March 15 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Once Peter acted as a tool of the devil when he tried to keep Jesus from suffering. But in his first letter, Peter has become an instrument of the Holy Spirit, explaining the suffering of Jesus and teaching all of us how to stay on the path of the suffering Lord.

The suffering of Jesus has two sides. Peter mentions them in one breath. The suffering is for you, and the suffering is an example.

For you means that he suffered on our behalf. This suffering may not and cannot be repeated. It is the once-for-all suffering for sin.

The other side of Jesus' suffering is the suffering that must be shared by all who follow him. The life of Jesus is an "example" that must be copied. It is the path of a guide through unknown territory. Therefore we must "follow in his steps."

Not one of us is independent enough to live for himself or herself. We are all followers. Children have their heroes, teens have their idols, grown­ups have their ideals. Every day we are under pressure to live according to this or that pattern. The pressure comes from neighbors, from relatives, and through whatever we see, hear, or read. In countries where mass communications are in the hands of commercial powers or governed by political powers, people's ideals are shaped—and certainly influenced—by these powers.

Christ comes to all people in all countries with a new and revolution­ary pattern of living. Softly and tenderly, yet firmly and emphatically, he says to everyone, "Follow me." He does not want any of us to simply copy the way of life of the people among whom we are living. He wants us to stop and think and listen to him. And we must pray. "Teach us your way, Lord—your way!"

Christ suffered for us. And he gave us an example we should follow—in his steps.

REFLECTIONS

"He (Christ) does not want any of us to simply copy the way of life of the people among whom we are living." Is this a temptation for you? What might you be tempted to copy from the lifestyles of people around you?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.