Category: Facing Life with Faith

RE Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day one)  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . .for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. . .” (v 3, 5)  Peter is the poster child for the foolishness of human pride.  His early struggles with thinking he could serve Christ out of sheer determination are well documented in the gospels.  He has come, finally, to a more balanced view.  God’s grace is everything we need.  Our privilege is to participate in the divine nature.  This does not, however, exempt us from doing the work.  “Make every effort”, he says in v 5.  Not just a few efforts.  Not just one or two.  Every effort necessary to get the job done.  To your faith add goodness.  To your goodness add knowledge. . .  The list is long.  Long enough to keep a believer busy for a lifetime.  Grace allows no laziness.  Real faith equals real effort.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day seven)
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.”  (v 4:12)  I don’t know why I am surprised, but I am.  When my days feel dark and difficult.  When things “don’t work”.  When prayer is hard and critics are many.  Perhaps I should have listened more carefully.  “If they hated me, they will hate you”–Jesus.  “Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God”–Paul.  “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers. . .against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”–Paul (again)  To follow Christ is a difficult, dangerous path.  Those who do so must expect both blessing from God and opposition from the world.  It is a strange way to save the world, I admit, but if (and when) life is hard, we should not be surprised.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day six)
“To the elders among you. . .be shepherds of God’s flock. . .serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing. . .not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (5:1-3)  Christians need leaders.  Sheep need shepherds.  God’s people never do well when “everyone does what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25)  Part of God’s love (for us and for the world) is to appoint leaders over the church.  Three names for the same office.  Elder.  Shepherd (Pastor).  Overseer.   The qualifications are high.  God’s leaders must be willing.  Volunteers. Eager.  More concerned about service than personal success.  Must use example as the main power of influence rather than heavy-handed authority.  In times of persecution (such as Peter wrote in) leadership becomes even more necessary and dangerous.  Even so, God is faithful to give leaders and reward them for service.

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day five)
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

God inspires Peter to write about humility. Really??!! Peter?? He could apply to be the poster child for arrogance, impulsiveness, and stubbornness. Yet God does a work in his heart and life through Jesus that changes Peter forever. And 30 years later, Peter is willing to share the truth he has learned about humility. Do you suppose it is the alarm clock Peter hears most mornings (rooster crowing) that causes him frequently to remember and rejoice. Peter remembers how easily sin and pride can hijack the human heart. And he rejoices that God gives grace that restores and strengthens the human heart. Isn’t that how God works so many times in so many hearts? Really!!

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day four)
The devil is our adversary.  He is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  He is a formidable enemy, but he has been defeated already.  So how do we stand firm against him?  Verse 9 says, “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  Our response to the fiery ordeals, the suffering of our life, communicates fear and defeat or faith and triumph.  As a believer, we have the Spirit of glory and of God resting on us.  We can face suffering with a different perspective.  When God’s people suffer for being a Christian and submit to God in their suffering, He is glorified.  That is our goal in the Christian life…to bring glory to God.  Maybe we can’t see how our suffering can do that, but we have His promise that He is glorified in our humility.

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-5:11 (day three)
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  In our admiration for a lion’s power and elegance, we can forget that the animal is a killer.  Likewise, we justify our decisions to sin in order to pursue the power and elegance we think we see.  But it is the devil we pursue, and he is a killer.  The sin you are justifying today you justify to the devil’s sympathetic ears–and you will hear only approval from him.  That sound of approval will build to a roar, and the devil will turn on you without remedy.

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day two)
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you…shepherd the flock of God among….voluntarily….with eagerness…providing examples to the flock.  1 Peter 5:1-3

What amazing comfort it is to be led and loved by one who is familiar and acquainted with sorrow.  Peter is encouraging those who have walked the path of pain to be a lighthouse for those who have just begun to encounter suffering.  This is not an absolution from pain, but a reminder to us that it is guaranteed part of the journey.  Peter is wisely admonishing a structure in the life of the church that will ensure no one will suffer without being able to look to the faithful leadership of the saints who have persevered.  I am grateful today that I serve a church that values the wisdom of those who are much farther along the path than I.

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day one)
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you. . .  as though some strange thing were happening to you.”  (4:12)  Peter is a different man from the person we encountered in the gospels.  A profound change has happened in his attitude and character.  No change is greater than his expectation of suffering.  He is more patient now.  More reconciled to the fact that unfair and painful things often happen to followers of Christ.  It no longer surprises him.  He does not struggle against it.  Hard words to hear in an age of “health and wealth” preaching.  Some even claim that followers of Jesus are “guaranteed” a life of success (read absence of pain and struggle).  Eventually yes, but not in the short-term.  Not always.  Part of following the Son of God is willingness to face painful trial with faith and hope.  When it comes into our lives, we should not be surprised.

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 2:11-25; 3:1-9 (day seven)
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.”  (2:13-14)  We live in an anti-authoritarian age.  Self is sovereign.  We act with independence toward teachers, parents, pastors, government.  Soul and societal suicide!  God’s word teaches a different path.  “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1)  This is NOT an endorsement of every particular government or ruler.  It is, however, strong instruction to all believers that the concept of authority (and the need for it) is part of God’s will for the world.  Christians must be careful, even when we disagree with authorities, to do so with submission and respect.  For the Lord’s sake.

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 2:11-25; 3:1-9 (day six)
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (v 2:12)  “Wives, be submissive to your husbands. . .so that. . .they may be won over by. . .the purity and reverence of your lives.” (v 3:1-2)  Like us, the  readers of Peter’s letter lived in a day of secular hostility.  Like Jesus, they were often falsely accused of doing wrong.  See 2:22-23. Most Romans distrusted Christians.  Many hated them.  Peter’s solution?  Loud arguments re. truth and morality?  NO!  Good deeds.  Submission.  Humility.  Pure and reverent lives.  These, argued Peter (who himself had been tempted to “fight”), are our most persuasive argument for Christ.  “The gospel came to you with power, just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you.”  (1 Thessalonians 1:5)  How we live has everything to do with how we are heard.