First Baptist Church of Holdrege Devotion Series

January 2013 1 Peter

Dec. 30, 2012 ...living as foreigners... I Peter 1:1 True story. A pastor walked into his sanctuary on the Sunday that just happened to have landed on July 4th. To his horror, he found the communion set placed upon an American flag draped over the altar. He immediately saw the things of which church splits are made. There would be those of the older generation that would think of using a flag as a tablecloth as highly disrespectful to the flag. There would be some that would be proud to see the patriotism displayed boldly, and reflect on what a great nation we live in--that allows us the freedom to be Christians openly. They would seek retaliation towards anyone unpatriotic enough to remove it from there. There would be a few, however, (and the pastor was one of them) that would see that the flag there was highly disrepectful to the altar upon which it laid. There are very few Americans who know what it means to be a foreigner. Being a Christian and being an American more often than not go hand in hand. Christians are often found fighting to keep our country from sliding away from being Christian. We oftentimes see prosperity as Gods blessing and hardships as his waning patience with us as a nation. What few of us have come to grips with is that even in a land founded on Christian principles, if we have accepted Christ, we are foreigners here. Our citizenship is elsewhere. Foreigners dont really fit in. They havent been assimilated into the society, either because they are too new at it or they have kept their allegiances somewhere else. They dont talk the same way. They might not even dress the same way. They dont do things the same way. They may live here, but home is elsewhere. As we will see in this study, being foreigners can cause all kinds of problems with the natives of the world--even if our citizenship is far superior. 1

Does that mean that we have to be anti-American to be saved? No. We do need to hold it in perspective, however. To be grateful to live in a country with religious freedom and to worship it and put our faith in it are two different things all together. A Christian should not put their trust in who sits in the oval office. A Christian should not feel safe because of the might of the Pentagon. A Christian should not judge prosperity by bank accounts, cars, or 401Ks. A Christian should not feel empowered by the current laws or rights afforded by their perspective governments. A Christian need to look no further than the cross for any of these things. For it is the cross that provides the gateway to where our primary citizenship lies.

Dec. 31, 2012 ... God the Father knew you and chose you long ago... I Peter 1:2 Roman citizenship was always bought with a price. You couldnt be born into it. You couldnt earn it. The only way to become a citizen of Rome was to pay a handsome amount for it. This concept ran through all of the Roman Empire and it would have been the assumption of everyone reading Peters letter here. If we are foreigners here, where are we citizens? And who paid for it? Even the wealthy person who realized the depth of their debt to God would realize that citizenship in Heaven would be beyond even their ability to pay for. We are talking about eternity here. The poor sinner who made nothing because he was a slave had no hope whatsoever on his own. He was looking not only at being a foreigner on earth, but an outcast for eternity. For both rich and poor, the realization of Gods perfect standard and their brokenness was a dismal depressing place to live. Yet, this is not the case. Before time even existed, the Heavenly Father saw each and 2

everyone of those listening to this letter (and to us), he knew us and he chose us. That phrase is beyond any human beings ability to comprehend. He knew us. He knew how we would rebel, how we would continue to sin and hurt him deeply. He knew how we would hurt each other. He knew how we would promise to do better and then let him down again and again and again. He knew every single thought wed ever have and with all of that in mind, he chose us. And if choosing us were all that it took, that would be mind blowing in and of itself. To think that God thought of me, in the midst of all of the universe and the billions of humans ever to exist is more than I can think through. Yet, that isnt the whole of the story, is it? He knew me with all my brokenness and still chose me. With the blood of his only Son, he paid for my citizenship.

January 1, 2013 ...May God give you more and more grace and peace. I Peter 1:2 Its traditional in letters of Peters day to include a blessing like this. As such, it can often become trivialized as much as the word Dear is to a letter salutation. This isnt just a greeting or a fine to the question how are you doing? Peter here is blessing the listeners to his letter with something he knows they are going to need in their journey as foreigners in this world. They are going to need grace and peace and they can count on God to provide it. So what exactly is Peter blessing the readers with here? Grace is Gods unmerited favor. Its getting something that one does not deserve. Yes, Jesus had died for all of our sins, perfecting us in the eyes of the Father forever. When God looks at a Christian, he does not see a sinner saved, he sees His own child, as perfected as he is perfect. At the same time, we are not perfect by any stretch of the 3

word. Even our best intentions fall short of Gods glory. Only by Gods continued grace--his continued forgiveness and blessings despite our brokenness and times when our carnal nature rears its ugly head, can we continue to walk in the light of Gods love and acceptance. Even the most ardent and disciplined followers of Jesus in Peters day was going to need a moment by moment infusion of Gods grace. The selfish thought that stews in the mind of a Christian wronged waiting for Gods wrath to pour out on his enemy. The lustful look in the wrong direction. The little white lie. The doing because everyone else is doing it. The perfected Christian in Gods eye still lives in a fallen rebellious world. Grace is an absolute necessity. And so is peace--not the peace that the world tries to forge. The peace that Peter is offering here isnt social stability, financial stability, or a lack of stress all around. The peace that he talks about here is the knowledge that although the world around us might be falling apart, our relationship with God isnt. One author put it this way, Peace is the serenity and calmness of heart and mind that comes from knowing that we are no longer at war with God, but dwell with him in blessed fellowship. For the Christian, this long term perspective promises that everything is going to work out to an end that we cant even comprehend yet and nothing can keep that from happening. So Pauls words become mine to you as you live through this day, May God give you more and more grace and peace.

