I Peter 4:12-19   Suffering.. it is part of our human experience.  Right now we are aware of many who have suffered from a devastating hurricane.  There has been great loss.. loss of homes, loss of belongings.. and loss of life.  We have all faced some kind of loss in our lives at one time or another.  We have all faced suffering and we know that we are not immune from it.  Peter tells us in verse 12 to "not be surprised.. " at this.  But, we need to be aware of our perspective on suffering. 

First of all we need to know that "to the degree that [we] share the sufferings of Christ"  we can keep rejoicing.. for there will come a day when He will be revealed and we will "rejoice with exultation". 

We need to know that if we are "reviled for the name of Christ"... it is evidence that we "are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and God rests upon" us. 

If we are suffering as a Christian, Peter tells us, we need not feel ashamed.. but give glory to the name of Christ.  If we suffer for wrong doing, we have no right to rejoice. But, if we suffer for doing right, then we can be assured that we can "entrust our souls to a faithful Creator." That is worthy of rejoicing...

There is a judgement that will begin with "the household of God".  What will be much worse is the judgement that will come to those who do not know Him. "And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" 

We may suffer.  We will suffer. But, in our suffering, we can identify with Jesus, our Savior. We can trust God's plan to use our suffering for His glory. It is not easy, but it is true.  We need to pray for those who are suffering. Both believers and non-believers.  Pray that God will be glorified in the suffering of the believer. Pray that God will use the suffering of non-believers to bring them into His marvelous Light. 

Father, this is our prayer.  May Christ be seen in us.. in every trial.. in every crisis.. in all our suffering.. to the glory of His Name. Amen. 

 I Peter 4: 1-11 Peter once again speaks of God's purpose.. As he wrote in chapter 1, it is God who "caused us to be born again to a living hope.." to "obtain an inheritance which is imperishable".  He redeemed us by the "precious blood.. of Christ".  He chose us to be "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession".. SO THAT we would "proclaim the excellencies of Him who called [us] our of darkness into His marvelous light."   He has called us to "do what is right"..to follow in the steps of Jesus. Our calling is for the "very purpose" of living a life of blessing.. of harmony and sympathy.. of kindness and humility. ( 3:8-9)

 Peter writes, " Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."  Peter is talking about laying down our lives.. our fleshly lives...our sinful lives.. putting to death, as Paul wrote to the Romans, " Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)

Peter says, ".. no longer (live) for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."  This is why the gospel has come.. "even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God." 

Everything we do, then, is for His purposes, and not for our own.  So, as Peter exhorts us, let's "be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." ( v7)  Pray that we would be "fervent in love.. hospitable.. without complaint.. serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God..."   Pray that we will speak as God gives us the words, serve as God supplies the strength.. "so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 

Father, may it be so! Amen!

 I Peter 3: 13-22 Peter has described for us what a life of godly living should be... knowing that the world will not always accept us because of our faith.  "

And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?"   We know well that some will cause harm to us...  and many believers suffer around the world for just that reason.  Peter tells us, "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness you are blessed.." 

We are blessed because we are following in the steps of our Savior.   Let us then "sanctify Christ as Lord in [our] hearts."  What exactly does that mean?  It means that in our souls, our minds... our innermost  being.. we revere and respect Christ as our Lord, the supreme authority in our lives, the Master, the Sovereign Ruler.. the One who "died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God.. " 

For Him.. we stand ready to "make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." 

For Him.. we aim to keep "a good conscience"  and  maintain "good behavior"  so that  when we are accused..  we have nothing to be ashamed of.. in fact the accusers will be the ones put to shame. 

For Him.. we will rejoice in our troubles.. even when we suffer for doing what is right. 

He was "put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit"..  He is at the right hand of God, "having gone into heaven after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him." 

Father in heaven, give us understanding and enable us to live godly lives as Your Word has taught us.  Help us to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts.  Help us to live for Him every day and in every way.  We have a Living Savior who has been given all authority in heaven and earth.. may we revere Him and give Him all our praise and thanks.  In His name we pray. Amen. 

 I Peter 3 : 10-12  This quotation from Psalm 34 is the answer to David's question, "Who is the man who desires life, and loves length of days that he may see good?"  David calls to the children, "Come.. I will teach you the fear of the Lord..." 

Peter is continuing to describe what godly living looks like in a real person.. a wife who has inner beauty and gentle ways.. a husband who cares for and honors his wife.. a family that lives together in unity and are kind and compassionate to each other..  A church that exhibits brotherly love, humility, and that blesses others.  He adds the words of Psalm 34 to emphasize the godly character of believers in Christ Jesus...

Keep your tongue from evil.. as I remind my grandchildren.. words matter!  May we be conscious of what and how we speak, whether at home or out in public.. 

Keep your lips from speaking "guile" or deceit... don't lie, don't try to fool others, don't be evil !

Turn from evil and do good.. seek peace and pursue it.. Let the focus of our actions and words be filled with God's grace.. so that others may see Him. 

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears attentive to their prayer.."  The psalmist goes on to say "The righteous cry and the Lord hears... "  He is "near to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit.."  He is our Deliverer and Redeemer.. He is our Refuge and Help.. 

" O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." ( Psalm 34: 3)

In the Light of His greatness and love for us.. we can turn from every evil way and seek to do good.. in words and in actions. We can do this because He hears our prayers and draws near to us.

Father, how we thank You for loving us so!  May Your Name be exalted in all the earth, Lord God.  May this world filled with darkness and evil turn from wickedness and seek You.  May Your Light, the Light of the world, flow through Your children as we follow Him. Make us more like Jesus today we pray. Amen.

