II Peter 2 Peter has reminded his readers of the most important thing.. to know Jesus Christ.  It is in knowing Him that we find life.  He came with power and Peter testifies of seeing His glory and hearing the voice of God saying, "This is My Beloved Son with whom I am  well pleased."  Peter reminds us that Truth came to us through the Scriptures, not "by an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." ( 1:21)

Now Peter writes to teach and warn his readers about false prophets, false teachers, and those who turn away from faith.  It is a sorrowful and haunting look at those who reject the Savior, who will face destruction at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I usually read a psalm as I begin my time with the Lord.  Today I read Psalm 58- also a message of the judgement of the Lord against those who do evil. It also describes the life of wickedness and the future judgement.  The last line of this Psalm struck me once again.. ".. there is, after all, a God who judges the earth."  This is exactly what Peter is writing about. ( I don't believe this is a coincidence.. but a clear message that I need to listen to carefully!)

God will judge those who are false prophets or teachers.  They introduce "destructive heresies". They "deny the Master".  They are sensual, greedy, corrupt, self-willed, deceptive, carousing, adulterous, arrogant and vain. "These are springs without water, mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved."  (v 17)  We see it throughout our world today!

Judgement will come, Peter says,  just like it did in the days of Noah.  Just as it did when Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed.  Just as it did when the rebellious angels were not spared "but cast into hell and committed" to "the pits of darkness reserved for judgement."(v4-5) There is a God who judges the earth!

False teaching excuses sinful behavior.. "promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."  The worst thing to happen is when a person comes to "the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.. [then] they are again entangled in them ( defilements) and are overcome.. "  Peter says, ".. the last state has become worse for them than the first." 

But.. we who believe and remain steadfast in Jesus Christ have this promise.. "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation ..."  We rejoice in the saving power of Christ our Lord

Father in heaven, You are Holy and Mighty, exalted in heaven and on earth. We hallow Your Name.  We are thankful for Your Word and for the Light of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank You for calling us to Yourself that we might find Life.  Father, You know us.  You know we do get entangled with the things of this world and that we need You to keep us in Your Hands.  We cling to Jesus and pray for strength to stand in Your strength, to put on the armor of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation and to stay faithful to the end. Make us overcomers. Father, there are many in this world that have walked away from You and we pray for them to return like the prodigal son.  There are many who have never heard the Word of Life and we ask that You would send the Light to all the world that many more can be saved.  We pray for grace and mercy for all of Your children, especially those in lands where persecution is severe today.  Thank You for doing impossible and mighty things for the sake of Your children.  May Your Name be glorified today. Amen. 

 II Peter 1:1-15    Peter writes this letter to those who have "received a faith of the same kind.. " as his.  A faith that comes by the "righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ..."  

This letter is for us, who believe and are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus, to remind us of the "way.. into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.." ( v11)  Peter thought it important that followers of Jesus keep these truths in mind.. even after knowing them and being established in them. He calls for us to be diligent "to make certain about His calling and choosing you;"  by continually practicing and increasing in these qualities that characterize believers in Jesus. 

These qualities are ours in the "knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" .. for His power "has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."   This.. Peter reminds us.. is His promise to us!  O how thankful we are!

Knowing Jesus and partaking of His nature allows us to be diligent in our faith.... so that our character is shaped by what we believe and how we trust in Him.  We do not live according to a past declaration of faith for we have a living hope.. growing and progressing in ways that make us  more like Jesus.  

Peter says that means we "supply moral excellence... knowledge... self-control.. perseverance.. godliness.. brotherly kindness.. and.. love"  A life shaped by faith in Jesus Christ will exhibit  these qualities in ever increasing measure.  Peter says.. "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

How can we do this?  Only by the "grace and peace" that we find in knowing  Jesus. 

Father, O how we need You. Every day and every hour.. we need this reminder that everything in our lives depends on knowing Jesus our Lord and growing closer to Him.  Thank You Holy Spirit for the fellowship we have inYou as we follow Your guidance through the Word of God.  Help us to add moral excellence.. doing everything to the glory and honor of our God. Help us to know You more and more through the Word and the Spirit.  Grant us the fruit of the Spirit - love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.. and patience. Let Your will be done in us, Father.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Esther - The story of this young woman's life shows how God leads even through the most trying of situations.  She was chosen to be in Ahasuerus' harem.. not a delightful situation for a Jewish girl. But, she was loved by the King and made queen which turned out to be the way that God delivered His people from destruction. 

