1 & 2 Peter – Page 10

1 Peter 2:13-17 – Respect Authority

“Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.” That pretty much sums up today’s reading. Sounds simple enough. What about respect the king? Not all of us have a king. We do all have an authority or governing body setting earthly human laws to follow. We may not be a fan of these laws, but they exist to protect.

I admit I have a lead foot when it comes to driving. I like to drive fast. I like to get where I’m going. Speed limits are in place to protect us, help with fuel efficiency or some other reason. It was a huge realization for me when I realized that by breaking man’s speed limit law, I was not obeying God’s desire for me to obey authority. This is just one example. Continue reading “1 Peter 2:13-17 – Respect Authority”

1 Peter 2:1-12 – Living Stones

Read 1 Peter 2:1-12

We are living stones. That is an image not on my radar. I may be living and breathing, seeing and smelling– but as a stone? Not so much. But when you play out the metaphor here, with Jesus being the cornerstone, I’m thrilled to be a living stone.

We’ve all seen buildings with a prominent cornerstone. It will often have the year engraved. Wikipedia defines “cornerstone” (or foundation stone or setting stone) to be “the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.” Now think about how this impacts us when we think of Jesus as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-22). Continue reading “1 Peter 2:1-12 – Living Stones”

1 Peter 1:13-25 – Holy Living

Read 1 Peter 1:13-25

God has chosen you and set you apart to do mighty things. You may not feel all that special, and you might wonder what you could ever do to make a difference. I know, because I’ve questioned, too. I have never felt worthy to be used by God. However, when he does use me, there is no better feeling of accomplishment. My life matters. My purpose was for moments like those. Then I ask, how can I make more of them happen? When will God use me again?

The important thing is to never stop serving. We must seek holiness, and God will set us up for success in the kingdom. His word is clear. “You must be holy because I am holy.” We can often fall back into our old habits, so we need to take care to not do that. We have seen and felt what being holy feels like. We should never want that feeling to go away. Yet some stray. It’s inevitable. Even though we know better now.

Continue reading “1 Peter 1:13-25 – Holy Living”

1 Peter 1:8-12 – Sweet Salvation

Read 1 Peter 1:8-12

The wind blows yet we do not see the wind. We do see how it affects what it touches. Leaves rustle gently and silky water churns into waves. We all know the wind. How about God? We love him yet we have not seen him. Are we holding back? Do we know God and trust him completely even though we have not seen him?

We have seen God reflected in everyday things. Like seeing the wind, we know God is near because of his creation. God’s thoughtfulness in bringing the whole world into existence is mind-boggling. The intricacy, beauty, complexity, and mystery can only suggest an omnipotent creator. Knowing God then should bring joy at the thought that he created us, too! And, we know (or should know) that the outcome for trusting God is salvation! Continue reading “1 Peter 1:8-12 – Sweet Salvation”

1 Peter 1:3-7 – Wonderful Joy, Precious Faith

Read 1 Peter 1:3-7

What do you feel when you imagine living forever with God? Overwhelming joy should flood your heart. It all started with what God did for you. Just thinking of that amazing gift should be a reason for expectant elation! We have a special place in eternity waiting for us! Our inheritance is priceless. We cannot buy our way into heaven. Jesus is the one who paid the price for us.

This passage is helpful as we all have trials and struggles. We are never promised a life on earth without trials. In fact, it is how we respond to trials that sets us apart. Do we let them get us down? Do we look for the lesson? I try to stay positive and never let negative things get me down. I am not always successful, but that is my intent. I try to help others keep a positive attitude, but it isn’t always easy. Sometimes it is impossible, and I only make the situation worse. Continue reading “1 Peter 1:3-7 – Wonderful Joy, Precious Faith”