...But God

1 Peter 3: 17-20

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

“For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.”
1 Peter 3:17-20 NASB2020
We have not been condemned because we have not done what is right. We still can allow the Holy Spirit to change us and our actions as followers of Christ. Even though we are not saved by doing what is right only the saving grace of Christ through His death on the cross does that. However, we are able to be a witness for Christ if we do what is right in the sight of God. That is our calling!
If we have never faced persecution or been chastised for following Christ, then maybe we are not acting as followers of Christ. Jesus said you will face persecution and trials of many kind. Many “Christians” want an easy life. They think that being a Christian means nothing bad will happen to them or they think they are followers of Christ because they said a prayer when they were seven. But Jesus said this life as a follower of Christ will be difficult and full of travails. Loving and following Him is not easy. Jesus explains; “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.”
Matthew 10:37-39 NASB2020
That does not sound like an easy life.
Peter reminds us of this, when he explains the flood that Noah went through. It was not easy for Noah and his family. Yet they were saved by the baptismal waters of the flood which cleansed the earth.
Therefore, we should be encouraged when we face trials and tribulations for they help us develop endurance which helps us run the race and win it for Christ.
Lord, we praise your Holy Name. We thank you for the saving grace of forgiveness of sins and we rejoice in the resurrection that gives us eternal salvation with You! Help us to rejoice in the difficulties, give us strength to respond with Your perfect peace and perseverance that surpasses all understanding. Help us to do what is right in your name no matter the cost. In Jesus Name Amen…
Shalom, Shalom Blessings Press in and Press On!