We often wonder why God allows certain things in our lives. I'm sure Esther and Mordecai could never imagine what God was going to do through them. They had to keep trusting.. keep praying.. and keep being faithful to obey God's Word and to live as His people.. even in the midst of a pagan culture. 

And so must we.. 

Father in heaven, we know that You know our situations.. our struggles.. our fears.. and our doubts. We pray that Your will be done.. for we know that You are a Good, good Father and that You care for us.  So once again we cast all our anxiety upon You. We will trust You and worship You alone. Thank You for being the one who loves and cares for us. Amen. 

 I Peter 5:  In this final chapter of Peter's letter, he addresses the elders of the churches.. those in positions of leadership, those who "shepherd the flock of God".  Peter "exhorts" them to "exercise oversight" with eagerness and humility.  Not for gain. Not for power. Not under compulsion.  They must be an example.. living according to the will of God and helping the flock to do so also. 

 Peter goes on to say, "... and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another."   Our God "gives grace to the humble". This attitude of humility is valued by God so much that it is presented over and over again in His Word. Jesus said, "Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4)  And again in 23:12 "And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."  

Jesus, Himself is our ultimate example of humility as Paul so beautifully explains in his letter to the Philppians.. "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. " 

Isaiah 57:15 (CJB) "For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: 'I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.'"  

To be in God's Presence.. to fellowship with Him.. to find true worth and value.. requires that we humble ourselves.  It is a hard thing sometimes.. to lower yourself, to humiliate yourself, to abase yourself.. to cast down yourself - your rights, your feelings, your position, your.. self.  We can only do so when we believe that God is Who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.  He is the God of Grace.  We can cast "all [our] anxiety on Him because He cares for [us]".  He has "called us to His eternal glory in Christ".. and He will "Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish [us]".  It is a hard thing.. but it is so worth it all!

Father in heaven, Your will be done! We bow before You and exalt Your Name for You alone are God of heaven and earth and there is no other.  "Be exalted, God, above heaven! May your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 57:11)  We call to You, the Most High God and ask for Your grace and truth. We ask that You would accomplish Your purposes for each of us.. to the praise and glory of Your name. Thank You for revealing Your Truth to us in the Word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who lives in us.. so that we might do Your will.. truly humbling ourselves before You and before others, to the glory of Your Name.  Let the power of Your love and grace accomplish Your perfect will in each of us. We ask this in Jesus' name. amen. 

 I Peter 4:7-19  "The end of all things is at hand; " Peter reminds us.  So, as he has already taught, our priority.. our purpose.. is to pray and to share the gospel.  Our lives should reflect the love and grace of the One we follow - Christ Jesus who is sanctified, set apart, in our hearts as Lord. 

"Above all, keep fervent in you love for one another." Peter urges his readers... " because love covers a multitude of sins. " 

Love each other by showing hospitality. Love each other by serving one another. Love each other by speaking the Word of God, by the strength of God, to the glory of God. 

Again Peter encourages God's people to rejoice in their suffering.. as long as they are suffering in the name of Jesus. "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."  

The "time for judgment" is coming, Peter reminds us. It had already begun for the church in the form of persecution.  How much more will the godless suffer? Their suffering will be eternal.. unless they "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." We, who follow Jesus, can suffer according to His will and rejoice. The unbeliever has no hope and cannot rejoice.  O how we need to love them, and pray.. pray.. pray!

Father in heaven, this is You will for us.. to tell others about You and to talk to You about others, so that they can come to know the living hope that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord.  We pray for those in our families, those in our neighborhoods, those in our nation.. who need to know that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one can come to You except through Him. Open doors of opportunity for Your Church to boldly preach the  Gospel.  Help us to love one another, serve one another, and speak up whenever we can, so that You will be glorified. We ask these things in Jesus' name. amen.

