3:10–12
📖 Psalm 34:12–14

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✝ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲

Jesus showed us how to respond when we are mistreated.

When He was insulted, He did not insult in return.
When He suffered, He did not threaten.

Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.

Christ’s response teaches us that our hope is not found in winning arguments or settling scores. Our hope is found in trusting God’s justice.

📖 1 Peter 2:23

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✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆

Living as a follower of Christ in a broken world means choosing a different response. When the world expects retaliation, Christians respond with humility, kindness, and trust in God.

Our words, our actions, and our attitudes should reflect the hope we have in Christ.

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👉 When you face conflict or criticism this week, how can you respond in a way that reflects the character of Christ?

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𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀

When studying 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟲:𝟭–𝟭𝟱, we were reminded of something powerful.

Jesus was preparing His disciples for a difficult season. They were about to face confusion, grief, and opposition after His departure. But instead of leaving them in uncertainty, He gave them truth that would anchor their faith.

At the end of the lesson, three simple challenges stood out:

• 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 even when circumstances don’t make sense.
• 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 when His Word confronts you.
• 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 so your understanding of God continues to grow.

Sometimes seasons of difficulty, waiting, or uncertainty reveal areas where God wants to draw us closer to Him.

Instead of seeing those moments as setbacks, they can become opportunities to deepen our faith, grow in wisdom, and align our lives more closely with His Word.

Take time this week to open Scripture, pray for understanding, and trust that God is still working in every season.

Just a thought.

Writing a book on a topic doesn’t automatically make someone right. It doesn’t make them the final authority either.

Lots of books have been written about theology. Lots of authors disagree with each other. They can’t all be correct.

In matters of faith, the standard isn’t who wrote a book. The standard is Scripture.

Acts 17:11 says the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was true. They didn’t accept something just because someone said it with confidence. They tested it against God’s Word.

Even the apostle Paul wasn’t beyond examination.

Credentials are fine. Study is good. Writing can be helpful.

But no book outranks the Bible.

Truth isn’t established by publication.

It’s established by Scripture.

Powerful message for today!!! 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 when we stop explaining our behavior and start 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿, not in the crowd.

If your immediate response to this message is either, 'I know someone else like this', or 'this doesn't apply to me', then this message is likely for you.

Don't let "prayers", "I'll pray for you", "I'll put you on my prayer list", or other prayer statements just be empty promises or comments. If you say it, do it! Prayer is POWERFUL!!!

🌍 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 🌍
𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱

We live in a broken world. When followers of Christ choose holiness, faithfulness, and obedience, the difference is noticed. Scripture reminds us that this should not surprise us. Faith often brings opposition, testing, and suffering, but it also brings something far greater.

It brings hope.

📖 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁
Peter reminds believers that when we no longer live as the world lives, the world may respond with confusion or hostility. Trials and criticism are not signs of failure but reminders that we belong to Christ.
1 Peter 4:4
1 Peter 4:12

🌿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻
Our hope is not rooted in this world. God has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope points to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading—kept in heaven by God’s power.
1 Peter 1:3–5
Romans 8:16–17

💧 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵
Jesus made it clear that entrance into God’s kingdom requires being born again, born of water and the Spirit. This new birth marks the beginning of a hope that extends beyond this life and into eternity.
John 3:3, 5

🔥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲
Hope does not remove trials, but it gives them purpose. Faith tested by suffering is precious to God, and present afflictions cannot compare to the glory that will one day be revealed. What is seen is temporary. What is unseen is eternal.
1 Peter 1:6–9
Romans 8:18
2 Corinthians 4:16–18

⚓ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲
Christian hope is not uncertain or fragile. It is rooted in God’s eternal promises, foretold by the prophets, fulfilled in Christ, and secured by a God who cannot lie. This hope stands as a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul.
1 Peter 1:10–12
Hebrews 6:18–19
Titus 1:2

✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Hope in Christ is not wishful thinking. It is living, powerful, and certain. When the world feels broken and faith feels costly, believers lift their eyes beyond what is seen and hold fast to the eternal promises of God.

👉 In a broken world, where are you anchoring your hope today?

✦ 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐏𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝟑𝟒 ✦

This morning’s messages from Harold Young were right on target, a powerful reminder that 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄, and because He is good, 𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄.

Our worship centered on the opening words of 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝟑𝟒, where David declares:
“𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬; 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡.” (Psalm 34:1)

Praise is not a reaction to circumstances.
It is a 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 rooted in 𝐆𝐎𝐃’𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑.

Verse 3 calls us together: “𝐎𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.” (Psalm 34:3)

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐃, for faithfully pointing us back to Scripture and reminding us where our focus belongs. 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘.

✦ 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 ✦
Let 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 stay in our mouths — 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, but 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬.

𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃, and 𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘.

⚖️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

In this world, it never ceases to amaze how some people 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 for their own 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. Instead of slowing down to look inward, they often 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁, or try to 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 by pointing at someone else.

It’s easier to say “but look at them” than to ask, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲?”

This isn’t a new struggle. 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 has addressed it since the very beginning.

When things go wrong, 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. But protecting pride never produces growth. Only 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 does.

The Bible says, “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.” (𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟵:𝟯)

That verse hits hard because it’s true. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and humility is uncomfortable. Yet without it, there is no repentance. And without repentance, there is 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

Jesus made it clear when He warned about focusing on the 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲 while ignoring the 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.

Here’s the reminder worth sitting with
𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 when we stop explaining our behavior and start 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿, not in the crowd.

A simple prayer worth keeping close
“𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗲, 𝗢 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.” (𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟭𝟯𝟵:𝟮𝟯)

That’s where 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 starts.