January 2, 2013 ...it is by his great mercy that we have been born again... I Peter 1:3 Whereas grace is getting what we dont deserve, mercy is not getting what we do deserve. What we deserve is eternal death and 4

separation from everything good and godly. Thats what we asked for with every evil action and thought--for every time we struck out on our own without seeking God in our circumstances or every time we ignored what God asked of us. We essentially told God that we could do his job better. For those who are unrepentant, God honors their request and lets them try to measure up to him. Each and everyone that takes that path fails miserably and eternally. For those who seek to put their faith in Jesus, what they receive is mercy. The outcome that they deserve is withheld. The question for the deeper thinker is How is that possible? How can God be called holy, perfect, and just and in the same breath overlook the sins of all those who have turned their lives over to him? How can he forgive the thief on the cross and promise a seat in eternity when people like Ghandi lives such a morally superior and outwardly selfless life and end up in Hell? Justice is based upon the fact that all are treated equally. How is that equal? Sin equals eternal separation from all things good and godly. Thats the standard by which God chose to rule the universe. Not even the angels escape that standard. If God is going to be perfect and just, the standard must apply to all. And this is how he did it. Jesus took the death that we deserve. He kept us from Hell. Thats mercy. The Father raised him from the dead. That is also mercy, because the one that paid for us all now sits at the right hand of the Father as our advocate. Everytime the Father gazes upon us, even in our brokenness, there isnt a moment of frustration or pending wrath. Why? Because the risen Son immediately communicates that weve been covered in his blood. There are two things that jump out at me in this. First, oh how I want to curb my sin, for everyone is yet another nail hammer into the body of Christ. Secondly, oh how grateful I am for Jesus willingness to show mercy, for I certainly in need of it daily. 5

January 3, 2013 ...a priceless inheritance... I Peter 1:4-5 Do you remember Christmas as a kid? Sometimes my parents would put the presents under the tree a few days before Christmas. I remember just staring at those paper covered, bow-laden boxes wondering what was inside. We always had to wait until the whole family was there to open presents, and usually it was after a Christmas Eve service and supper on Christmas Eve. (Christmas Day was usually spent traveling to the other set of grandparents). Oh, how I would ponder what lay ahead for me. I just couldnt wait for the 20-30 minutes of ripping paper and throwing bows, and then watching others do the same. As a parent, I get to watch now more with a little different perspective. I care less and less whats under the tree for me. I look forward to seeing the faces of those I love as they open their presents. I work hard to get just the right thing for them-something that they will both like and use. I have often regretted the universal churchs drifting away from what lies ahead to the here and now. Certainly, what God has for us today is something to be explored and treasured. But to only focus on the here and now leaves open the door of thought that in the tough times, God is not there. Whereas, tough times are really a place where rewards are built, and where focusing on the inheritance to come becomes essential to making it through. A runner pushes to the next mile even though his lungs are burning up. Why? Because of the feeling of crossing the finish line first. The businessman survives on crackers and water and whatever else he can scrounge with coupons. Why? Because he knows his business plan will build a profitable empire once it gets off the ground. A Christian can survive the tough times. Why? Because there is a guarantee of an inheritance that will make all of 6

the riches of the world look like kiddy toys in comparison. Today, dont forget that inheritance as you go about your daily routine.

January 4, 2013 ...God is protecting you by his power... I Peter 1:4 Once upon a time, there was a young boy who asked of is father a very special favor. He wanted to take one of his fathers very special coins to school for show and tell. The father, who loved the son more than anything he owned, agreed. However, there was the lectures and advice that came first. The father relayed once again how special the coin was, how costly it was, what a big responsibility it was to care for the coin. The father passed on how disappointed he would be if something were to happen to the coin. The price was a lot. It was the most expensive thing the father owned. With that said, he handed the coin to the boy and out the door he went on his walk to school. At the end of the block, the boy met up with his best friend and he couldnt contain himself nor the treasure he had clutched in his hand. He showed the shiny little coin to his friend who oohed and awed at it. It wasnt long before a crowd had gathered all looking at the coin. To the boys horror, the crowd began to separate and up the center, like Moses and the Red Sea, came the neighborhood bully wanting a look-see. Hey, punk. Lemme see whatcha got there. The boy reluctantly opened his hand partially to comply without endangering the coin. No, punk. Lemme hold it. The boy was almost in tears. He knew that if he gave it up, hed never see it again. He also knew that the bully had the power within to take it from him one way or another. The boy just stood there not knowing what to do, when he saw the blood drain from the bullys 7

face. The crowd immediately dispersed only outrun by the bully himself. When the boy turned around, there was his father standing there with arms crossed and biceps bulging. The father went from that body position to his knees. I thought that might happen. Hey, how about I walk you to school the rest of the way? And so hand in hand, they went the rest of the distance--the boy and the coin both safe. There was no boy, nor coin, nor bully in reality. This was a parable. Ill let you figure out who was who and what it meant.

