Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
We have no way of knowing exactly what trials Peter was referring to, but it is obvious from the language used here that they were intense. The word translated in the NIV as painful, literally refers to burning. These trials have been a major emphasis through out Peter’s letter to these early believers. You can find something about suffering mentioned in every chapter. However, Peter was not trying to convince his readers of the issue of suffering, they knew their circumstances all too well. He was helping them understand how to live through it. Peter wanted them to understand that this is really to be expected and accepted.
This new life, these early believers were experiencing and that you and I experience in Christ, is so amazing. Every thing is truly made new. Everything comes with a new perspective, even suffering. Do not be surprised, but rejoice. Rejoice because I suffer? I do not think Peter wanted His readers to look at their trials and jump for joy, but intsead rejoice because the suffering for doing right actually indicated their connection to Christ, which in the end leads to even greater joy. Jesus suffered for doing right, and if our Master suffered in that way, why would we expect it to be any different for us?
I have a picture in my mind, of a street that has speed bumps all along it. These speed bumps may be a pain to deal with. They may seem to slow you down. The truth is, they may even seem to be in your way, but in most cases speed bumps are placed to keep people safe. Suffering for living as God calls may seem to distract you, or knock you off course, and in most cases it will be painful, but it is part of this life. Not because God enjoys watching us squirm, but because He is cleansing and refining us. This, I believe, is the picture that Peter is presenting in these two verses. The burning or fiery trial is removing the impurities and preparing you for Christ. God is using these to form us into His image.
Furthermore, Jesus had to cross these same speed bumps, and as we follow in His path, we should understand that it is not always a smooth road. After all, look at what He endured. He stepped out of the glory of Heaven for our salvation, and received ridicule, skepticism, accusations of insanity, attempts to publicly humiliate Him, and eventually physical beatings, and an old rugged cross. He who knew no sin, became sin. He did not deserve death or the consequences of sin, but He took our sin upon Himself, and paid the price. If you can't rejoice because you suffer (I am not there yet), rejoice that through this process God is making you into the person He created you to be.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Love Covers Sin
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Love, real godly agapé love, is such an amazing thing. It acts in the best interest of its object, and it never expects anything in return. This verse doesn’t give us a complete understanding of how we can define God’s love, but what it does do is help us see the results of such selfless behavior. Love covers over a multitude of sins, but the sins referred to are not your own, they are the sins of the ones we love. Let me try to illustrate this from a different perspective.
Scripture clearly teaches that we are sinners. What I think that we sometimes forget is just how bad this really is. At one point in the book of Isaiah, God points out that even our best acts are flawed and He says they are like filthy rags to Him. You see, because of our sin, we are vile, absolutely detestable in the sight of God. There is no soap strong enough to wash away the stench. There are no brushes stiff enough to scrub it off. Now hang with me, it does get better. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent his Son, who in turn gave His life for us, making it possible for us to know eternal life in His presence. God’s great love moved Him, to act in our best interest in spite of how badly we missed the mark, and in spite of the cost.
What if He had not done this for us? Where would we be? What hope would we have? What would life be like if God looked at us, and because of our sin did not act? We would be lost, salvation would not exist, and there would be no hope. Now turn that thought from being the one on the receiving end of this amazing love. What kind of person would we be, if we accepted God’s act of love in Christ, but then didn’t offer this same love we received to others because of particular sins in their life?
The challenge is simple to see but much harder to live. We are so quick to point a finger, or exalt ourselves as we look at the faults of others. We should love one another just like God loved us, with a forgiving spirit, and a stronger desire to restore than to condemn. The next time you find yourself ready to disregard someone, or consider them unworthy of your attention, remember what God did for you in Jesus Christ, and rather than offering unforgiving condemnation, exert some effort and find a way to act in love.
Love, real godly agapé love, is such an amazing thing. It acts in the best interest of its object, and it never expects anything in return. This verse doesn’t give us a complete understanding of how we can define God’s love, but what it does do is help us see the results of such selfless behavior. Love covers over a multitude of sins, but the sins referred to are not your own, they are the sins of the ones we love. Let me try to illustrate this from a different perspective.
