How to Humble Yourself Before God | 1 Peter 5:5-6
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. — Humility is one of the hardest virtues to examine. Because the moment we become impressed with our own humility, it has already become pride. For the past couple of days, Peter has been speaking to Christian leaders. He has called them to shepherd God’s people and model...
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How Should Christian Leaders Use Authority? | 1 Peter 5:3-4
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. — Peter never forgot the night Jesus picked up a towel. John tells us that Jesus knew the Father had given all things into His hands. He knew where He had come from and where He was going. Yet those hands did not grasp for greater status. They removed His outer garment, tied a towel around His waist, and washed the feet of His disciples. The One with absolute authority used it to serve. In that moment,...
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What Makes a Good Christian Leader? | 1 Peter 5:1-2
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; — Leadership becomes dangerous the moment we forget whom the people belong to. For four chapters, Peter has been teaching us how believers stand firm under pressure. Now, as we enter the final chapter of this letter together, he...
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What Does “Judgment Begins at the House of God” Mean? | 1 Peter 4:17-19
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. — Some verses sound frightening until you read them in context. Peter writes, “It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.” That statement can make sincere believers...
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Stand Firm When the Fire Comes | 1 Peter 4
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
What if the fire isn’t proof that you missed God’s will but the moment your faith becomes visible—in 1 Peter 4, Peter shows how to stay faithful when following Jesus becomes costly. Summary Peter prepares believers for fiery trials by calling them to arm their minds with Christ’s resolve and give the rest of their lives to God’s will. He urges them to use their remaining time for clear-minded prayer, earnest love, openhearted hospitality, and faithful service. He also warns that not every consequence is persecution, so Christians must make sure their suffering comes from faithfulness...
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How Should Christians Respond to Persecution? | 1 Peter 4:12-16
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. — ...
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How to Discover and Use Your Spiritual Gifts | 1 Peter 4:10-11
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is 1 Peter 4:10-11: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. — 1 Peter 4:10-11 One year ago today, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. Much of his public life had been spent speaking to students, inviting debate, building an organization, and...
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What Does “Love Covers a Multitude of Sins” Mean? | 1 Peter 4:8-9
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is : Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. — Pressure has a way of exposing what relationships are made of. When life is calm, patience comes more easily. But when people are tired, frightened, disappointed, or under strain, small offenses begin to feel larger. Weaknesses become harder to overlook, and relationships that once felt effortless can become difficult to maintain. Peter was writing to believers living under increasing opposition. They needed one another...
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How Should Christians Live in the End Times? | 1 Peter 4:7
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Our text today is 1 Peter 4:7: The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. — 1 Peter 4:7 When Christians talk about the end times, the conversation often gets louder as charts appear, headlines are decoded, and predictions multiply. Peter takes the conversation in a quieter—and more demanding—direction: Pray. Listen again to what he writes, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” Peter is not giving his readers a date for Christ’s return. He is...
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Forging Your Circle | Session 5 | Armory of Leadership
The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller
Stop waiting for a platform—God has already given you people within arm’s reach. Summary In this final companion study for The Armory of Leadership, Vince Miller challenges men to recognize the spiritual influence God has already placed within their everyday relationships. Leadership doesn’t require a stage, title, or large audience—it begins with faithful stewardship of friends, neighbors, coworkers, and the people already within your circle. Through Christlike conduct, gracious speech, intentional presence, and genuine humility, ordinary relationships can become opportunities for...
info_outlineIs it time for us to gather for a day of repentance?
Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.
This week, we are in 1 Samuel 7. I've titled this chapter "Stand Up And Make A Declaration."
As I have been reading Chapter 7, the thought has been gnawing at me. Is it time for the church to usher in a day of repentance? Listen as I read 1 Samuel 7:3-6:
And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. — 1 Samuel 7:3-6
If you've followed me through this book, you've witnessed a narrative unfold. It's the tale of a nation liberated by God from Egypt, who meandered through the desert and was guided into the Promised Land. However, God's nation gradually strays over the next 400 years. The religious leaders become so corrupt and wicked that they lose the Ark and drift far from God. The nation, enduring a twenty-year lament, finds itself without a means to worship or offer sacrifices to God.
But in this moment of national despair, a beacon of hope emerges. Samuel, the final judge of Israel, steps forward. It's important to note that a man of God will guide Israel back, not a policy, president, power, or politician. It's a righteous man with a righteous plan, ready to rally the nation to repentance.
I have read these verses many times this week, and they stir something in me: a desire to call believers in our time to repentance. But before you and I go and get too excited about this, the message that must be delivered is not easy. It's a stern message. It's a divisive message. It's a clarifying message. It's a personal message. It's a message that requires us to declare we stand against the idols of our time, like the:
- Idol of Relativism: that rejects absolute truth and exchanges the truth of God for a lie.
- Idol of Gender Fluidity: that rejects biblical views of God's created order and gender as (binary) male and female.
- Idol of Critical Race Theory: that rejects biblical reconciliation by resurrecting past sins against races, promoting division.
- Idol of Abortion: that rejects the sanctity of life at conception and elevates our rights and us as a god.
- Idol of LGBTQ+ Rights: that rejects biblical teachings on sexuality and marriage.
- Idol of Secularism: that rejects biblical faith and values and marginalizes believers in the marketplace.
But here is the problem with all these idols and ideologies. It's more than just the culture that has welcomed them. It's the church. All of these idols have found their way into the church. Therefore, what Samuel does here is not only courageous but also hard, divisive, clarifying, and personal. It's a call to reject and rid themselves of specific idols, repent, and return to the Lord.
Spiritual change can happen. But it will only occur when a righteous man leads the way. This means we have to repent first and lead the way. It means we must draw some defining lines for ourselves, our families, and the church.
#RepentanceRevival, #ReturnToGod, #SpiritualAwakening
Ask This:
- How can we identify and confront the idols in our own lives and in our church community?
- What practical steps can we take today to initiate a personal or communal day of repentance and spiritual renewal?
Do This:
Repent and rid yourselves of idols.
Pray This:
Father, I humbly come before You, seeking Your guidance and strength to identify and remove any idols that have crept into my heart and community so that we may fully turn back to You in repentance and renewal. Amen.
Play This:
Coming Back.