January 5, 2013 ...be truly glad... I Peter 1:6-9 A man reluctantly keeps his appointment with the doctor. He knows that something isnt right, but doesnt really want to face it. The test results are in and the doctors office called to set up an appointment to go over the results. He could tell by the nurses tone that all was not well. He felt that too. He sits in the examination room and the doctor walks in and looks over the chart one last time to make sure hes got his facts straight. If the man is going to continue to live a full life, surgery is the only way. At this point in time, the doctor has two different strategies he could follow. The doctor could look at the man and say, Well, this has got to come out. Theres a 100% chance of recovery but Id have to cut you open and that will hurt a lot and for a while later. There will probably have to be physical therapy and perhaps even some ongoing medications. I dont want to put you through that. I certainly dont want to cause you any pain, so lets just pretend that everything is OK, alright? Or the doctor could do his job and say, This is what is causing you the discomfort. I can go in and take that out. It will hurt to do that. But you will recover and 8

be even better. The first option harms the patient by not wanting to hurt the patient. The second option avoids harm by hurting the patient. Sometimes life hurts and what we beg God to do is to just help us pretend that there is nothing wrong. The Great Physician doesnt work that way. As AW Tozer has said, God is much more interested in our eternal holiness than our temporary happiness. We, as Christians, are going to go through tough times--through trials. They arent random acts of bad luck. For Christians, they arent punishment, either--for we are perfectly redeemed. They are surgical procedures to produce in us the best possible us that God can imagine. With that in mind, let us take Peters words seriously here: So be truly glad. God isnt finished with you yet.

January 6, 2013 ...even the prophets wanted to know more... I Peter 1:10-12 I never win anything! Have you heard that before? Have you said that or thought it before? How many sweepstakes or drawings have I entered and found myself with high hopes that get dashed. Ive actually become a bit calloused towards those kinds of things. I enter drawings that support a cause I support and figure that my entry was a donation to that cause. Oftentimes, I dont even stick around to find the results. Why? Because honestly, I never win anything. Or do I? Or did I? Picture the prophets of old: Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Amos and the rest of the lot. The Holy Spirit whispers into their souls, Write this down. Something wonderful is going to happen one day. To Joel, He whispered, I will pour my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old 9

men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions. And Joel scratches his head in puzzlement. How is that possible? Women prophets? Never heard of it. Everyone having the Holy Spirit instead of just a few? How is that possible? And to his questions, there is silence--no answer. The angels who overhear this conversation scratch their heads as well. For the Holy Spirit to indwell that many, humanity is going to have to evolve quite a bit. They arent even close enough to be spiritually clean enough for the Holy Spirit to be able to indwell. Humanity hasnt evolved at all since their creation. In fact, theyve gone backwards quite a bit. How is this possible? And at this, God the Trinity smiles. Perfection is attainable for each and every human being--not by their works, but by the work of Jesus on the cross. And at the right time, Jesus provided the greatest gift so that no one can go home and say, Ive never won anything. No. The opposite is true. Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Weve won the greatest gift ever!

January 7, 2013 ...so think clearly and exercise self control... I Peter 1:13 The imagery that Peter uses here is a military one. Literally, he says, gird up your belt. The image he is conjuring up is one of a soldier preparing for battle. The last piece of the armour that a Roman soldier would put on was the belt. It was what held everything in place. It held the sword. It held the breastplate. Without it, everything would fall off or get in the way. How true it is that getting our thoughts in order prepares us for the events that lie ahead. Very few people have a knee jerk reaction in crisis that is correct and wise. Those that weather the 10

storms of crises are the ones that have decided ahead of time how to respond to a crises. They dont react to crises, theyve preplanned their response. Their thought out plans of action are like the soldiers belt. They hold everything together in the midst of the battle. In a crisis, its easy to see the woe is me in it all. Its easy to see the compromising short cuts and the easier but sinful patterns of behavior. But to have what Peter has talked about previously in this letter in the forefront of ones mind, gives a whole different perspective, doesnt it? Crisis is an opportunity to grow and to make God look good in the process. Who knows who is watching my response? God has a plan for those watching and he wants to use me in this. And whatever I am going through today is just temporary. If I stay true to my relationship with him in this, Ill reap the rewards for eternity. That makes things like compromise and pity parties seem very wrong, even in the midst of the crisis. So in a somewhat crass way, Peter admonishes us to not let us get caught with our spiritual pants down. Put on your belt. Prepare your heart right now for the crises that lie ahead. Spend time with God. Study his word. Put it in your heart. Think upon these things. When the crisis arises, you will think clearly and exercise self control. You will grow and God will be glorified.