 I Peter 4:1-7  Once again Peter talks about our purpose.... all that is God's will for us.  He has already taught that:

We are being built up into a "spiritual house for a holy priesthood"  for the purpose of offering up "spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ." ( 2:5)

We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood..for God's own possession".. for the purpose of proclaiming "the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." (2:9)

We are called to do right "for such is the will of God" to "silence the ignorance of foolish men". (2:15)

We are "called for this purpose ( to do right, even if you suffer for it)... since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." (2:21) 

We are to "called for the very purpose".. of blessing others - "let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but blessing instead." (3:8-9)

And now Peter writes, "Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." (4:1) 

The word translated "purpose" here is ennoia - thoughtfulness, understanding.. intent.  Is a compound word coming from en-with the idea of position, giving yourself wholly to; and nous - intellect, thought, feeling, or will.  

So, we are to thoughtfully, deliberately, and wholly and intentionally "live.. for the will of God."  We are to thoughtfully, deliberately, wholly, and intentionally cease from sin - including those things that are considered desirable by the world.. even when we are ridiculed for not joining in. 

The time is coming, Peter says, when everyone will "give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." We can only be prepared for that day as we live according to His purposes.

Two more times he speaks of purpose:

"For the gospel has for this purpose been preached.. " (v6) The gospel's purpose is so that " though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God." 

Because the "end of all things is at hand, be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." (v7)

Preaching the gospel and prayer! We have a vital purpose in this world today!

Jesus, You are our Lord and Master, our perfect example of a life lived for the purpose of doing the will of God.  You offered up spiritual sacrifices.  You proclaimed the glory of the Father.  You did right.. and suffered for it.  You remained holy when all around You ridiculed and mocked You.  You lived according to the will of the Father.. in all You did and in all You said.  You preached the good news so that we.. who were dead in our sins and trespasses.. could have Life.. eternal life, purchased by Your blood.  You prayed and are still praying for us.. so that we might live for Your purposes.. the will of the Father.  We praise and worship You!  Father, thank You for loving us and sending Your Son to be our Savior and Lord. We pray that Your will be done in each of us.. who are called by Your Name.  Fulfill Your purposes in me.. in us..  today, Lord, I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

I Peter 3:13-22  According to God's Word, as Peter wrote.. we are called for the purpose of giving blessings - doing good, speaking words of kindness and sympathy...loving others with brotherly love.. living humble, peaceful, and righteous lives.  But, sometimes we suffer. 

"But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed." (v14) When this happens.. and it will.. Peter tells us to "not fear".. but to "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.. "  

Sanctify - set apart - Jesus Christ.. as Lord... He is our Strength.  He is our Provider.  He is our Rock. He is our Eternal God. "Of whom shall I be afraid?" When things are troubling.. .we turn to our Lord and trust Him.   He has given us a "living hope".. a present hope, a future possession, and a promise of protection until the Day of His coming.  Instead of fear.. in Christ our Lord we can react to our accusers with "gentleness and reverence".  We can guard our conscience and trust that Christ will take care of those who are in the wrong.  As Romans 12:19 says, "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.' says the Lord." 

As always, it is Christ Jesus who is our example - "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." (v18) It is in His death and resurrection that we are saved. It is because He is at the right hand of the Father in heaven.. with authority over all.. that we have hope. He is our only Defense.  Let us "sanctify Christ as Lord" in our hearts!

Father in heaven, how we exalt You and bless Your holy Name! Thank You for such a wonderful Savior.  Help us to stand firm in this evil day.. with Truth firmly belted around us.  Jesus Christ is Lord of all.  He is Faithful and True. His grace is sufficient for every need. Father, may Your grace and goodness fall upon those in dire need of Your Presence today. "Who is like You? Who can rescue the weak from those stronger than they, the poor and needy from those who exploit them?" (Psalm 35:10)  I pray for those in Afghanistan and Haiti..  who are suffering so much right now. Be exalted in those nations, Lord God, and in ours too!   Reign over all the earth.. let Your Kingdom come! We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 I Peter 3:7-12  Peter uses 6 verses to instruct wives and 1 for the husbands.... but it is powerful.  First of all the husbands are to "live with your wives in as understanding way.."  The idea of "live with" is a union, a partnership... for the purpose of building a family.  To have understanding.. is to know her... specifically, the husband needs to know that his wife is not as physically strong as him.. and he needs to protect and care for her in that way.  He also needs to know that she is "a fellow heir of the grace of life".. and to honor that truth about her.  Women are not beneath a man in any way.. we are heirs together of the promises of God. As Peter wrote in chapter 1.. we all  have a "living hope"; an imperishable inheritance, and a salvation, protected by God, "ready to be revealed in the last time." 

