Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 30
Tuesday


THE KINGDOM
OF ME?

READ:
1 Peter 3:8-17
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Sanctify the Lord God
in your hearts.
__1 Peter 3:15
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In 1977, 15-year-old Kevin Baugh and a teenage friend decided to create their own country, just for fun. The Republic of Molossia began as they drew a map, created paper money, and made a flag. Today, Mr. Baugh continues his micro-nation the same way it began--just for fun. When Chicago Tribune reporter Coleen Mastony toured his 1.3 acre kingdom in the Nevada desert, Baugh assured her he still pays US taxes, which he calls "foreign aid."

"It's always tongue-in-cheek," Baugh admits. "I'm doing this for the pleasure and enjoyment of having my own country."

Not may of us will create our own nation, but we all have a kingdom of the heart where we decide who will rule. The apostle Peter wrote: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15). "Sanctify" means to set apart Christ as Lord or Ruler of our life.

There is something within each of us that longs to be in control of our lives. It may be only a small corner where we assert our spiritual independence and answer to no one but ourselves.

But true freedom comes when we allow Christ to rule our hearts.
__David McCasland
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````````````````````'Tis mine to choose if self shall die`````````````
``````````````````````````And never rise again;`````````````````
```````````````````'Tis mine to yield the throne to Christ```````````
````````````````And bid Him rule and reign. __Christiansen`````````
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We honor God when we honor those who serve God.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Peter 3:8-17*************

8 Finally, all of you be of
one mind, having
compassion for one another;
love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous;

9 not returning evil for evil
or reviling for reviling, but
on the contrary blessing,
knowing that you were
called to this, that you may
inherit a blessing. 10 For
"He who would love life
and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips from speaking
deceit. 11 Let him turn away
from evil and do good; let
him seek peace and pursue
it. 12 For the eyes of the
LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to
their prayers; but the face of
the LORD is against those
who do evil."

13 And who is he who will
harm you if you become
followers of what is good?

14 But even if you should
suffer for righteousness'
sake, you are blessed. "And
do not be afraid of their
threats, nor be troubled."

15 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;

16 having a good
conscience, that when they
defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good
conduct in christ may be
ashamed. 17 For it is better,
if it is the will of God, to
suffer for doing good than
for doing evil.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Christian is a citizen of two kingdoms--the physical country
in which he or she was born or has sworn allegiance, and the
kingdom of his or her spiritual birth (John 3:3). Paul could say, "our
citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20). And all believers are "fellow
citizens with the saints" (Eph. 2:19). __SIM KAY TEE