January 8, 2013 ...do not conform... I Peter 1:14 Honestly, this is a tough one. We human beings have a strong tendency to want to blend in as much as possible. Its not just birds of a feather that flock together. And certainly if everyone played by different rules, the world would be in total anarchy. If 11

we didnt look for commonalities, we would only focus upon what makes us different, and as human beings we often come to the conclusion that what is different is bad. But Peter isnt challenging us here to not be unified, but to not conform. To conform means to be pressed into someone elses mold. Its all about fitting in with those whose whom one values, respects or admires. Its something that, quite honestly, I dont think is possible for humans to not do. Those that have no regard for what others think and no value upon others get diagnosed with Personality Disorders and go on murder sprees for vacation. We all want to be accepted. We all want to be valued. The problem, though, is that we were created to be accepted and valued by God, and as such then accepted by others. Not the other way around. Can we say, even in America, in the Moral and upright friendly state of Nebraska, that we put what God tells us to do above what others tell us to do? Can we say that our primary objective each morning is to make God proud and pleased with us, rather than to keep our job or keep someone else happy? Theres nothing wrong with God blessing with riches and wealth. But how many of us try our best to accumulate that stuff, not because God wants us to, but because it is considered wise in the eyes of the world? How many of us let God set our standard of living, rather than trying to keep up with the Jones? AW Tozer wrote, We are always confusing the world with the Church and trying to get the world to do what we have difficulty getting Christians to do. It could also be said that weve tried to make the church so much like the world around us, that it can be hard to tell which is which. Weve set about to conform, rather than to be transformed. How have you allowed that slippery slope to enter your thinking?

12

January 9 2013 ...you must be holy... I Peter 1:15 Holiness is, by and large, a word only used in churches and religious circles. It was not in Peters day. To be holy is simply to be set apart. To be different. To be peculiar. To stand out and stand apart. Holiness has sometimes been connected to the concept of perfection and in this instance, it should not be so. What the Holy Spirit is asking of us here is that we stand out. He is challenging us to live in such a way that it is unmistakable that we follow Jesus. Tim Tebow isnt a perfect football player, but he is holy in that it is unmistakable of Whom he follows. There are far better orators than Franklin Graham, but we know of Whom he follows without a doubt. One might disagree with his politics wholeheartedly, but it is hard to mistake Jimmy Carters faith for genuine. This is the holiness that this passage is calling us to. Certainly, we need to do all we can to the next right thing, but this holiness isnt about being perfect in every way. Its for being known for making every effort to stay the course on the road that God calls us to, rather than the one the world takes, and when we get sidetracked, to make the course corrections to get back on that course. Its the age old question: If you were to be tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

January 10, 2013 ...you must be holy because I am holy... I Peter 1:16 I remember the first time I ever volunteered to work in the nursery as a newly married husband. I was a bit nervous. The only kids I had recent experience with were highly dysfunctional institutionalized children--the kind that would bite you and take a 13

chunk if you werent watching. They were far from what normal people would say were normal. I remember stirring all night wondering what kind of horrible things these pre-schoolers would do to my wife and me. We arrived at the nursery early so I could get a lay of the land and see what kind of potential weapons might be present. I also wanted to make sure I had mapped out every possible escape route for them, in case they wanted to run away. Monique just shook her head at me and my paranoia. Then the kids started to show up, and I was introduced to a whole different set of society. There was the two year old girl who took the play phone from the kitchen set and talked babble the whole time going to the drapes and fluffing them every so often. (Her mom was an interior designer). There was a boy who immediately went right to the trucks and made this elaborate road system with blocks and drove his truck the whole time. (His dad was a trucker.) There was a bit of a run in with the daughter of a police officer, when he didnt look both ways before entering an intersection, though. The lawyers kid helped solve the problem, though. That nursery experience comes to mind every time I read I Peter 1:16. Our calling is to be holy--to be set apart. Why? Because thats what our Heavenly Father is. We are to mimic him like those kids mimicked their parents. Weve been adopted by him. Weve taken on his name. We love and adore him. People mimic those that they admire. If you admire God, then holiness is the way he acts and we need to follow suit.

14

January 11, 2013 ...your Heavenly Father...has no favorites... I Peter 1:17 I remember as a kid, that I had this image in my head that helped me measure how much I could get away with. If I had a lot of good boy points racked up, I could spend some and be a little naughty. If I had pushed my limits for a while, then it was wiser to keep my nose clean until I had my points built back up. That worked on just about everyone--Sunday School teachers, public school teachers, even coaches and grandparents. It worked for everyone, that is, except mom and dad. I could never earn enough points to get away with anything. For a while, that was completely frustrating. There were times that I had built up enough trust and I let them down in that trust, but there were never enough points to cover the consequences. There were always consequences for poor choices on my part. I remember once in particular, my brother blew it and got caught after I had blown it and got caught. I thought to myself, Surely, what he did was so much worse. Theyll be focusing on him and Ill get away with it if I just be quiet about it. THAT didnt work. They dealt with him AND they dealt with me. Spurgeon had a concept called cheap grace. By that, he meant that Gods gift of forgiveness was often taken for granted and treated as a license to do whatever the person wanted. Why not? Its all covered, right? A sinner sins and we want that person to get it, especially if that sin is against us. But weve stored enough points with either our good behavior or Christs death on the cross that should get us out of consequences, right? Wrong. God disciplines those whom he loves. He has no favorites. He plays no favorites. You salvation is free, because Christ paid for it on the cross, but your rewards here on earth and in Heaven are based upon how hard you work. Thats why they are called rewards. If they were something you hadnt earned, they would be 15

gifts. If they were bribes to get you to behave, theyd be called bribes. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. We must never forget that accepting Christs free gift of forgiveness and salvation washt the end of our testimony, but the very beginning of our story of our journey of growing to be more like him--in his grace, but also with our sweat and tears along the way.

