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Monthly Archives: July 2025

Our Righteous Witness

09 Jul
Our Righteous Witness

We’re continuing our walk through 1 Peter. He’s been teaching about having a change of attitude by the renewing of your mind.

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

1 Peter 4:3 NIV

Peter now appeals to our spiritual experience. He tells us that we’ve spent enough time trying to accomplish what the Pagans are doing. We found out that it doesn’t work. All of that sinful lifestyle leads nowhere.

He uses some clear descriptions that sound very close to home in our generation. Peter talks about out of control desires, too much wine, letting loose, drinking bouts, and unlawful image worship. That’s how the world views having a good time. I let loose on the weekend, destroying my body, then feeling like dirt on Monday.

It should be different for us as believers. If you remember from the end of chapter 3, we’ve cried out to God. Through baptism we craved and demanded a good conscience before God. Our life has been totally renovated.

They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

1 Peter 4:4 NIV

The world thinks we’re crazy for not running after these things. He literally says that it’s alien to them. It’s strange that we don’t want to rush together with them into the same excess of unsavedness.

So, they speak evil of you. That’s because your lifestyle of radical righteousness convicts them. They realize that their lifestyle is only providing a temporary happiness.

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

1 Peter 4:5-6 NIV

This is what should fuel our evangelistic burden for the lost. Everyone will go before God in judgment. I believe that this knowledge is built into our DNA as humans.

And this verse gives us some insight into what Christ was doing while His body rested in the grave. First, Jesus went into hell and proclaimed to the unrighteous dead. Then, He preached the good news to the righteous dead. After proclaiming His triumph over death, Christ lead them out victoriously.

This is why the Gospel message is so important. The Lord wants no one to perish. He wants as many as possible to enter into the joy of His kingdom. We all have to do our part in accomplishing this mission.

Question: How well are you advancing God’s kingdom?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 9, 2025 in Ministry, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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The Attitude of Change

07 Jul
The Attitude of Change

We’re studying through the first epistle of Peter. In my last post, I began talking about taking on the attitude of Christ.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV

Our lives will begin to change when we take on the attitude of Christ. That means taking on the Lord’s burden for the lost. The problem is that we’re afraid of what will change if we’re burdened with the same burden God has.

Peter literally writes that this happens because he that is burdened has stopped, paused from sin. Unfortunately, in many instances we like sin. We can’t see how we can enjoy life without it.

Also, we don’t want to be viewed as alien. We want to be accepted by the world. We want what the world is after. It’s all about our attitude.

The simple fact is that a change in attitude leads to change in direction. Taking on an attitude like Christ will lead us away from sin.

We spend so much time struggling to stop sin. But, according to the apostle, the way to defeat sin is to pick up a new attitude from Christ. Then sin will be on hold.

Peter then brings us to the result of all this. The original Greek of verse 2 tells us that taking on the attitude of Christ will cause you to reach the point where you no longer exist in the flesh lusting of men.

It’s having the attitude of Christ that overcomes the flesh. That’s because your mind is in control of the flesh. So, your flesh spends all its time trying to convince the mind to agree with him.

But, if your mind has an attitude like Christ, it will never agree. If your mind is burdened to fulfill the will of God, it doesn’t have time to listen to the flesh.

Peter’s conclusion is that an attitude like Christ leads us toward God’s will. So, how do you fulfill God’s will for your life? ATTITUDE!!!

The Apostle Paul said the same thing.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

If you renew your mind to pick up His attitude, then you can test and approve God’s will. God’s will is not something you can know. It’s something you test and approve by faith.

So, if you want to see transformative change in your life, then you need to renew your mind by God’s Word. Only then will your life have a true change of direction.

Question: How have you seen the Word of God changing you so far?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2025 in Faith, Spiritual Walk, Word of God

 

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Happy Fourth of July

04 Jul
Happy Fourth of July

Fourth of July

I’m going to take a break from my 1 Peter series. Today, in the USA, is Independence Day – the day we declared ourselves an independent nation.

I love the Fourth of July. It’s one of my favorite holidays. Picnics with family, outdoor fun, not to mention fireworks at night. Even more than that, I thank God for a nation where I’m granted the freedom to do all these things without fear.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13

We’re called to be free. Freedom is something that God wants for all humanity. Unfortunately, what most people consider freedom isn’t the real thing.

Society thinks that freedom is the ability to do what I want, whenever I want. Their opinion is that freedom means that I can feel good all of the time.

That’s a very selfish definition. Freedom is not all about me.  Our founding fathers gave selflessly in the cause of freedom. It was definitely not about their personal good, but for the betterment of everyone that drove them to resist the most powerful nation on earth at that time. Many lost their lives to win this precious gift for us.

There are still those in the armed forces and public safety positions that lay their lives on the line each day so that we can continue to live free. Freedom is more of a responsibility than a pleasure. I have to put as much into it as I receive from it.

That’s what Paul was trying to tell us in the verse above. Freedom is not all about indulging my every desire, but the ability to serve one another unhindered. We need to listen to his exhortation. As believers, we’ve not only been blessed with our spiritual freedom in Christ, but our physical freedom in the USA.

Let’s live out that freedom responsibly. Not in the granting of our every desire, but in seeking the blessing of all through a life of service.

Live free. Be a blessing to all those around you. And thank God for the freedom we share.

Question: How do you use your freedom to benefit others?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 4, 2025 in Encouragement