 I Peter 3;1-9   In chapter 2 Peter wrote of two specific purposes we have as believers.. in verse 9 he wrote that we are chosen as God's own possessions to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light."  And in verse 21 he wrote, " For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps."  We are called to proclaim His excellencies.. and to do what is right, just like Jesus. 

 In chapter 3 Peter gives us another exhortation of what we are called to do.. " To sum it up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you may inherit a blessing." 

This is what it looks like when we "die to sin"  and "live to righteousness".. when we follow the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

In the first 6 verses Peter addresses wives.  A believing wife, who is fulfilling her calling as noted above.. will have a godly character. She will be submissive to her husband. She willing subjects herself to the leadership of her husband.  She will be chaste.. modest, proper, innocent; and she will be respectful.  She will not just be shallow, thinking about her outward appearance, but she will have a "meek and quiet spirit" that is precious to God. This does not mean she is careless about her appearance.. it means that the most important thing in her life is living a life pleasing to the Lord.. which will be reflected in her attitude and actions... so much more beautiful than gold or fancy dresses. 

Verse 7 addresses the husbands.. who "likewise" need to strive to be the kind of husband that pleases God.. "giving honor to his wife".. treating her as one who may not have as much physical strength as he has, but who is a "fellow heir of the grace of life". 

Together, we live according to His purpose for us.. and receive His blessing! 

In this world, this message is misunderstood and hated.  But, to us who follow Jesus, we see that this is a greater way.. a higher path that we are called to walk.. to walk the way that He walked.  It takes His Spirit, transforming our thinking and conforming us to His image.. for the greatest purpose of all.. to receive His blessing... an inheritance that is "imperishable and undefiled"!  

Oh to be like Him.. Blessed Redeemer! 

Father, conform our hearts to Your heart.. transform our minds to the Mind of Christ.. May our inner beings be beautiful and precious to You... may we have a spirit of meekness and quietness.. with humility and harmony.. with kindness and compassion.  May we have the ability to return good for evil and grace for insults. May we be people who give blessings and not curses.  May we live to proclaim Your excellencies! May we follow the steps of Jesus our Lord.  We ask this in His Wonderful Name. Amen. 

 I Peter 2:11-25  Peter addresses this to his "dear friends"  the "beloved" who are "aliens and strangers".. pilgrims in this life on earth. This includes us..   He calls us to "abstain from fleshly lusts".. (v 11)  to "keep your behavior excellent"..(v12) to "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution".(v13)... to "honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king."  (v17)

This is the kind of behavior, Peter tells us, that is like Christ's.. who "while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously." ( v23) 

These are not things we do naturally.  But, by the power of His Spirit we can do "good deeds" and "glorify God in the day of visitation". 

When we honor the office of authority.. in our case the presidency, congress, and judges.. we are doing what pleases God. 

When we submit ourselves to those whom we serve.. we are honoring God. 

When we do what is right, in spite of suffering or persecution, or whatever.. then we are pleasing God. "But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this find favor with God." (v20) 

Peter writes "you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for your to follow in His steps." (v21)  

Jesus died, He  " bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; and by His wounds we are healed." (v24) 

Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, we look to You in this pilgrim journey of life.  We want to do Your will and please You... in doing good works with the attitude and steadfastness of Christ Jesus, who died in our place that we might live to glorify You.  Fill us Spirit of God that we might stand firm.. that we might live in righteousness and truth, with faith that grows deeper through Your Word.  May our lives be marked by Your Grace and Peace.  May we tell of the excellencies of our God who has brought us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. In Jesus' name we come. Amen. 

 I Peter 2:4-10 We "come to Him, the living Stone... "   

 Psalm 118:22-23 " The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."   Jesus quotes these verses in Matthew 21:42.  He was speaking about the Kingdom. He said  that some would fall on this "stone" and be broken.. while others would be crushed under this stone and be "scattered....like dust." (v44) Peter used this verse in Acts 4:11 after he and John were arrested and told not to speak in Jesus' name.  He went on to say, " And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (v12) 

Paul also referred to this image of a stone in his letter to the Romans, " They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, Behold I lay in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense, And He who believes in Him will not be disappointed."  This is actually a quote from Isaiah 28:16 which is a warning to Judah to turn from their scoffing and their covenant with death.  Isaiah previously had  spoken about God who "shall become a sanctuary; both to the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over.. " ( Isaiah 8:14) 

Jesus is seen as both a precious cornerstone and as a rock of offense.  Those who reject Him are those who will stumble "because they are disobedient to the word and to this doom they were also appointed. "  But, those who receive Him.. " this precious value, then is for those who believe.."  

When we come to Him.. the "choice and precious" Stone, Peter writes, we also become "living stones". We are built together into a "spiritual house for a holy priesthood".  We become the dwelling place of God.. a living tabernacle.. and together,  a family that serves God.  We take the role of priests.. offering "spiritual sacrifices".  We are "chosen.. for God's own possession". We are given a purpose.. to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 

We once were not His.. but now we are.

We once had not received mercy.. but now we have received mercy. 

We were once in darkness.. but now.. we are in His marvelous Light. 

The difference is all because of how we see Jesus.. Is he the precious Cornerstone.. the Living Stone who remakes us as we fall on Him?  Or, to we stumble over Him, rejecting His Word, and staying in the dark? If so.. we will be crushed. 

Heavenly Father, we rejoice in Your great salvation! We rejoice in the Precious Cornerstone, Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank You for choosing us to be living stones.. to be Your sanctuary.. Your servants.. Your possession. Open our mouths to speak forth the excellencies of Christ.. to reverence and honor Your Holy Name... and to live in every way as Your Spirit leads us.. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.