Scripture clearly teaches that we are sinners. What I think that we sometimes forget is just how bad this really is. At one point in the book of Isaiah, God points out that even our best acts are flawed and He says they are like filthy rags to Him. You see, because of our sin, we are vile, absolutely detestable in the sight of God. There is no soap strong enough to wash away the stench. There are no brushes stiff enough to scrub it off. Now hang with me, it does get better. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent his Son, who in turn gave His life for us, making it possible for us to know eternal life in His presence. God’s great love moved Him, to act in our best interest in spite of how badly we missed the mark, and in spite of the cost.
What if He had not done this for us? Where would we be? What hope would we have? What would life be like if God looked at us, and because of our sin did not act? We would be lost, salvation would not exist, and there would be no hope. Now turn that thought from being the one on the receiving end of this amazing love. What kind of person would we be, if we accepted God’s act of love in Christ, but then didn’t offer this same love we received to others because of particular sins in their life?
The challenge is simple to see but much harder to live. We are so quick to point a finger, or exalt ourselves as we look at the faults of others. We should love one another just like God loved us, with a forgiving spirit, and a stronger desire to restore than to condemn. The next time you find yourself ready to disregard someone, or consider them unworthy of your attention, remember what God did for you in Jesus Christ, and rather than offering unforgiving condemnation, exert some effort and find a way to act in love.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The End of All Things Is Near
(1 Peter 4:7) Peter’s words to the early church may conjure up many ideas based on the hype surrounding the “Left Behind” series, and our infatuation with the thought that Jesus will return while we are alive. To force upon this text our own cultural perspectives would not only be a disservice to the reader. It might also cause you to miss his point all together.
We do not get enough information here to begin understanding whether Peter would be considered pre- or amilleniast. There is no way to know whether he holds to a pre- or post tribulation rapture of the church. In fact, he does not even mention the Church leaving the Earth. What he does teach is that there will be an end to all things and it is imminent. Jesus is going to return and the victory is going to be His. You can take that to the bank.
When we put this verse back into its context it becomes clear that Peter is not pushing his view of eschatology. Instead, he wanted his audience to understand how critical his words were. He had just written that enough time had been wasted on living as lost people live. The end of all things is near, so now pray for God’s will, love others like Jesus loves us, and serve one another in God’s power, so that God will be glorified.
Peter wants his readers to understand just how important this is. It is imperative that the Church stands up and acts like the Church. The only way to get the Church to move is to move the people that make it up. That is you and me, and every other believer in the world. So here, it is again. The end of all things is near; let me ask you, how wisely are you spending your time?
This is not a call to withdraw from the world or anything that might be considered entertainment, but to carry the light that we have seen every where we go. Everything we do, from work to play, and everything we endure becomes an opportunity to share the love of Christ. All you have to do is bring Him with you. The idea is that we do not wait to go on mission at a particular time, but that we live our lives on mission all the time. The end of all things is near, let’s get busy.
We do not get enough information here to begin understanding whether Peter would be considered pre- or amilleniast. There is no way to know whether he holds to a pre- or post tribulation rapture of the church. In fact, he does not even mention the Church leaving the Earth. What he does teach is that there will be an end to all things and it is imminent. Jesus is going to return and the victory is going to be His. You can take that to the bank.
When we put this verse back into its context it becomes clear that Peter is not pushing his view of eschatology. Instead, he wanted his audience to understand how critical his words were. He had just written that enough time had been wasted on living as lost people live. The end of all things is near, so now pray for God’s will, love others like Jesus loves us, and serve one another in God’s power, so that God will be glorified.
Peter wants his readers to understand just how important this is. It is imperative that the Church stands up and acts like the Church. The only way to get the Church to move is to move the people that make it up. That is you and me, and every other believer in the world. So here, it is again. The end of all things is near; let me ask you, how wisely are you spending your time?
This is not a call to withdraw from the world or anything that might be considered entertainment, but to carry the light that we have seen every where we go. Everything we do, from work to play, and everything we endure becomes an opportunity to share the love of Christ. All you have to do is bring Him with you. The idea is that we do not wait to go on mission at a particular time, but that we live our lives on mission all the time. The end of all things is near, let’s get busy.
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