Tag Archives: 1 Peter

1 Peter 2

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Peter encourages us to desire God’s word like it is essential for our very existence, as a newborn baby desires the milk that keeps it alive. That desire will allow us to “grow up into salvation”.

He describes us as being part of a living house, growing together to fit in alignment with our chief corner stone, Christ. The mystery of the gospel had been a stumbling block to those obsessed by the traditions of the law, but those who align themselves with the corner stone “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation… God’s people”.

Despite belonging to God, we are told to submit to the authorities He has placed in our life, whether it be a government or a master. Suffering wrongfully is no less than Christ experienced, for “he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

1 Peter 1

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Readers of 1 Peter are often reminded of Christ’s example, of future inheritance, and to trust in God. In chapter 1, Peter addresses the dispersed believers, reminding them of the living hope through the gospel message, and an incorruptible inheritance awaiting those who place their trust in God. They could rejoice, knowing that the various trials they endured would last “for a little while” in comparison to the eternity of the future. Though they could not currently see Christ, “you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Peter reminds us to be ready for action, and set our “hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Just as God is holy, so we are called to be holy, having been ransomed by the blood of Christ. We’re also called to action, to “love one another earnestly from a pure heart”, influenced by “the living and abiding word of God”.

Psalms 140-142, Luke 10

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In Psalms 140-142, David describes his reliance on God, “Deliver me”, “Guard me”, “You are my God”, “O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation”, “my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge”.  David is once more writing about the trials of his daily life, yet in those difficulties he maintains his reliance on God, doesn’t sever that relationship but seeks refuge in it instead.

In Luke 10, Jesus explains to his disciples how blessed they are to understand the gospel. “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see…and to hear what you hear” about Christ and the salvation that would be offered through him.  Jesus prays to God, thanking God for revealing this hope. This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; a hope hidden from the “wise and understanding” of the world, revealed instead to those who demonstrate trust in God like a child trusts a parent.

1 Peter 3-5

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Peter gives us a simple formula for a righteous way of life, “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind”. He continues by quoting Psalm 34 on the importance of controlling the tongue, turning away from evil, and instead pursuing peace.

Rather than “living in sensuality” as the world around us, let us “be self-controlled and sober-minded… keep loving one another earnestly… show hospitality… serve one another… in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ“.

Luke 10

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Jesus explains to his disciples how blessed they are to understand the gospel. “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see…and to hear what you hear” about Christ and the salvation that would be offered through him.  Jesus prays to God, thanking God for revealing this hope.

1st Peter refers to this, prophets had “searched and inquired carefully”. This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; a hope hidden from the “wise and understanding” of the world, revealed instead to those who demonstrate trust in God like a child trusts a parent.

Next we read Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, a story that explains the relationship between the two great commandments. By loving our neighbour as ourself, we show the love we have for God.  Let’s follow Jesus’ advice to the lawyer, “go, and do likewise”.

John 12

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Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. The analogy of light and darkness is perfect, since darkness is merely the absence of light, rather than a physical property of itself.  Without the gospel, the world remains unilluminated, without hope of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.

We have been given an amazing gift, part of a chosen race, with a responsibility to “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.  We are now God’s people, illuminated by His character and glory. It’s up to us to live in a way that shows that light to those around us, that they too may be part of God’s chosen people.

1 Kings 11, Mark 11

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In 1 Kings 11, Solomon is condemned for turning away from God. Israel had been warned not to marry foreign wives , because they would turn their heart away from serving God, and this exact thing happened to Solomon. God “was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord… who had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods“. Despite all his wisdom, “his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”

By contrast, Jesus emphasises the importance of faith and prayer, using the metaphor of moving mountains to describe the power of faith. Solomon lost his faith, but we are exhorted to build on our faith. “Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love….for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.“

 

1 Kings 6, Jeremiah 32, Mark 6

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In 1 Kings we read about the construction of the temple that Solomon built for God. It was a lavish building that took 7 years to complete, yet God makes the point that this temple wasn’t the reason God would dwell among the children of Israel.  Rather, it was conditional on them walking in God’s statutes, obeying His rules, keeping His commandments and walking in them.  As God tells Isaiah, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? … this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.“

Mark 6 describes the perfect example of such a person. Jesus, who knew God’s word so well that he could astonish the “experts” of the law, who selflessly healed “many who were sick”, who had compassion on the multitudes of people because they had no shepherd, feeding them spiritually and physically, who interrupted his night of prayer to comfort his disciples caught in a storm. In this Jesus manifested God perfectly, to whom Jeremiah exclaimed “Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands“.

Let’s follow God’s advice to Solomon, and imitate Jesus’ attitude, so that together we are built up as a spiritual house for God.

1 Peter 2

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We have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.” Our hope is based on the work of “a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious”.

We’re called to be just like that living stone, to form part of a spiritual house made up of people not afraid to be considered strange. The world might view us as weird, but we are part of something much greater, “a people for [God’s] own possession.”

Let us follow the example of Christ, who suffered for us and left us an example, so that we  can follow in his steps.

Exodus 13-14, Psalms 68

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It’s so easy for us to condemn the Israelites for their lack of faith, for making the same mistakes over and over again, even in the face of clear evidence that God was with them.  The Israelites were deliberately put into a situation in which their faith would be tried

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.”

We know that God does the same to us, so that our “faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  It’s a development process, one that I think we give up on too easily.  Whatever the situation in our life, God will work with us to develop us into people that reflect His character.  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

David summarises this idea neatly when he wrote “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation”.  God will help us, each and very day, if we rely on Him.  He is a God of salvation, not punishment.  The Israelites largely failed to realise this, viewing God only as a ruler intent on punishing.  Let’s learn from their mistake, and “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord”