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Category Archives: Ministry

Christ in the Workplace

21 Apr
Christ in the Workplace

As we continue through Peter’s first letter, we’ve been talking about how we relate in the workplace. In my last post, I talked about how we are to be a copy of Christ in our workplace.

But, if we’re to be an accurate copy of the Lord, we need to know how He worked. Needless to say, His workplace was the cross. Peter uses this as the prime example for us to follow.

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

1 Peter 2:22 NIV

The first thing we’re told is that there was no sin or trick in His mouth. That’s a big issue. When it comes to the workplace, how often does our tongue get us into trouble. When it does; do we try to get out of it by defensiveness or deceit?

We need to be careful of what we say and how we react.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:23 NIV

This is one of the hardest parts of being a true copy of Christ. When He was abused, He did not reply with abuse. When He suffered, He didn’t threaten. This was true even though the Lord knew the authority of His position.

He used the proper channels. The Lord surrendered all of His rights to God the Father. He’s the only one who will give a just decision. Christ was vindicated. The proof of this was the resurrection.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

So many people complain about unfair treatment in the workplace. Here we see that Christ Himself suffered the most unfair treatment in the history of the universe.

Fair would have been for me to be eternally separated from God. Instead, Jesus Christ paid for my sins. That is supremely unfair.

Think about that the next time you believe that someone is treating you poorly in a way you don’t deserve. I thank God regularly that He wasn’t fair in dealing with my sin.

Christ did this because He saw the whole picture. The Lord knew that it was the only way to purchase our salvation. I’m so glad that He did.

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25 NIV

Here’s the bottom line for all of us in the workplace. We need to remember where we came from to where we are now. We were all lost, without hope. Now we are a part of God’s family, if we’ve accepted the gift of the Lord’s salvation.

We need to constantly be aware that our ultimate Supervisor, Shepherd, and Inspector is Christ. But He goes deeper than any earthly supervisor. The Lord oversees our soul. This means that He not only decides based upon your treatment of others, but your attitudes as well.

That speaks volumes about our place in this world. Bring Christ to your workplace!

Question: How well does your attitude match the attitude of Christ?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 21, 2025 in Healing, Ministry, Relationships, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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The Light in Your Workplace

18 Apr
The Light in Your Workplace

We’ve been studying through the book of 1 Peter. In my last post I talked about the place of godly submission in your workplace. When you align yourself correctly, your co-workers see the difference in your life.

The fact is that your workplace needs the Good News of Jesus Christ. For that to happen, you need to see things from God’s perspective. You’re not there just to sell cars or fix broken pipes. You’re there to bring good news to the system.

But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

1 Peter 2:20 NIV

Notice that the assumption of this verse is that you want credit. In this context, credit is a good thing. It means an obvious renown. You’re being noticed for the good life you’re living.

On the other hand, if you’re punished for your mess up – you deserve it. That’s not the trouble Peter wants to deal with. He’s talking about suffering even though you’re living right in God’s eyes.

It’s important that we understand that word, commendable. The apostle is literally saying, this is the grace near God. What is this special grace? If you’re in the workplace doing good AND you suffer for it AND you endure and don’t give up…this is the place of grace near God.

Am I saying that you can never leave a dead-end job that treats you like dirt? No – God wants your best. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He will let you know if it’s time to leave. Or He may even change your boss’s attitude.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 NIV

This is where we get into the difficult issues. Peter brings the subject of calling into the discussion. In my experience, this is something most people don’t want to deal with.

But the truth is that God’s grace for you is directly tied to your calling. I’m sure you understand that no matter where you go there will be trouble, that you didn’t cause. The question is, will you receive the grace to endure it?

This verse assumes that you are walking in your calling. The trouble is that many believe that calling only deals with what you’re called to do. Actually, calling includes what you’re called to do, the place you’re called to do it, and the time when you are called.

Too many people leave the place of their calling because of the challenges. At that point they miss out on the grace they could have received to make it through.

These challenges are a part of our calling. You may ask, “Why do I have to endure problems caused by others?” The answer is simply, “Because Christ was.”

This passage has a very interesting structure in the Greek. It says that Christ suffered over us. He did this to leave us an example – literally an underwriting. Like a piece of paper under carbon paper, like we used to use to make copies (back in the old days!). You could always tell the copy because it was blue.

