Category: 1 Peter

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day six)

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:2

You who are slaves…1 Peter 2:18

Peter was writing to churches that were socially very diverse. This is a staggering thought. There were slaves, free citizens, rich business men, poor families, wives and husbands, the politically connected and the powerless, all together because of Jesus, which was virtually unheard of in the Roman empire during the first century.

That’s what the Gospel does, it tears down all barriers, bringing all people together. No one had seen anything like it!

Jesus makes us family; citizens of a new and different and glorious kingdom! Only the Gospel could do something like that!

 

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day five) “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”  Of all the words Jesus spoke to Peter, none had the impact as the those by the campfire after the resurrection. “Feed my sheep.”  It was certainly a moment of conviction. It was also a moment of commission- a clear task and responsibility. I love the personal and possessive facet Jesus wants Peter to understand- “MY sheep”. Peter uses those same words and pictures in this verse. We are sheep. Jesus is shepherd. Peter never forgot. He never grew past that simple truth. In fact, the more life changed and became more complex and difficult, Peter held that truth even closer.
When our lives get hectic, when circumstances (or even our own sin) would seem to have us distracted, scattered, and uncertain in our minds and hearts, we can hold to that same comforting and foundational truth- as believers Jesus is our shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day four)

God’s ways are certainly not our ways!  Sin and the world have taught the exact opposite of God’s instructions here in Scripture.  The world teaches us to fight back against what we judge to be inequity.  God’s instruction is to keep our eyes upon Him and submit to authority.

All through Scripture, we find Satan saying we should do the opposite of what God says.  God said, “Don’t eat the fruit, you’ll die.”  Satan said, “you will surely not die.”  God says, “Forgive your enemy,” Satan says, “Crush your enemy.” God says, “Humble yourself.” Satan says, “Exalt yourself.”   Over and over, Satan perverts God’s message.  We have to ask ourselves, “Who will we obey?”

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord, For as the heavens are higher that the earth, So are My ways higher than your  ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day three)

“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect…”

Read “servants” as “slaves.” Nothing in 2022 sounds more unconscionable to one’s ears, perhaps, than a statement like this. Do these words minimize injustice by admonishing oppressed persons to refrain from seeking release from subjugation? Note carefully that the scripture here addresses enslaved persons without excusing societal oppression. The question the Bible deals with is this: How can the oppressed live in such a way that maximizes their well-being and simultaneously begins the project of dismantling the institution of slavery? The answer is the passage you see before you. The moment Peter associated the concept of injustice with slavery, its destruction began. That destruction still moves at the speed of the church’s obedience to Christ and advocacy for the marginalized – which is to say slowly – but the church is coming for the oppressed.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day two) …and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously…vs. 23

For most of us our sense of justice has a ring of the old covenant to it. We feel that if someone wrongs us, there should be some retribution. Mentally, we feel there needs to be accountability, and often payback. That rings of ‘an eye for an eye’, doesn’t it? Let’s be clear there are offenses that require that kind of justice, but how often do those things occur? What is more likely to happen is that our pride is hurt and rather than deal with it we demand justice. Sometimes the offense is intentional, and we think the only way forward is that they get what’s coming to them. We operate like there is a cosmic scale of justice. We know Christ’s words on this subject, and they rarely call us to that kind of equality. Jesus’ words and example were that of extreme forbearance. Our prayer should be to take our eyes off the offender and focus them on Jesus.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:11-17 (day seven)

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. vs 11

There is a war for your soul. Are you fighting? You may think you have built your walls up high enough that the enemy can’t get through. You may think the once a week fortification of your walls is enough, but if you are not engaging in the warfare, the enemy will eventually break down your wall.

We live in a hostile environment. Every day, the enemy is bombarding you with an array of attacks hoping one of them will find a weak point. Once that weak point is found, the attacks become harder to hold off. The constant bombardment creates cracks in the once strong wall and will eventually bring them down. So what will you do? Will you make war? Grab your Sword and Shield and fight back!

“Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:16-17

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:11-17 (day six)

One way to live properly amongst neighbors is to submit to all authority for the Lord’s sake. And Peter is talking about the Roman government no less. I suppose it was true back then too, but our political culture is full of the kind of rancor that honor’s no one, always resulting in fear and separation. What’s worse, is that it would seem “Christians” are just as prone to participate as anyone else. Peter says, this should not be.

The result of willful submission is that God is honored by your neighbors, maybe even by those with whom you vehemently disagree. When we live by a different standard than the rest of the world (like submitting to all authority), it would seem our honorable words and behavior give away our truer citizenship.

To put it more bluntly, people are more likely to see Jesus in us, and maybe, just maybe turn to him and away from the false hopes and promises of the world.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:11-17 (day five)  “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” Here you have it. The Christian life summed up. Wrapped up in one single verse – relationships, politics, faith, etc.  However, when I omit the previous verses as the context for this verse, I lose valuable perspective and instruction. This passage (and the scripture for that matter) is not an attempt at inserting God into our lives- an add in or add on.  No, rather the scriptures were inspired and written so that we might have a real and vibrant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And, in and through our relationship with God we would use even the most secular parts of our lives to live in right relation to Him and for Him-with Him in view- with His influence and guidance. A God-shaped life.
“The aim of life—including our social and political life—is to live to God. To live with God in view. To live under his authority. To live on him like we live on air and food and water. To live for his good reputation.”- John Piper

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:11-17 (day four)

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God.” Verse 16

Free men…free from what?  Free from sin!  We were under the bondage of sin until Christ set us free.  Peter is admonishing us to not use our freedom for evil or personal gain.  It is not freedom to do as we please, it is freedom to obey God and to paint an accurate picture to the world of a sanctified life.

What kind of picture are you painting?  When people see your life, how would they describe it?  Where do you invest your time?  Would they say, “he loves sports,” or “she spends all her time traveling”?  Does your life cause people to glorify God because of your good deeds?  Is your behavior excellent before all men?  Freedom is a precious thing…let’s use it for God’s intended purpose.  The most free individual may be under the heaviest bondage on earth!