Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,--1Peter 1:22-23
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
1 Peter was written to Jewish believers who were experiencing an increasing amount of persecution for their faith. Peter is called the Apostle of Hope. He reminds these believers to fix their eyes on the goal...to look ahead in the suffering and persecution they would inevitably face and see glory of an eternity in heaven.
Peter also knew what it was like to fold under duress. He had denied His Lord three times. An exhortation to love one another fervently is always needed, but it is especially needed for those undergoing times of trials, persecution and grief. I know for myself when I am undergoing trials or am grieving, minor offenses can sometimes take on major proportions. Why? Because there is a battle raging in my heart. My flesh is warring against my spirit. I have not yet surrendered my grief, disappointment, anger, etc over to the One that is sovereign. I am not walking by faith knowing that God will work all things together for good...even my pain and suffering and sometimes especially my pain and suffering. I rail against Him for the situation I find myself in. This war within will inevitably spill out on those around me. No one understood this better than Peter.
Jesus warned Peter that he would face persecution...what is the advice our Lord gave Peter?
"'Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.'"
"Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays You?' Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?'”
So often when we face a trial we look around and say Lord...what about them...How come they are not being put through it.
"Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.'”
Follow Him...keep your focus on Him. What advice does Peter tell these believers who were or would be facing persecution? Peter tells them to love one another fervently with a pure heart. Perhaps Peter was remembering what His Lord did when facing His time of persecution and the death of the cross. He loved those around Him fervently, didn't He?
Read John 14-17. Jesus' focus was never on Himself...it was always on those that surrounded Him and on those who would come to know Him by faith. What an example He gave us for handling offenses, trials, rejection and grief. He kept His eyes on the goal and focused on the joy (us) that was set before Him and despite the provocation he reacted graciously to all that were around Him.
Our goal here on earth is to glorify Him, to bring Christ close to those who do not know Him and to encourage those who do...to magnify Him. How do we do this...by living our lives for Him. By remembering in offenses and sorrow that they are never about us...they are to be used to make us more like He is in order that others would see Jesus. Girls, don't get in the way by reacting to others in offense and unforgiveness or by retaliating in like manner. Remember grace...remember what we truly deserve and pray for those who may not have treated you like you think you deserved. Christ reached out in love at the hour He faced the greatest of offenses and rejection - for you - and in so doing, He reflected the glory of God. Christ loves us fervently...
can we do any less for others?
Peter then goes on to remind them that they are all members of the same family born of incorruptible seed through the word of God which abides forever. If you read on into the next chapter, Peter continues by saying because you are born of God you are to lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Don't miss the remedy in that...there is an active putting off or laying aside of sin and a desire for the word. The word is what we need and it is what the Jewish believers needed also. The word should be our desire. The word is what Jesus used when He faced temptation in the wilderness. It is what the Spirit of God uses to combat the wars that are fought inside our own hearts. We were conceived by the Word of God and we are to continue in it. The word is our spiritual food. It is what transforms us, renews our minds and conforms us into the image of Christ. It is always the answer.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2 Corinthians 3:18
Love
Mom
