2 Peter 1: 12-15
This devotional is based on this past Sunday's sermon with the help of sermonshots.com. You can view the sermon here.
Day 1: The Gospel: Our Living Foundation
Devotional:
Have you ever noticed how quickly we can forget the most important truths? Peter, nearing the end of his life, understood this human tendency. Despite writing to believers who were already established in the truth, he made it his mission to keep reminding them of the gospel.
Why? Because the gospel isn't just our entry point to faith—it's the soil in which our faith grows throughout our entire lives. Whether you've been following Jesus for decades or just a few days, the gospel remains your foundation.
Think about the foundations of a house. They're not just important when the house is first built; they remain crucial throughout the life of the structure. Similarly, the gospel isn't something we graduate from after becoming Christians. It's what we build our lives upon daily.
Today, take a moment to reflect on the core of the gospel: God loves you so much that despite your brokenness and rebellion, He gave His Son for you. This isn't just information to know—it's truth to live from. When we forget this foundation, we try to build our lives on shifting sand.
Bible Verse:
"Dear friends, I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles." - 2 Peter 1:12-15
Quote of the Day:
The gospel is not just an entry point for unbelievers. The gospel is the soil that faith grows in. And so whether your faith is as small as a mustard seed or whether it towers like a redwood, you grow and persevere through the gospel.
Reflection Question:
In what areas of your life have you been trying to build on foundations other than the gospel? How might remembering the gospel change your approach to those areas?
Day 2: Waking Up to Truth
Devotional:
We've all experienced those moments when we suddenly realize we've been operating on autopilot. Maybe you've driven home and can't remember the journey, or you've nodded off during an important conversation. Spiritually, we experience something similar—we fall asleep to gospel truths we once knew well.
It's not that we've forgotten Jesus entirely. We know who He is and what He's done. But in the moment-by-moment challenges of life, we can lose sight of how the gospel speaks to our current situation. When facing temptation, we forget the superior joy found in Christ. When hurt by others, we forget the forgiveness we've received. When anxious about the future, we forget God's faithful provision.
This spiritual drowsiness happens to all of us. The remedy isn't learning something new but being reminded of what we already know. Like Peter, we need constant reminders that wake us up to the reality of the gospel and its application to every aspect of our lives.
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to awaken you to gospel truths you've fallen asleep to. Where have you been operating on spiritual autopilot? What gospel realities need to be refreshed in your heart?
Bible Verse:
"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." - 2 Peter 1:12
Quote of the Day:
We fall asleep to the gospel. It's not like you don't know Jesus. It's not like you've never heard of who Jesus is and how much he loves you and what he's called you to. You know that you know the truth, and you are well established in it. But something happens throughout your week, something happens throughout the day, something happens throughout the moment, and you just fall asleep to that truth.
Reflection Question:
What specific gospel truth have you "fallen asleep" to recently, and how might remembering it change your perspective on a current challenge you're facing?
Day 3: Truth in a World of Noise
Devotional:
Our world is filled with messages competing for our attention. From the moment we wake up to when we fall asleep, we're bombarded with information, advertisements, opinions, and ideas—many of which directly contradict the gospel.
How many times a day does your phone tell you that happiness comes from having more, looking better, or being liked? How often does our culture suggest that true fulfillment comes through self-focus rather than self-sacrifice? These messages aren't neutral—they're actively working against the truth of the gospel.
The math simply doesn't work in our favor. If we hear contradictions to the gospel hundreds of times daily but only engage with gospel truth occasionally, which voice will shape us more profoundly? We need intentional, consistent exposure to truth to counteract the constant stream of falsehood.
This is why the practice of remembering is so vital. Through regular Scripture reading, worship, prayer, and Christian community, we create space for truth to sink deep into our hearts. We need these reminders not because the gospel changes, but because we do—especially under the influence of competing messages.
Today, consider how you might increase your exposure to gospel truth. What practices could help truth become your default perspective?
Bible Verse:
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
Quote of the Day:
Why is it that we think we can handle hearing a lie 100 times a day and hearing a truth two times a week? And then we wonder why the truth doesn't sink into our hearts.
Reflection Question:
What specific messages contradicting the gospel do you most frequently encounter in your daily life, and what practical steps can you take to counter them with truth?
Day 4: The Gospel for Everything
Devotional:
When we face life's challenges, our natural tendency is to compartmentalize. We look for specific solutions to specific problems—relationship advice for relationship problems, financial strategies for money issues, coping mechanisms for emotional struggles. While specialized wisdom has its place, there's a deeper truth: the gospel speaks to every dimension of human experience.
At first glance, saying "Jesus is the answer" to everything might seem simplistic. But when we truly understand the depths and dimensions of Christ and His work, we discover that the gospel provides the framework for addressing all of life's complexities.
When disappointment crushes us, the gospel reminds us that our ultimate satisfaction comes from God alone. When temptation beckons, the gospel reveals sin as a counterfeit joy compared to knowing Christ. When relationships fracture, the gospel demonstrates the love, forgiveness, and service that heal broken connections.
The gospel isn't a one-size-fits-all answer that ignores the nuances of our struggles. Rather, it's the foundation that gives context and meaning to everything we experience. It doesn't eliminate our problems, but it transforms how we understand and respond to them.
Today, consider one challenge you're facing. Instead of compartmentalizing it, ask: How does the gospel speak to this specific situation?
Bible Verse:
"In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:25-26
Quote of the Day:
At first, saying that Jesus is the answer for everything sounds too simple. But when you see the depths of Christ, you realize there's more than enough in Jesus for all of it.
Reflection Question:
What specific struggle are you facing right now that seems disconnected from your faith? How might viewing it through the lens of the gospel change your perspective or response?
Day 5: Becoming Reminders of Truth
Devotional:
Throughout this week, we've focused on our need to be reminded of the gospel. Today, we turn to our responsibility to become reminders for others. The Christian life isn't meant to be lived in isolation—we're called to a community where we mutually strengthen each other's faith through reminders of gospel truth.
This happens in two powerful ways. First, we remind others through our words—speaking gospel truth into specific situations, encouraging with Scripture, and pointing to Christ in conversations. These verbal reminders aren't just for new believers; they're for all of us who need the gospel refreshed in our hearts daily.
Second, and perhaps more profoundly, we remind others through our lives. When we live out the implications of the gospel—extending forgiveness, demonstrating sacrificial love, finding joy in suffering, or showing contentment regardless of circumstances—we become living reminders of the truth. Our actions speak the gospel even when our mouths are silent.
Remember, Christ isn't just an addition to our lives—He's everything. From foundation to roof, He encompasses all. As we embrace this reality and live from it, we become powerful reminders to a world desperate for truth.
Today, consider: How might God use you to remind someone of gospel truth, either through your words or your life?
Bible Verse:
"I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." - 2 Peter 1:13-15
Quote of the Day:
You can be a powerful reminder of the truth by living the truth yourself.
Reflection Question:
Who in your life might God be calling you to remind of gospel truth, and what specific aspect of the gospel do they most need to hear or see demonstrated?