The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day six)

³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Romans 8:32

We all get pretty anxious reading texts like 1 Peter 3:1-7. I’m a father of three daughters, and I get anxious. There is a high level of sensitivity when our autonomy and equality feels constrained. It can feel like something is being taken, or for some it feels like they have always been without.

What gives me comfort as I read hard texts is reminding myself that God is always a giver and never a taker. He never robs us or strips us of our humanity or dignity; he never takes away our joy, or our purpose. No, God’s desire is that we flourish as his image bearers; men and women, husbands and wives together.

I’m reminded I can always trust that God’s Word is good.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day five) “In the same way…”  What do we believe about God?  No really, what do we believe about God?  What about God’s sovereignty?  What about God’s wisdom?  What about God’s graciousness?  What about God’s holiness?  What we believe and understand about God can be life changing and life giving. It affects how we view creation. And as created beings, it affects how we view every part of our lives, even our relationships. Does God’s wisdom and sovereignty inform and influence our relationships?
Peter says, yes- political, social, martial (in the same way). What we believe about God will and should shape the way we act  live in all our relationships- In the same way!  God knows what He is doing.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day four)

The key to this passage seems to be found in verse 4…”but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit…”  What is the ‘hidden person of the heart’?  It is referring to character.   Norman Blackaby and Gene Wilkes, in their book entitled Character – The Pulse of Discipleship say this:  “Biblically, character is defined by the quality of our intimate fellowship with God.  In our relationship with God, we find our moral compass, calling, and spiritual strength to live in an intimate relationship with Him and to complete what God has called us to do.”

All through Scripture, character is identified as residing in the “heart”.  In our passage, Peter identifies adornments that can be added or taken off at will.  Character requires a lifestyle that builds a foundation in our heart that guides our response to the experiences of life.  Character takes time to build.  Allow Christ to build in your heart…to establish His character.  Qualities like a gentle and quiet spirit produces lasting benefits!

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day three)

“Wives, be submissive to your own husbands … husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way”

Does the Bible tell you who is to make the financial decisions in your marriage – if you are married? Does the Bible reveal who is to “have the final say” in a dispute between the husband and wife? Does it tell you who is to make more money, or whether a wife should take employment while her husband stays home with the children? The Bible does not. Some will think such matters are implied, and others will disagree. Meanwhile, each couple will find their own way to arrange their household. The thing that Peter is explicit about here is this: When demanding gives way to softness toward each other, husband and wife will move closer together. And both deeply desire this.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day two) 

In the same way…vs 1a

There are few New Testament passages that cause more angst than this one, and a similar discourse found in Ephesians. There are many ways that this letter can be abused, but it is not an outdated text. What strikes me is Peter’s constant use of the phrase ‘in the same way.’ When you hear this misused, I think that part of the scripture is not dealt with sufficiently. As Pastor Chris pointed out in the Re:Vlog yesterday the continuity of the letter flows from citizenship, to slaves, to wives, to husbands, and the connecting clause is the phrase ‘in the same way.’ Believers in anyone of those classifications should take the admonishment uttered to the others as if Peter were speaking to them….because he is. Now re-read chapters 1-3 and change the audience to you. Apply the directives he gives for submission, gentleness, and integrity to your life. This was his intent.

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

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. vs 18

By the grace of God, our human institutions have begun to realize the injustices of our past as we have sought to eradicate slavery across the globe. It is that same grace of God that we as individuals are imparted with to endure the injustices that linger in its wake. What becomes hard to swallow is when we realize that we are called to love those who are unjust. It is one thing to suck it up and endure injustice from them, but it is another to love them in the midst of it. Love is the only way that Jesus endured the cross. Love is the only way the Father endures our constant rebellion. Love not only will be the way we endure the injustices of this world, it is the cure!

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.”