He suffered over us and left us behind as the underwriting, that we should walk where He walked. We are the copy. So, we are to be a copy of Christ to our workplace. That’s seeing the whole picture.

It’s not only about your happiness and benefits. It’s about the eternal destination of everyone you work with.

Question: How well are you copying Christ?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 18, 2025 in Ministry, Spiritual Walk

 

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Ready for Inspection

07 Apr
Ready for Inspection

We’re continuing through Peter’s first letter. He’s been writing about who we’re called to be in Christ. He wants all believers to live up to their calling.

Now he talks about what the world sees in us.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:12 NIV

Peter makes a very interesting statement here that we should take note of, especially in this generation. The opening phrase literally reads that we should busy ourselves, being seen as good and valuable among those in the world.

This brings into question how the world sees us acting on social media. (Yes, I’m going to go there!) How do we treat each other in front of the world? Everything we say and do is public, for all to see these days.

We need to live our lives with the knowledge that everything we say or do is noticed on the world stage. They’re going to judge our Lord based upon how we act or treat each other.

We need to start reflecting the attitudes of Christ more and more in our online dealings. And we’re to live this way, even if we’re accused of doing wrong. That’s true even when we’re labeled as haters for speaking truth.

This verse says that the world will inspect the good works which come out of your life. Then, will glorify God on the day of His visitation. It’s interesting that this phrase means the day of inspection.

That brings up a good question. What is this day of visitation? First of all, I don’t believe that it’s talking about the second coming of Christ. It sounds like a temporary thing for only a season.

Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that they would be judged for not perceiving it.

“They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Luke 19:44 NIV

This is the same phrase used by Peter. They would be conquered because they didn’t recognize their day of visitation.

We read some of the promises of God in the Scripture. Then, we think that when the list of qualifications for a promise is met – we get the fulfillment.

In reality, God sets a day of inspection. We may have already met the criteria at some point. But then, if we don’t continue in that way of life, we fail the inspection and don’t obtain the promise.

God wants the world to see His blessing on our lives. But, in order for that to happen, we must live for Him on a consistent basis. We can’t be trying to live for Christ and ourselves at the same time.

Paul said it well.

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 3:16 NIV

It’s time for the church to be who God says we are. Especially online in front of the world. We must always realize that we’re constantly under inspection.

Question: How well do you measure up in this spiritual inspection process?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2025 in Ministry, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Who Are We? Part 2

04 Apr
Who Are We? Part 2

As we go through 1 Peter, we’re now in chapter 2 looking at Peter’s description of the church. This is the legacy that we’re striving to live up to.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

In my last post, I talked about believers as a chosen people and a royal priesthood. The next thing Peter calls us is a holy nation. This literally speaks of a holy, set apart, ethnic group.

The fact is that we have a new ethnicity, no matter where our families are from originally. We are a part of a new race of people.

We must come to the realization that we’re a holy race. A race has a particular set of customs and attributes. This usually includes their own language. A race of people have their own view of how the world works.

That should be the attitude of our life in the body of Christ. That’s why there’s no place for prejudice or bigotry in the church. We are a new group of people tied together in the bonds of the Spirit.

Peter goes on to call us a people belonging to God. This means that we’re a people group who were acquired into a particular time, place, or purpose.

Based on the context, this tells me that we’re a people acquired by God for a particular purpose. This verse is very clear as to what this purpose is. That purpose is to declare a particular message.

Like it or not, your main purpose is to declare the praises, valor, greatness, of the One who rescued us. Your purpose is not to amass as much money or toys that you can. It’s not to climb to the top of your chosen profession.

Our goal is to bring glory to the One who took us out of darkness and obscurity. We have now entered into His light. This place of light is wondered at, marveled at by all who perceive it.

This is who we are right now. I find that absolutely incredible! But there is a problem, however.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

1 Peter 2:11 NIV

The challenge is that we’re at war. But it’s not against the world or the devil. According to this verse, the longings of our flesh serves in a strategic military campaign against our soul – which is our mind.

Believe it or not, our flesh is very crafty. It does everything in its power to get us to think that we’re not select, kingly, holy or needed for a particular purpose.

