Life isn’t fair. There are many times, through political maneuvering that you might be treated unfairly and even consistently accused of doing something wrong for no apparent reason other than someone wants the power to do that to you. This is not ethical leadership but that is the way it is sometimes. How do we live with it and still be and do the “right thing” in God’s eyes? How do we navigate this part of our lives here in this world? Peter gives us perspective that encourages us this morning while reminding us that the best is yet to come.
REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE HEADED, NOT WHERE YOU ARE NOW
“Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebrations when he arrives.”
1 Peter 2, Msg
REMEMBER WHO YOU BELONG TO
“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.” 1 Peter 2, Msg
REMEMBER WHAT COUNTS WITH GOD
“You who are servants, be good servants to your masters–not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.” 1 Peter 2, Msg
REMEMBER OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE, JESUS!
“This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. HE suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step by step.
‘He never did one thing wrong
Not once said anything amiss.’
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. he used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” 1 Peter 2, Msg
Amen. I needed these reminders this morning! There is nothing we face that our dear Savior has not endured for us. He knows and understands. He died and rose again for you. For me. Breathe in His grace, breathe out his praises!
In Jesus Name, Amen
God is God. And we are not. We are not perfect. We are unloving sometimes. We are moody. We are unkind. We are rejected sometimes because of many things…mostly our own mistakes. We are an unforgiving lot at times. But God is God and we are not. He chose us, in all our imperfectness to be his own and to do His work and speak for Him. What an honor! What a privileged that we should not take lightly! He is a transforming God. Peter knows…
“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made from you–from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” 1 Peter 2, Msg
WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT!
Breathe in His grace. Exhale praise for Him today. All day long!
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for taking this nobody and making me Your somebody that gives you praise no matter what is happening around me. Take my life and let it be more pleasing to you each day. May others know you more because of what you are doing in me. Thank you for saving grace and your transforming work in all of us. In Jesus Name, Amen
I have many things in my life that I have regretted saying or doing or not saying and doing, but I have never regretted accepting, believing and living for Jesus Christ as Lord of my life. He IS my life. I have made mistakes and missteps, but by His grace and mercy, He lifts me up, dusts me off, and puts me back into life abundant. He is my rock, the One I trust and obey willingly. He pours out his UNconditional love to me and for that I am grateful. Each day is a new day with Jesus and it IS sweeter than the day before. Peter knew it, talked about it and lived it…with no regrets….
“Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. the workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
‘Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone in the place of honor.
Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation
will never have cause to regret it.’
“To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse trust him,
‘The stone the workmen threw out
is now the chief foundation stone.’
1 Peter 2, Msg
Want a vibrant, abundant life? Then we must build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone, the Chief Foundation Stone!
And I’m prayerfully singing…
“Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary, oh, for you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
What does your life depend on? Great medical care? A healthy bank account? Wonderful family and friends who like you and approve of you? I’m asking myself this question as I read the end of chapter one in 1 Peter. Where is my eternal focus? Is the Word of God alive and living in me? Have I stepped up my love for others…as if my life depended on it?
“Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, ‘The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever.'” 1 Peter 1, Msg
“This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.” 1 Pet 1, Msg
GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH LIVING IN US…
Every day, true believers must obey the truth. This will make their life pure. Psalm 119:9 says, ‘How can a young man live a pure life? When he lives the way that God’s word tells us’. The Bible is God’s word. The Bible is truth.
GOD’S WORD IN US STEPS UP OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER!
As Believers become purer in their lives, they will have a deeper love for each other. They will not have evil thoughts and feelings about others. Sincere love means we really care about other people with no pretense. AND we are all in the same family…God’s family!
God is our Father! AND this love of God, from God always gives more than it takes.
GOD’S WORD, THE GOOD NEWS IN US, LIVES FOREVER!
The ‘word of the *Lord’ (God) can refer to the Bible. It also means the good news that God saves people from *sin through Jesus Christ. When people hear or read this good news, it is like a seed that God plants in their lives. Seeds grow into plants. However, plants die. But the seed of God’s word will never die. It gives a person new birth into God’s family. All people, even great people, will die. Their physical body will die, just as grass and flowers die. But God’s words will live for ever. When people accept the word of the *Lord, their spirit will live for ever.
YES, I believe! My life depends on the Word of God in me!
Dear Heavenly Father, We are encouraged and challenged by Your Word, Your Good News of the gospel, alive in all who believe. Thank you for Your Story of salvation, Your Word that breathes new life in us, from You. Wow, again, I am overwhelmed at the love You have for us! Let me just meditate on that and then help me extend Your kind of love to others. In Jesus Name, Amen
In the midst of ministry, Randy and I won a vacation that was incredible. We needed the time away so badly and God provided at just the right time. The company that sent us served us well. At the end of the week, we ask if there was anything we needed to pay…not believing this was real. “No, you owe nothing, this shows paid in full.” Wow!
But that was only for a week. How about a life-time? How about forever?
God knew what he needed to do for our life-long journey before it even began. He needed to make a way for us to come to Him, with our debt of sin, and those sins be paid for in full. Peter reminds us how and why He did it…
“You call out to God for help and he helps–he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.” 1 Peter 1, Msg
“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb.”
“And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately–at the end of the ages–become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.” 1 Peter 1, Msg
Our journey’s have a future in God!!! Paid in full by trusting in the One who paid our debt in full! What a God we love and serve! There is no one like our God, Our Heavenly Father who helps, forgives, encourages, heals, restores our brokenness, guides our steps, gives us wisdom when we ask, lifts our spirits when we are down, bestows gifts of peace, joy and unconditional love…and on top of it all…pays our debt of sin in full by the blood of Jesus Christ, His only Son!!
How can we turn this down? How can we walk away and not trust and obey with gladness? I cannot.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your God and we are not. We trust in You alone. You are our Creator as well as our Redeemer! Before the world began, you made a Way for us to always be with You. Thank you. I believe.
In Jesus Name, I believe. Amen!
“So roll up your sleeves, put you mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, ‘I am holy; you be holy.'” 1 Peter 1, Msg
I love Peter! His enthusiasm is contagious. His life is a great example as one who would carpe diem!, “Seize the Day”! Go after life, he would say, but with blazing holiness. Yes, I like Peter. No wonder Jesus loved him so much and trusted him to build his church.
Life is short, God’s way of encouraging a bit of focus.
~Robert Brault,
Dear Heavenly Father, You created each one of us with uniqueness along with holiness, that only comes from you. We can all do your will and purpose to love You back and love other with all the enthusiasm and energy we see in Peter who was your example of blazing holiness. Thank you for Your Holiness. Thank you for Your power living in us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