"To sum 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 might inherit a blessing."  (v8-9) 

Peter quotes Psalms 34:12-15 which shows us how to inherit this kind of blessed life:

Control your tongue. 

Turn from evil and do good. 

Seek peace.. go after it.. pursue it. 

Have a personal communion with the Lord, know that He sees you and that He hears your prayers. 

These are the Lord's requirements for a "good" life.  A life that He will bless. May His will be done in each of us!

Father in heaven, we open our hearts to the leading of Your Spirit, that we might live according to Your holy Word which is Truth.  Help us to know You more and more. May the character and grace of Jesus Christ be formed in us that we might inherit the blessing that You have planned for us.  Forgive us for our many failures and strengthen us in our inner person so that You might receive all glory and honor and praise. Thank You for the truth that You will "be exalted among the nations"  and "in all the earth" . We will be still.. stop striving. .and KNOW that You are God. Praise Your holy Name. Amen. 

I Peter 3:1-6  The first two chapters of Peter's letter have reminded us of who we are in Christ Jesus.. chosen, holy, protected, growing, being built together as the spiritual house.. the children of God our Father.. called to proclaim His greatness; to do what is right, and to follow in Jesus' steps.. 

Now, he gets personal. What does this look like in reality? Specifically..  Peter starts with wives... As women of God we will be:

Submissive to our husbands.. We are to have the right attitude towards his leadership in the family and in our relationship.  The purpose is to be a witness for Jesus.. to our husbands if they are not saved.. and to others also.  We are to be "chaste and respectful".  To act in meekness and humility and gentleness..  to act like Jesus.

We are also to not worry about our external "adornment " more than our internal reality.... "let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God." May Jesus be seen in us!

How?  "For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves..."   The key to inner beauty is the "living hope" that is ours in Christ Jesus.  We look back to chapter 1... God our Father "caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance.. imperishable.. reserved in heaven for [us] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 

When we know who we are in Christ and we fix our hope on Him.. we will be more and more like Him and less and less like the world.  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we see what values the women (and men)  of our world hold dear...and we know that they are not worthy of You... they are not lasting.. and they are contrary to who You have made us to be.  Yet, we all have a tendency to want to be beautiful and popular and perhaps somewhat "better" than the next person. Forgive us Lord and bring us into the Light. Let our minds dwell on what is true and noble, right and pure,  lovely and excellent and worthy of praise.. in Your sight. Our hope is fixed on You. You are able to do all things!  You are our deliverer and refuge! Draw us closer we pray. In Jesus' name, the Name that is above all names.. Amen. 

 I Peter 2:13 - 25  "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king.. or to governors... For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men."  (v13-15)  Paul also wrote about this, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1) 

But... we want to object...our current situation is different!  Our governing authorities don't know what they are doing! They are sinful people promoting sinful behavior!  Yes, that is true. And it was the same in Peter and Paul's times. Even worse.  Roman kings considered themselves to be god.  They killed Christians in horrible ways.  Both Peter and Paul would be killed by these godless men.  And still, they submitted themselves .. FOR THE LORD"S SAKE... to the human authorities.  

Even more than that.. Jesus Christ, Himself submitted to human authorities..

"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, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously."(v21-23) 

Peter gives us some more.. difficult...  instructions here:

v16 "Act as free men...but..." not to do whatever we want, but to be servants... slaves of God. 

v17 "Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."  -Honor speaks of value, esteem, respect... We are to find value in every person.. to give preference to them; to even revere them.  "Help us Lord!"

v18 "Servants be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable."  And, that applies to all of us.. not to just servants..Yikes!

Why should we do this? It goes against everything in our human nature and especially in our American attitude of independence and freedom and human rights..  Peter says, "for this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly." 

Jesus is our example.. as He suffered death on a cross "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." ( v24)  

Jesus submitted.. so we are called to submit.

Jesus humbled Himself.. so we are called to humble ourselves. 

Jesus obeyed every commandment and loved even His enemies.. and we are called to do the same. 