Peter is inviting us, calling us to refrain from these desires. We need to fight against the thoughts that we’re the same as everyone else in the world. If we fulfill these longings, we reinforce the lie of the flesh.

We then look at ourselves incorrectly and say that we’re no different than anyone else. We need to remain strong in His Word about who we are. That’s what will keep us headed in the right, upward direction.

Question: How well are you winning this war in your mind?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 4, 2025 in Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Who Are We? Part 1

02 Apr
Who Are We? Part 1

We’re looking at Peter’s first letter to the church. He’s been talking about us as the living temple of the Holy Spirit. Now he continues to describe us as the people of God.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

In this section of Scripture, he’s talking about who we are in Christ. He compares who we are now to who we were before.

In the past we were not one people group. We all come from different backgrounds. We are from multiple ethnicities, social, economic, and educational backgrounds.

However, right now, we are one new group – we are God’s people.

In the past, we could not expect any rewards from God. But now, in Christ, we have obtained rewards from God. The fact is that because of the Lord’s work on the cross, you and I now qualify.

That’s what I want to talk about in the next couple of posts. Who we are now and what this means to us. Let’s look at how Peter describes us.

The first thing he says is that we’re a chosen people. A better translation would be that we are a chosen generation. It’s talking about a generation in the sense of a newly generated – newly created – group of people.

Think of it like how in our society we have different generations. There are the Baby Boomers, Baby Busters, Gen X, etc. Each of these groups share like experiences and form many of the same opinions. Sometimes their ways are foreign to the other generations. We call that a Generation Gap.

According to Scripture, we are a chosen, selected, newly formed group. I’m no longer a Boomer, I’m now a member of the select, the chosen people of God. So, theoretically, there should be no “gap” in Christian homes.

That’s because we’re all a part of the same new group. We’ve been born again under the same conditions.

The next thing that we’re called is a royal priesthood. The word royal means kingly. In Christ, we have the authority of kings in this world – under Jesus the King of kings.

We’re also a part of the priesthood of believers. That means we represent Christ to the world, but we also stand before God on behalf of others.

We are a kingly priesthood. What does it mean to be kingly? A king walks differently, acts differently, talks differently.

That’s because they know that everything they do comes under scrutiny. Do you understand that we’re being watched closely?

I’m not just talking about the Lord watching over us. The world is watching all that we do. I know that there’s some believers who say, “They shouldn’t be watching me. I’m human, just like them.”

Get over it. They inherently know that as believers we have a higher calling. They are going to watch us more closely. They want to see if what we have is the real thing.

There have been times when the most unlikely people have come to me asking for prayer either for themselves or a loved one. That’s where our priesthood comes into play. They’re looking for truth. Will they find it in us?

That’s why we need to be in the Word and in prayer. We must be ready for the Spirit’s leading.

Question: How prepared are you to respond as a part of the royal priesthood?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2025 in Ministry, Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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God’s Temple

31 Mar
God’s Temple

We’re continuing through the epistle of 1 Peter. In my last post, I talked about how together, we’re being built up into a building for God to inhabit.

…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:5-6 NIV

But just building the house is not enough. This house must have a purpose – it’s a temple to the living God. We’re to offer sacrifices in the temple of God.

We’re actually called to minister in God’s house. We’re a priesthood set apart to God. Our job is to offer spiritual sacrifices. What exactly are these sacrifices? Paul explained this to us.

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.

Romans 12:1 NIV

It’s clear from this verse that we’re to offer up our lives – that is the sacrifice the Lord is looking for. This sacrifice is anything that reminds us that we’re not our own. We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This can even include the offerings we bring to the Lord for His work.

I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18 NIV

When we praise the Lord in spite of our circumstances, that’s an acceptable sacrifice as well.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV

This verse also shows us the importance of blessing others. God sees that as a sacrifice before Him. That’s because all of these things are an expression of our faith in Him.

But there’s another side to this.

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

1 Peter 2:7-8 NIV

We show that we value the Lord as we walk in faith before Him. But what if I don’t want to? This is talking about willful disobedience.

If reject faith in Christ, that doesn’t change who He is – He’s still the Chief Cornerstone. But, instead of being that which keeps you straight and aligned with His will, He becomes a stone of stumbling to you. That literally means that you keep stubbing your toes on Him.