January 12, 2013 ...not mere gold or silver... I Peter 1:18, 19 Its kind of a man-rule, the more something costs, the more you value it. People will skip out on family reunions because of possible bad weather (and because of the possibility that Cousin It might be there). However, if they paid $200 per seat for a Husker game, theyll go two days early to avoid the same storm. A car that has been gifted can have anything in it. However, a car that has payments still on it and it hasnt received its first scratch might require you to take off your shoes before getting in. The question that often times gets stuck in my head with I Peter 1 is why should I work at being holy? Its so hard. Its not normal and Im constantly blowing it! Heres the answer as to why. Its not because I have to. Its not because I should be worried about God changing his mind about me. The reason is the price tag that was attached to my salvation. God didnt reach into his storerooms of gold and silver and grab a handful to pay for me. He didnt mortgage a solar system or a galaxy for that matter. He didnt look around heaven and try to figure out what rooms he could rent out to pay for my salvation. He sent Jesus, his one and only Son to live a perfect life and then die for me. There is no greater price that the Father could have paid. I do not know that I 16

would ever be willingly give up one of my children, asking them to suffer and die for another. I certainly would mourn the loss of the one my child could have saved. The cost of giving up my child for another is just too high of a price for me to contemplate. I hope and pray that I am never faced with having to make that decision. But that is exactly the price that God paid for me. When I contemplate that, it is so much easier to take my faith all the more seriously.

January 13, 2013 ... get rid of all sin... I Peter 2:1 Theres this place in Western Nebraska called Ash Hollow. Its a poignant place along the Oregon Trail. The trail ruts are still there from where the wagon trails were headed west. But thats not all that is there. At Ash Hollow, there are hills and valleys and much of the soil is sandy in nature. That makes for a bad combination when it comes to heavy loads and just a couple of horse power. Along the path, one can see things like old steamer trunks, grandfather clocks, crockery, and the like. It was clear what had happened. People set out from the east, perhaps at St. Louis, with all kinds of things that were precious and valuable to them as a family. They were things that had been passed down from generation to generation--things of great sentimental value. However, when the wagons reached places like Ash Hollow, those precious things--things that created value in their owners mind, suddenly became burdens that hindered the journey. With no option of turning back and feeling the pressure of the time table, things were just thrown over the side of the wagons to make it possible to continue the trip. Everything that wasnt essential to the trip, everything that was vain in the truest sense of the word, went over the side so that the journey could continue. 17

This is kind of the image that Peter is wanting us to see in our heads when it comes to the sin in our lives. We do things for a reason--even sin. Sin works...for a while. Its predictable. It gives us the power to manipulate our circumstances and others and all of that with the sense that we did it on our own, without Gods help. Yet, we come to places in our journey where those treasured dysfunctional behaviors become a hinderance. Isnt it interesting that Peter doesnt say, Get rid of what is bogging you down. Instead, he says, Get rid of everything that will bog you down-the whole of every sinful behavior. Toss it overboard. Only then will you make it over the obstacles in your way.

January 14, 2013 ...be done with all deceit... I Peter 2:1 It is a great comfort that when we go back to the Greek in the words of the Bible, we are never caught off guard with a complete change of meaning. What we have in English is most often an excellent translation. However, sometimes going back to the original language can deepen the meaning. The Greek word for deceit here is a very unusual and fairly uncommon word. Literally, it means to bait, to entice. It has the feel to it of letting someone come up with the good idea of walking off a cliff and then encouraging them to do so, just to see them go splat. Its not lying, for lying means you have used words that arent true with the intent of misleading them. Its not bearing false witness, in that you keep your mouth shut when you could offer a word of correction that would make someones day instead of breaking it-letting them believe a lie. Deceit here is to set out to intentionally let someone go into harms way for either entertainment or for gaining a personal advantage. Its telling someone its over there, when you want it for yourself and you know its over here. Its 18

telling the gossip something juicy knowing that it will make someone else writhe in pain. Its misleading someone in an investment to keep them from what you want and to see them fail. An old friend of mine was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and was in the Marines before that when there wasnt yet an Air Force. He saw his share of battles and did his share of negotiations with the enemy in several theaters. He always said, Never lie to the enemy. Never set out to deceive them. When they know from past experience that you are always telling the truth, you will save lives when you get to say, move out or die. Jesus said it another way, Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. No deceit.

January 15,2013 [be done with all] envy... I Peter 2:1 Envy is strictly a side effect of sin. We can appreciate that others have really cool stuff or awesome personality characteristics. Envy isnt appreciation. We can even be jealous of someone elses stuff or abilities. That just means that we want what they have. Envy, as Peter uses it here, takes it to the next level. Envy is when you get upset with the one that has what you want because you have it and they dont. Its giving your neighbor that evil glare because they got a new truck and youre stuck driving that old beater without air conditioning. Its the humph sound one makes when writing out the check to the professionals office, as you look around and see that her office is better decorated than your own living room. Why does she need this?!? This anger towards the haves from those who consider themselves the have-nots has fueled many a civil war, unstabilized many an economy, and ruined generations. The sad part is that its all misguided--especially for the Christian. Its like blaming the President for the destruction of a hurricane. God, the giver of all 19

good things, is the one that distributes blessings to people. Even those who claim that all they have is the result of their hard work have what they have because God allowed it. Jealousy distracts us from what God has given us. Envy cements our necks so that all we can see is what we dont have, rather than what God has given us, and it only allows us to deal with the one that has been blessed, rather than talking it out with the One who blesses. Its one of Satans most effective tools to disable both the one who God has blessed and the one that could admire the one who was blessed. Its getting soldiers to shoot at each other in the army of Christ, instead of using the gifts God has given to fire at the enemy. There is no room for blaming Gods blessed for what we want and dont have. Angry at someone elses prosperity? Have that humph lump in your throat when you think of someone and wonder why on earth they are better off than you, and then secretly think about what their face would look like if it got taken away? Listen to Peter, here. LET IT GO! NOW!!!! There is nothing godly in those thoughts whatsoever.

January 16, 2013 .[let go of] slander, of every kind.... I Peter 2:1 Heres the pattern, isnt it? We see something that someone else has and that makes us jealous, then envious. We might try to deceive them into sharing or giving it up so we have it and they dont, and when that doesnt work, then we go about looking for another weakness to exploit to bring them down a notch. Oh, we might not go about it so blatantly, but we do it none the less. If you have internet, go sometimes to You Tube. Its a place where people can post videos of themselves or others. Just take a few minutes to look at some of them. Every so often theres someone doing something inspirational or valiant. The vast majority of 20

things posted are things where someone gets hurt, where someone does something embarrassing. We like to see people knocked down to our level. Someone in public eye can do countless good deeds, and blow it once and thats all we can seem to think about. Why? We like to see people knocked down, because deep inside it makes us feel just a little bit taller. Thats exactly what slander is all about. Slander, here, is defined as a hostile attitude that takes the form of words. It is making ourselves feel bigger by making others feel smaller. Oh, Im only sharing my opinion. I have that right, right? Not if you are a child of the King. If your opinion makes someone else look small, its time to change your opinion. Im only telling the truth! If it is something to set out to knock someone down, it doesnt matter if its the truth or not. Its slander. Ephesians 4:29 says, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only that which builds one another up. You remember that saying your mom used to try to pound into your head? If you dont have anything nice to say, then....[Ill let you fill in the rest to prove you really know it].

January 17, 2013 ...crave pure spiritual milk... I Peter 2:2-3 What one puts in their body has a direct impact on what that body is capable of doing. Think about it. How many marathon runners stop at the doughnut shop before running their 28 miles? When doing a wedding, I always ask the wedding party to watch what they eat...and drink...the night before the wedding. I say that with experience. Ive officiated at some weddings where the bride and groom were showered, but not with birdseed or bubbles-largely because of the parties that took place the night before. Put the wrong stuff in and youll see it again. Put the right stuff in at 21

the right time and the right amounts, and you wont even remember that you have a stomach. Now, as to the right stuff, what if I were to offer you an elixir that is guaranteed to make the sun shine brighter, the fun you have more fun, the relationships you have deeper, the pains you have lessened, and the mistakes you could make disappear. All you have to do is drink this and Poof everything gets better. Would you want some of that? Who wouldnt. The amazing thing is that this is what Peter commands us to crave--pure spiritual milk. What is that? Its Gods word. Its Gods will and direction. Its that ongoing relationship we have with God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Its not what is showing on TV tonight, even if it is your favorite show. Its not what the blue plate special is at the local cafe, even if its just like grandma used to make. Its not in the face that greets you at the door when you get home, even if that face is an awesome one. Sure, enjoy those things. But crave--seek after and never give up a single drop of it--that pure spiritual milk. For that will feed you on levels that food, entertainment, human relationships, and even all the money in the world cannot satisfy.

January 18, 2013 ...you are living stones... I Peter 2:4-8 I am taken back to Bulgaria with this passage. We walked past a Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral on our way to lunch one Sunday after church. The building was locked up and gated all around. It was closed on the Lords day because no one wanted to go, not even the Orthodox priests. As we walked by the same building on our way back after lunch, these three gypsy kids ran up to the Missionary that was with us as our guide. They grabbed hold of 22

her arms and legs and hugged her with all their might. They were part of her reading literacy program. They loved Terry Myers with everything they had for she was more of a mother figure to them than their own biological mother or father. And she loved them right back. She later apologized for taking up our time roughing up their hair and licking her thumb to wipe off a smudge or kissing a boo-boo that one had when she fell down and scraped her elbow. WE were a bit shocked at her apology. It was, and will be, a treasured memory of the trip forever for me. The backdrop to this encounter was in front of a cold, locked up grand Orthodox church. I remember looking back as we were ready to round the block and those little ones looked at Terry one last time, waving promising to see her the next day. The question struck me, Where was the church just now? It wasnt that cold building that everyone seemed to forget was even there. The church was Terry, being Christs hands and feet. She was the living stone.

January 19, 2013 ...you are a chosen people... I Peter 2:9-10 Im too fat! Im not smart enough to try that! I cant do that! Im not good enough to get involved in that! They are all out of my league! Thats above my paygrade! And then theres that painful silence of resignation where we just give up and dont say anything at all. Words have a way of defining us. Instead of realizing that we failed at something, we allow the failure to define us. We compare ourselves to others, seeing only that which they have and we dont. Some in certain religious circles have defined humility with that mindset. Those that do are so very, very wrong. Our words dont define us if we are Christs. Gods words define us if we are owned by him--as this passage says, his very own possession. And how does God define us? 23

Royal priests. Holy Nation. A chosen people. Yes, once we were in the darkness. Once we had no identity. Once we were only pitiful, if that. We were beyond any form or mercy. Thats when the world and the dark forces that control it and us then defined us. But we are now defined differently. We are in the light. We have an identity. We have received Gods mercy. Why? Because through the blood of Christ we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation--declared so by someone who cannot be overruled by any supreme court--whose opinion counts more than the richest people on earth. I love what Paul says in I Corinthians 4:3-4. As for me, it matters very little how I might be judged by any human authority. I dont even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesnt prove Im right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. Decide what? My guilt or innocence in any given matter? Hes already done that and found me not guilty by reason of his own substitutionary death. I am a child of the king! Nothing else defines me other than royal priest, chosen, and holy!

January 20, 2013 ...wage war against your soul... I Peter 2:11 I remember as a kid being so frustrated with Satan because I was certain he put the Wonderful World of Disney right smack dab in the middle of the evening Church service. Oh how frustrating it was to see advertisements of the special coming up and then know I would not be able to see it. Instead, I would have to go and sit still on hard pews and sing old songs and listen to someone pontificate, whatever that was. Id so much rather be watching Peter Pan take on Captain Hook than listening to the significance of a Greek word in a sentence of Scripture. Id even settle for fighting back the tears with Benji or Where the Red Fern Grows, 24

than have to sit through another church service. After all, didnt we just do that this morning? Twice if you count Sunday School? I grew up a bit, and thought the whole idea that Satan had anything to do with TV programming was a bit childish and superstitious. I grew up more and realized that there may have been more truth than fiction to the original thought. What would have happened if my parents would have said, OK, were staying home for the TV special tonight? Several things would have happened. First, the real fellowship and the friendships that I had developed with the smaller crowd over the years would have taken a back seat to a bunch of pixels. Honestly, I cannot remember a single Sunday Evening sermon topic from those days, but I do know that I cannot remember any of the shows I missed either. And this I do know. What I was putting in my head in church far out valued what the TV would have. At the very minimum, I was exposed to the truth that there is more to life than pleasure. Sometimes meaning comes from keeping commitments and pressing forward, rather than just doing whatever feels good. Who knows? My first sermon ever was preached in an evening service when the Wonderful World of Disney was competing for my time and affection. History could have been changed for me, had my parents decided to give into the world and say, Its only a TV show. They saw the battle and they made the right choice. Can you say the same thing about the choices you are making with your faith and walk here on earth?

January 21, 2013 ...be careful to live properly among... I Peter 2:12 We live in a world that is ever increasingly watching. US Senators cant even dry off from skinny dipping in the Red Sea 25

before every one of their constituents sees it on You Tube or Facebook. What used to take days or months, now takes seconds to spread world wide. Something said can haunt someone for the rest of their lives, even if what was said was taken completely out of context. I think, that in that mindset, the word that jumps out first in this passage is the word careful. With all that could go wrong, its just easier to hide under a rock, take a vow of silence and do nothing instead of taking the risk. My grandfather used to say, Its better to let people think you are stupid, rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt. But a more careful look at the verse shows that the main idea of this passage isnt to be careful, but to live.. among. Certainly, be careful in how you live, but the real message of this passage is to live among. People who hide in the hills and say and do nothing have no witness and this is what this passage is challenging us to be and do. The whole goal is to help them see the glory of God--to honor God before he judges the world. Wny? Because there will be a point in which their fate cannot be changed and thats after the judgment. Yes, be careful in what you say, what you do, what you post, what you are seen doing. But, dont hide your candle under a bushel. Be bold. Be clear. Carefully let the Holy spirit orchestrate your actions and words so that at the end of the day, those that reject God might be hopping mad at you, but they cannot deny the God you serve and your resolution to do just that.

January 22, 2013 ...respect...the king. I Peter 2:13 Kings. Rulers. Presidents. Prime Ministers. Dictators. Emperors. Chancellors. General Secretaries of the United 26

Nations. Not a single one of them has ever done their jobs perfectly. In fact, I can honestly say that I pray often that God never calls me into such leadership. The awesome level of responsibility is completely overwhelming. My faith is too young to do those kinds of jobs to the glory of God and in a way worthy of the Gospel. Yet, it is so easy to look at the ones in those positions and hold them in contempt for the decisions they make--to assume that they are corrupt and have eyes only for their own personal agendas. The idea that this or that leader is the anti-Christ has been bantered around ever since John penned the concept in Revelation. To the reader of this letter, they were dealing with a real doozy of a leader. Caesar Nero, who preferred the arts and theater to providing any real leadership, and when that backfired on him, he turned and pointed his finger at the Christians. No president has ever come even remotely close to the horrible persecution that followed for the Christians in the time of this letter. This letter had a wide distribution pattern, most likely because the Christians it was written to ran from being turned into living torches for Neros gardens. Yet, Peters instruction here is to respect the king. To respect here means to obey, to submit, to do as one is told without argument, complaint or attempts to rebel or overthrow. You may or may not like what government is doing, but the defining moment in obedience to God is whether or not you are willing to submit to the government he has put in place. Yes, there are exceptions, but far less than we want to create.

January 23, 2013 ...respect all human authority... I Peter 2:14 I have serious theological issues with the Amish, but there are some things that I deeply admire them for. They do what they 27

consider is right...every time. When the government came in and said that they had to turn over every runaway slave, they hid the slaves until they are safely away, and then turned themselves in for breaking the law. When something isnt their way, they live with the consequences of not doing what is expected. Yet, in that, they are always, neverendingly respectful. It was one of the things that really turned the tide in the slavery issue. They wouldnt fight. They wouldnt banter. They would simply say, This is what I believe to be true. You are the governing authorities though and I will respect and honor your decisions. Do with me what you may. How do you fight that? You dont, because what you do in those situations is let God fight for you. It becomes his courtroom. As a result, He is glorified. Respect all human authority, whether they be Democrat or Republican or independent or Purple with green blood. That means support them, pray for them, encourage them, and share with them your heart from a position of submission. Love has won far more battles than an intellectual debate. Oh, how our world would be different if Christians didnt buy into the fight for your rights philosophy, if we focused more upon Who we are for than who or what we are against!

January 24, 2013 ...honorable lives silence... I Peter 2:15 Oh how this one has been a struggle. When someone attacks me, I really want to lash back and defend myself. After all, its my integrity that they are trying to tear down. At the end of the day, all I really own is my integrity. If someone tries to take that away, what do I have left? And oh how rumors grow and build. A misunderstanding becomes a little white lie which becomes an intentional lie which becomes a conspiracy which becomes 28

evidence that the death penalty is warranted. And when people start focusing on the negative, getting them to even acknowledge the positive in someone becomes increasingly difficult and almost impossible. Isnt it better to just nip it in the bud and set the record straight? At least you can scare them into not trying it again, even if there is some truth to it, right? Gods will isnt for human beings to debate or even set the record straight. Dont believe me, reread this verse again. What he wants is for our lives to be lived so honorably that no one believes the rumors, lies, or the truth that weve made a momentary mistake. To live honorably simply means to do good. Be genuinely kind to those who are persecuting you, not to sway them but to reflect Christs forgiveness to them. Reach out to those in good faith to those that you are weary of and develop a connection. Cornelius was a Roman soldier in charge of an area of Roman occupation, but the Jews loved him. Why? He did good things among them. They might not liked what he did, but they respected him. As a follower of Jesus, think of how such an honorable man lived among both Jew and Roman. Go and be likewise.

January 25, 2013 ...dont use your freedom as an excuse... I Peter 2:16 I will never forget that Thursday in the courtroom. I had been called to testify in a child custody case as a therapist. Mom had made it clear that she didnt want the boy. No one knew who dad was. The problem was the judge. He had never terminated parental rights and wasnt about to start now, regardless of the situation. He showed up to court so rip-roaring drunk that the Bailiff had to help him to his chair. When I took the stand, he would just sit there with his fingers in his ears and shout, 29

Lalalalala. Cant hear you. In his judgment against terminating parental rights to make way for a loving adoption already arranged by parents and Human services, he reprimanded the County Attorney for allowing me to take the stand because obviously I had received my degree from Monkey Wards catalog order. I can honestly say that I have never been as mad as I was that day. I called the attorney for the company I worked for and asked what I could do to get this judge in trouble. The attorney was flabergasted at what took place, but his words of counsel took me down several notches. You can file a complaint with the Supreme Court of Colorado, but Ill tell you one thing that probably wont happen and one thing that will. What wont happen is anything to the judge. What will happen is that your career as a therapist working with troubled families will end, because no attorney is going to call upon you to testify in Colorado again. The judge messed up but hes untouchable. I was so frustrated and angry. That only was compounded when a week later, the child was found dead by the hands of the mother who saw no other way to get rid of him. As mad as I have been regarding that case, I often have to take a deep breath and count Gods blessings of forgiveness in my own life. How many times have I used my position in Christ to go ahead because Ive already been forgiven. People will forget and God has forgiven, right? Yes, we are forgiven and callouses build on past grievances, but the best strategy for using the freedom God has given us isnt to do whatever and count on forgiveness. Instead, to use the freedom God has given and do whatever makes him look good, counting on his grace and mercy.

30

January 26, 2013 ...Respect...love...fear...respect. I Peter 2:17 Any English teacher worth his or her salt will tell you that a good paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. I Peter 2:17 is such a concluding sentence. Just in case you missed it earlier, here it is again. Respect everyone. How are you doing in the respecting category, and not just the ones you naturally respect? It says respect everyone. Does that define you? Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Are there ones you actively avoid? Youll love them if you have to, but if you never cross paths again, it would be too soon? Imagine if Christ died for people like that. I know Id be one of the ones he avoids daily! Fear God. Is he Lord or just a good buddy thatll understand when I blow him off all the time? Respect the king. How do my words about the President reflect my love for Jesus Christ? Conclusion sentences are there for a reason. Dont just blow past them because the words are familiar. Heres a great checklist that will be used by God on judgment day regarding you and your behavior today. How did you do on the test?

31