Are We There Yet?

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day five) 

“to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

It’s one of the most annoying questions ever asked of parents. Trips, errands, vacations, and simple excursions all give opportunity for that dreaded question, “Are we there yet?” While the question can reveal a lack of patience, what if it in fact, pointed to other concerns- Safety. Direction. Uncertainty. Unfamiliarity. All good reasons to ask that question. So, does the question focus more on the future, or the present?  (Might be an interesting conversation for a long car ride)

Peter addresses both those perspectives- an imperishable inheritance (future), and God’s protection (present). We face many of those concerns as believers. Peter helps us when we lose patience or get overwhelmed in our circumstances as he describes our future that will never crack or fade or be destroyed. He also helps us in our uncertainty, doubts, and troubles as he reminds us of God’s powerful protection presently in action.

A Living Hope

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day four)

One of the most difficult doctrines to understand has historically been the doctrine of the Trinity.  In our passage this week, as we set out on a study of 1 Peter, we see a picture of the combined work of each person of the Trinity.  God the Father has established the work of salvation for the redemption of man.  Jesus Christ, the Son, has given His blood as sacrifice for our sin, and we are to follow Him in obedience.  The Holy Spirit provides the sanctifying work so that we can be presented blameless before God.  God in His mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope.  Following our trust in Jesus, we gain an inheritance in heaven that is secured and held by the Holy Spirit.

Love, hope, faith…the inexpressibly valuable gift of salvation is ours through the work of our Trinitarian God.  We must never despair, regardless of the trials, that we serve a mighty God.

Discover

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day three)

“…to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away…”

What’s the difference between Peter’s words and pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by? I mean, when life sucker-punches you, will it really help in the moment to say to yourself that, well, a better life awaits me after I die? No. But that’s not what Peter’s getting at. He’s not dispensing trite platitudes for life’s misfortunes. That’s what Facebook is for. What Peter is doing here is cultivating a certain kind of life in you. That takes a while. It’s a life that involves mourning and grieving and a revelation, gradually, that your pain is familiar to Christ – a life that will lead you to discover, as Christ himself found after his own darkness, that joy has not in fact died, but will wait for you for as long as it takes.

Knowing the End

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day two) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials…vs. 6

You may be one of those people who read the last chapter of the book first, or perhaps you read on IMDB the whole plot of the movie or show before you watch it. I think you are monsters, but that is not the point of this blog.  In literature and cinema you will miss the twists and turns and not be fooled by the red herrings if you know the outcome first. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing the ending at the beginning. It’s just not why I love to read.

Our faith journey is different. Knowing the outcome helps us navigate the interim setbacks, the catastrophes, and all the heartache. Not only can we endure, but we can have peace and, as Peter tells us, we can have joy. So, I will concede, in this instance I am so grateful that I know that the Lord will not let a trial be in vain. Keep reading!

Re:Verse Blog – 8/29/22

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through 1 Peter 1:1-9 in our Fall Re:Verse Series: “To Be Holy Like Jesus” A Study in 1 Peter.

Faithful

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day seven)

… for He who promised is faithful.

The concept for our Better Together series was formed during a staff retreat almost a year ago. As we all sat together in that room, we realized that we had missed being together as a team. We laughed, we prayed, we sang, and we dreamed. As we dreamed, we realized that just as we (the staff) were better together, so was the entirety of our congregation. God was moving amongst all of us to come back and tell you about “Better Together” immediately, but to do this right, we needed to plan it out. We needed to write our own curriculum. We needed to wait until the timing was right, but we knew that this was from the Lord and He who promised is faithful.

Wouldn’t you agree that He is faithful? Have you felt as encouraged by this study as we have? Don’t you feel more connected to one another than we did even a few months ago? The final word of our study tells us that we will be encouraged as we draw near to God personally and as we draw near to one another in community. That is how we will continue to be Better Together beyond these 13 weeks, for He who promised is faithful.

Take the Risk

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day six)

The main reason we are better together, it would seem, is because we are more likely to finish the race when we are together. That is the main thrust of this text. Afforded by the blood of Christ, we discover new life (forgiven and cleansed), not independent, but dependent on others.

When we are together we are better at holding tight to the hope we have in Jesus, we are better at encouraging each other to obey Jesus even when life is hard, and we are better at finishing strong.

Don’t let the world convince you, you are better on your own. It’s a lie.

Take the risk, be very intentional, invite others into your life, step into the lives of others-be better together!

Bigger God, Better Others

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day five)   This week’s Re:Verse passage is fascinating. We are reminded and exhorted to draw near to God. Coming before Him in His holy place. Not intimidated, but rather with a humble and sincere perspective. As we experience God in His glory and His beauty, our faith and trust grow stronger and more resilient. Our hope becomes more tangible. As God’s beauty becomes clearer we begin to see and sense His faithfulness.

Then the remarkable happens: a personal faith becomes corporate. We gather with others. We encourage others. While our focus is still on the Lord, our desire for the spiritual growth and effectiveness of our brothers and sisters increases.

As we draw near to God (He becomes bigger) we also invest in and encourage others (they become better).

He is Holy

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day four)

Our culture today has lost their reverence for God.  Recognition for and respect of the holiness of God seems to be a thing of the past.  There was a day when even non-believers had respect for our holy God.  Those days are gone.

Even for believers in Christ, there is a failure to remember what our salvation has cost.  It was the blood of Christ.  He gave His life so we can have forgiveness of our sin.  When we approach God in prayer…in worship…or in study of Scripture, we should do so in reverence and awe of God’s holiness.  Casual or flippant attitudes disregard the sacredness of the love and work of salvation.

We must never forget the high cost of salvation.  Whether we are in corporate worship or private devotion, always remember that God is a holy God who desires our holiness as well.  Our holiness, rather than our comfort and safety, is the goal!

Summon

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day three)

“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”

Being in the presence of another person presents you with an important question: How will you live toward that person? That question might seem like it makes too much of a simple situation. After all, it’s only cousin Frank, or it’s only somebody you’ve bowled with for seventeen years, or whatever. Some of these decisions on how to live in a particular person’s presence you made long ago — and without really even thinking about it. That’s not uncommon. But you’re good for that person. Not because he or she is deficient, but because as a friend, you, with Christ, can see the heaven-placed potential within that person waiting to be summoned into action, if you’ll take the time to see it.