It also says that He’s a rock that makes you fall into a trap. When you know what God says, and live differently, you stumble into a trap with your eyes open.

Given the two choices, I would personally prefer the Cornerstone. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. In that way we become lined up with the will of God.

Question: How well are you walking in God’s will for your life?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 31, 2025 in Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church, Worship

 

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Building a Spiritual House

28 Mar
Building a Spiritual House

As we continue through Peter’s first letter, he’s been talking about growing up into maturity. Now he’s going to change the description to that of a building being built.

As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him…

1 Peter 2:4 NIV

In talking about God’s spiritual building, we’re told that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone. The cornerstone has to be perfectly square. The rest of the house is straight because of this stone.

Peter tells us that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church because He is select and valuable. The whole building, all of us, must look to Him for direction.

Paul talks about this building. He says that we are…

…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22 NIV

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. He is the chief cornerstone. With Him the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Apostles form the two sides of the foundation.

The good news is that we also have a part in this structure. How does this work? The above verse from 1 Peter tells us that we come toward Him – THE Living Stone.

He was rejected by mankind but accepted, selected, by God. That makes Him precious, valuable to God the Father.

If we are truly trusting in Him, then we value the Lord as well. That’s why we come toward Him. Our desire is to line ourselves up with His will.

That’s the key to a successful Christian walk. We must value the spiritual house God is building. So I have to ask; is God’s work valuable to you? Is it worth something?

We usually stumble over the question of worth. There is an internal battle between our desire for personal pleasure vs. the worth of serving God. If I value Christ – I come toward Him, lining myself up with His will.

…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5 NIV

As we work together for the Lord, we’re becoming a spiritual house. We’re a part of the structure of His house.

One thing we have to remember is that God is constructing the house. Jesus said that…

“…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 16:18b NIV

However, He builds it through us. We have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Word of grace, love, prophecy, and encouragement are all things that build the church. We have to line ourselves up according to God’s plan.

Along with that, we must help others to line themselves up with Christ. We need to show a care one toward another. In this way we proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the world around us.

Question: How well do you see the people of God as a spiritual house?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2025 in Faith, Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Spiritual Milk

26 Mar
Spiritual Milk

We’ve been studying through the book of 1 Peter. We’re now in the second chapter. We last looked at verses 2-3.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV

I’ve been talking about what a spiritual baby is as well as the spiritual milk that they need to grow to maturity. We last looked at what the writer of Hebrews had to say about this level of growth.

He made it clear that spiritual infants are ignorant of the Word of righteousness. He continues with that thought.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

Hebrews 6:1-3 NIV

While the Apostle Peter simply says that the baby needs spiritual milk, the writer of Hebrews describes it for us. This list of teachings is what spiritual milk is all about.

But that should get us thinking. How often are new believers put through a course of study on these topics? Maybe that’s why there’s such an epidemic of immature Christians in the body of Christ in our generation.

The first thing he says young believers need to understand is repentance. This is the act of totally turning around, away from dead works. They need to stop focusing on their old way of living.

Then, they must have faith toward God. It’s a whole change of worldview. You cannot say you trust God while chasing the world.

Then they must learn about the different baptisms available to them; both in water and in the spirit. They need to learn about the truth of the laying on of hands. That’s where the power of God is transferred, one to another.

All of these things must be taught so the new believer can learn responsibility in the family of God. In that way they can discover their purpose in the body of Christ. Mature Christians understand purpose and responsibility.

It’s like what you see if a toddler is playing with a broom. You may tell them, “That’s not a toy.” But they won’t understand.

The child sees a broom as something to play with – for their own pleasure. An adult sees it with purpose – the broom is something to make the house cleaner for their family.

That’s the different perceptions between immature and mature believers. Are the things of God for my pleasure or to build up the body of Christ.

Mature Christians understand the eternal effects of what they do. Spiritual babies only know what they want right now.

The fact is that there are rewards to maturity. Knowing this should spur us on to keep growing in the Lord. In the above verse, Peter says that you crave growth now that you’ve tasted that God is good.

We should want to grow up. With that comes responsibility, rewards, good times, and challenges. There are struggles and victories. So, as Peter, Paul, and Hebrews all agree to exhort us – GROW UP!

