Prepare your minds...
Peter wrote to the churches scattered in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). He wrote to them as persecution was starting to increase. At this point it had not reached the levels of Rome under Nero and the really hard persecution that would take place under Domitian had yet to come.Peter is writing to a church in transition - yet there was some inkling of what was to come (and it looked pretty challenging!) but for now it was not yet arrived.
His first chapter is a beautiful "equipping" for what was coming.
Here are just some key-points:
- We have an immovable solid foundation. Birth through resurrection into an eternal imperishable destiny. The Heidelberg Catechism says: "My only comfort in life and in death is that I belong to Jesus Christ..."
- We are shielded by God's power until the "coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (The Second Coming). Peter is clear that this time is at hand, but still approaching (in other words, he doesn't try to predict it, but just declares that it is imminent.) But, we will not be "raptured" out of the world, we will be shielded by God's power - we will endure.
- In the meantime there will be trials (labour pains - see my e-devotion for 26 March) and these will test us. This testing is like the refining of gold. Apply heat and the heavy molten gold sinks down and the dross (impurities) floats to the top. Trouble refines our faith and brings glory to God.
- Even when God's plan is hard to see in a broken world, He lights the fire of faith in us if we will let Him and will give us deep joy (not just temporary happiness).
- Peter shows how the prophets foresaw the sufferings of Christ and that this is now an important comfort to you and I. History is not random but God is at work. It doesn't make sense that He suffered, but it comforts us.
- So we need to prepare our minds for action!
There is work to be done.
Preparation means self-control (self-discipline) but also making a decision to hope in Christ and His return. This world will not have the final say.
| Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1Peter1:3-13) |
