I was studying today in 1 Peter 1. Peter was writing to those in Asia and Asia minor who he called "dispersed residents". Maybe because of persecution they were dispersed, but they were aliens and pilgrims. In a sense, Peter could say this about all of us because this world is not the home of any believer.
Peter calls them a number of other wonderful things as well, chosen and set apart because of the foreknowledge of God. Because of the resurrection the Lord has give us a new birth into a living hope. This inheritance that waits for each believer is incorruptible and will not fade away. Now, we encounter some trials, but these ultimately will result in praise, honor and glory to Jesus.
In verse 10-12, Peter says that it was revealed to the prophets of the past that they were serving those who would follow them. They sought to understand what the Spirit of God meant when he talked about the messianic sufferings. These things were so exciting that angels longed to look into them.
Because this is the case, Peter exhorts the reader to pursue holiness and to make the mind ready for action. I was struck by how many times Peter refers to the "mind" in his writings. They were to respond to God's gift by not being conformed to the world, but to be holy. Peter quotes Lev 11:44-45; 19:2 and 20:7. It is God's desire that his people reflect him.
It is important to realize that the people were to based their living hope not on themselves, but on God and his actions. The emphasis is on him. They were to reflect God's holiness in everything they did, especially their relationships. They were suppose to grow in love 1 Peter 1:22-23.
Do I show appreciate for the gift that God has given me in the new birth?
Does my life reflect the world and conform to the world's standards or am I different?
Is my love for others growing or is it stagnant?
Do I see my trials as a time when God wants to get honor and glory by the way I respond to my trials?
Is there real joy over what inheritance awaits me in heaven?
God forgive me for not being grateful. For not conforming myself to you and instead being shaped by this world. Forgive me for a bitter and hard heart that has not grown in love. I pray you would restore my joy in the inheritance that is awaiting me in heaven. Thank you that it is not up to me because it is by the blood of Jesus that I am saved. It is because of his resurrection that I am redeemed.
Amen
Peter calls them a number of other wonderful things as well, chosen and set apart because of the foreknowledge of God. Because of the resurrection the Lord has give us a new birth into a living hope. This inheritance that waits for each believer is incorruptible and will not fade away. Now, we encounter some trials, but these ultimately will result in praise, honor and glory to Jesus.
In verse 10-12, Peter says that it was revealed to the prophets of the past that they were serving those who would follow them. They sought to understand what the Spirit of God meant when he talked about the messianic sufferings. These things were so exciting that angels longed to look into them.
Because this is the case, Peter exhorts the reader to pursue holiness and to make the mind ready for action. I was struck by how many times Peter refers to the "mind" in his writings. They were to respond to God's gift by not being conformed to the world, but to be holy. Peter quotes Lev 11:44-45; 19:2 and 20:7. It is God's desire that his people reflect him.
It is important to realize that the people were to based their living hope not on themselves, but on God and his actions. The emphasis is on him. They were to reflect God's holiness in everything they did, especially their relationships. They were suppose to grow in love 1 Peter 1:22-23.
Do I show appreciate for the gift that God has given me in the new birth?
Does my life reflect the world and conform to the world's standards or am I different?
Is my love for others growing or is it stagnant?
Do I see my trials as a time when God wants to get honor and glory by the way I respond to my trials?
Is there real joy over what inheritance awaits me in heaven?
God forgive me for not being grateful. For not conforming myself to you and instead being shaped by this world. Forgive me for a bitter and hard heart that has not grown in love. I pray you would restore my joy in the inheritance that is awaiting me in heaven. Thank you that it is not up to me because it is by the blood of Jesus that I am saved. It is because of his resurrection that I am redeemed.
Amen