Question: What are some things you’ve experienced that point to your spiritual growth?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2025 in Leadership, Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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Holiness Develops Love

17 Mar
Holiness Develops Love

We’re continuing our walk through Peter’s first letter to the church. He’s been talking about holiness and the fear of the Lord. Now the apostle goes a little deeper.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22 NIV

Peter is desiring for us to develop love for one another. This is an important teaching for us to hear. That’s because this generation has a notable lack of love. We’ve become very self-centered.

Love is the choice to put others first. It includes the choice to truly fellowship. I’m not talking about simply meeting together for church.

We’re talking about the true love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. It’s the choice to participate positively in the lives of others.

The key to producing this true love is right here in these verses. If you look closely, before he ever deals with love Peter says, “Now that you have purified your soul in obeying the truth through the spirit…”

That’s the foundation of the love we share as believers. It’s the goal of purifying ourselves. It means we desire to be made holy, set apart to the Lord for His use.

Here is the key. The foundation of true love is holiness.

Remember what Jesus said when He was asked what was the greatest commandment.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

The first step is loving God which leads to holiness. So, if you truly loved yourself you would walk in God’s way. That leads to the ability to love others

Peter had to enlarge this in his second letter.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV

Notice that verse 5 & 6 get you to godliness (holiness). Then it takes godliness in order to step over into brotherly love. This is the first love in 1 Peter 1:22. He calls it a sincere love for your brothers. That’s literally an unpretended brotherly love.

Please understand that brotherly love is the emotion of liking someone as a friend. Until you develop godliness, you must pretend to like others. Believe it or not, we must pretend to love until godliness is developed.

The problem in the church is that we don’t even pretend to like one another. But isn’t that hypocrisy? No – it’s obedience! That’s because we’re headed toward agape-love, which is choosing to love even when you don’t feel like it.

That’s what Peter is saying here. Now that you’ve developed godliness, you don’t have to pretend anymore.

“I don’t like these people.”

Well, that means you still need to mature some more. That’s because mature holiness causes you to like others. I’ve made the choice to love; then God starts to change my heart. I start to become like Him.

Question: How have you seen this love developing in your life?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2025 in Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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Set Free

14 Mar
Set Free

I’m currently in a series of posts about 1 Peter. He has shown us not only that God wants us to walk in holiness, but how to accomplish this. Now he goes on to show why this is way we’re to live.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

The incredible truth is that we have been redeemed. That’s a big word. We need to understand all that his encompasses.

Normally, when you see the word redeemed in Scripture it means to buy back or purchase something. That’s not the case here. The word that Peter uses means to loosen or set free.

What has the Lord loosened us from? It was from the empty behavior that we inherited. It’s all the emotional and lifestyle baggage we grew up with. It’s the ongoing behavior we acted out with nothing to show for it in the end.

But, according to the apostle, the valuable blood of Jesus Christ rescued us from all of that. We no longer have to live a life that amounts to nothing in the end.

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:20-21 NIV

We need to see that nothing takes God by surprise. God knew what was to happen even before the world was created. He didn’t have to call an emergency meeting with the Holy Spirit.

“Oh No! What are we going to do? They just killed the Messiah.”

Absolutely not! God had the plan for our redemption already in place before the world was formed.

This verse goes on to say that now, in these last days, this plan is made manifest – is revealed – in us. It’s our job to reveal Christ to the world. We are God’s voice, declaring His restoring power to all those around us.

Now, because of what God did in Christ, our faith and our expectation can firmly be focused on God. This is the foundation for the walk of holiness.

So that brings up some important questions we need to be asking. Is my faith focused on God’s Word and plan for my life? Do I truly expect what God says the results should be as He responds to my faith?

As we spend time in the Scripture and in relationship with the Holy Spirit, our faith and expectation toward the Lord should be growing. That’s the maturing process. It’s how I continue to grow in the body of Christ.

Only then can I lead others to experience the same walk of holiness and righteousness. I can’t simply teach it. I must exemplify it by walking it out in front of younger believers.

This is where the Lord is desiring to bring us all up to.

Question: How well are you growing and maturing in your walk with the Lord?

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2025 in Faith, Ministry, Power of God, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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