...But God

2 Peter 1: 4

Creators & Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.”
2 Peter 1:4 NASB2020
Just in case you missed yesterday or you’re reading or listening to this for the first time, we have been working through what it means to be a follower of Christ. We don’t just want to be “believers” or “religious church-goers.” Therefore we started a while back by reading Matthew 5-7 and Jesus’ sermon on the mount. We are now in the midst of reading from 2nd Peter. Continuing to learn from those who truly followed Jesus. We will study James and then John next.
But let’s get back into today’s scripture. Peter makes the reference to “these things” what is he referring to? He is referring to the previous verses; “for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3 NASB2020
This statement gets to the heart of the matter and what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. God knows us and pursues us! He willingly went to the cross died for our sins, rose again and left us His Spirit so that we could have a perfect relationship with God for all eternity. This is why Peter can exclaim that as followers of Christ we can have “His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” We have the divine living in us, that is the power of The Holy Spirit. Rest in The Holy Spirit! Rely On The Holy Spirit! This is His perfect peace! This is how we rest in Him and are given support and love through our grief and trauma which this life brings.
For we know our Hope and our Eternity is in Christ. God hears us and will be there for us, just as He was for King David. Rest in the words of Psalm 34…“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the Lord rescues him from them all.”
Psalms 34:17-19 NASB2020
To be a follower of Christ we must admit we can’t do it alone. We must stop worrying and wallowing in self pity. Cast your cares upon him and allow Him to pick you up out of the mud and mire. Once again King David has the perfect words for us in Psalm 40 “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He reached down to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord.”
Psalms 40:1-3 NASB2020

Lord we thank and praise you for your perfect sacrifice. Thank you that our suffering is but puff of air compared to all eternity that will be spent glorifying you with Hallelujah praises. Give us the strength to follow you and to trust in you. We cast our cares upon you knowing that you will cary us through our grief and struggles, also knowing that our grief and struggles are temporary. We pray all these things In Jesus Name Amen…

Shalom, Shalom Blessings Press in and Press on!