Grace Under Fire (1 Peter 5:5-14)

Sunday 28/06/2020

The doorbell rings. When you get to the front door, there’s a smartly dressed man holding a silver tray. On top is a hand-written letter addressed to you. It’s from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

She explains that a document was found deep in the government archives, declaring one of your ancestors to be the King of Australia. And you’re the rightful heir. So you’ll be moving to Government House in Yarralumla ASAP.

But before you can plan your coronation, a security officer briefs you on the groups likely to assassinate you once news of your accession is announced.

So, you have to choose a personal bodyguard to protect you. Unfortunately, they weren’t expecting to protect an Australian King or Queen full-time so the options are thin. You can choose one officer who is anxious and jumps when someone steps on a twig, or another who is so relaxed, he slept through their last planned drill. Who do you want protecting you?

Which one is most like your spiritual bodyguard?

Back in 1 Peter 2:9, we saw that we’re “a chosen people, a royal priesthood”. But how do we react to the spiritual dangers in us and around us?

Are we anxious? Do we doubt God’s love when life goes wrong?

Or are we unguarded? Don’t we think about spiritual warfare?

Either we think God isn’t looking after us in the best way. Or we don’t think we need to be protected from Satan’s attacks. Both responses come from pride: thinking we’re too important for God to let Satan trouble us or we think we know what’s best for us.

But remember 1 Peter 5:5b: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” So, what sort of grace does God give us when we’re anxious? Or when we’re thoughtless?

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For Kids 2-4 years

Click to access 6.a-do-not-judge-sotm-4-activity-sheets-ages-2-4.pdf

For Kids 4-8 years

Click to access 6.b-do-not-judge-sotm-4-activity-sheets-ages-4-8.pdf

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Click to access 6.c-do-not-judge-sotm-4-activity-sheets-ages-9-12.pdf

Craft & Game Ideas

Click to access 7.-do-not-judge-sotm-4-craft-and-game-ideas.pdf

For Family Devotions

Click to access 4.-do-not-judge-sotm-4-discussion-questions-_-_digging-deeper_-family-devotions.pdf

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Published by Stephen McDonald

Christian, preacher, broadcaster

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