Father in heaven, this is such a hard thing You ask!  We would gladly submit to a better government.. but ours is pretty horrible just now.  Help us to lay down our lives, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus! Spirit of God, fill Your church with power to love others, to honor them, and to obey the authorities. We want to honor You. We want to obey Your Word. Fulfill Your purposes in us as we hide ourselves in You. In Jesus' name we pray. amen. 

 I Peter 2:4-12   "And coming to Him as to a living stone... choice and precious in the sight of God." 

Jesus  is the "choice stone".. the "cornerstone"..  Jesus used the quotation from Psalm 118 as He taught about what was going to happen when the Jews rejected Him.. "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"   The Kingdom of God would be "taken away" from the Jewish nation and "be given to a nation producing the fruit of it." ( Matthew 21: 42-43) 

Peter is speaking of this new nation - "a Holy nation" - a "people for God's own possession" (v9).  This nation has only one foundation stone - Jesus Christ.  He was rejected by the builders, but chosen by the Father.. precious in His sight... the Beloved son in Whom He was.. and is..  well pleased. 

It is because of Jesus that we are "living stones" and "royal" priests.  Together we are "being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood."  Paul uses this same illustration in Ephesians 2:19 -22 "but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." 

Together.. as God's holy people.. the Church.. built upon the foundation of the Word, with Jesus Christ the precious and chief cornerstone - we have a "precious value" and a "holy"  purpose.   We are priests who "offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." ( v5)  We are chosen to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light." ( v9)  

As the Jewish priests served in the Temple - offering sacrifices and singing praises to God, we are now consecrated to Him through Jesus, offering spiritual sacrifices and praises.  This is our holy calling as believers who belong to God. 

Because we are given such a precious value and holy purpose.. we are urged to remain holy.. to turn away from "fleshly lusts" and to keep our "behavior  excellent".  Our "good deeds" testify of our precious Savior and glorify God our Father. 

I am reminded here of this.. we are meant to live this Truth together. We cannot become a house with just one or two stones. We each have a place in this living building.  Yes, we each have to work on our own "stone" as Paul wrote, "Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident;" ( I Corinthians 3:12-13).  But,  we are placed together into one Body ( I Cor. 12:11ff).  

We are being built up... Peter wrote.. to serve our God- together.. We praise our God- together. We do good works that produce glory to God.. together!  So, let us encourage one another. Let us pray for one another. Let us be "knit together in love" ( Colossians 2:2).  Let us be "built up in Him and established in [our] faith". (v7) And let us be "made complete" in Him who is the "head over all rule and authority."

Father in heaven, we offer You ourselves.. our bodies- as living and holy sacrifices acceptable to You.. our "spiritual service of worship."  Do Your work in us.. cleansing and strengthening us; equipping us - each, so that together we will be a spiritual house that shines brightly with Your glory. Help each of us to live for You in holiness and praise, giving glory to our Savior, the Cornerstone.. and to You, our Gracious God and Father.  Amen. 

 I Peter 2:1-2  We are called to hope and holiness.. to rejoicing in spite of trials.. to endure in spite of testing... to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, ready to obey.  We are called to love fervently from our hearts and to surround ourselves with His Truth.  

So, Peter writes,  ".. putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.. " 

It is easier to focus on the "big" sins.. murder, theft, adultery, idolatry etc..  We are very aware of these things and feel the guilt and shame of those types of sin.  But, the sins that Peter focuses on here are just as evil and offensive to our God.  Even more so, I suppose, because we have a harder time acknowledging them.. confessing them.. and stopping ourselves from doing them.. 

Malice - wickedness; naughtiness, badness; depravity.. trouble;  Ok, we recognize these traits even if we don't call them by that word.  We can easily point it out in others.. our world is full of it, right?  But, do we see it in ourselves?  Do we excuse ourselves for being a "bit" naughty?  O Lord, help us!

Then, there's guile. Trickiness; craftiness, deceit.  We might call it being "underhanded".  Using a decoy.. a bait and switch.  To be sly and cunning and deceitful.  Peter says later, talking about Jesus in verse 22, quoting from Isaiah.. "who knew no sin nor was any deceit found in His mouth". As I tell my grandkids.. "words matter"!  Speak the truth, in love! Let us not try to trick or deceive anyone for any reason. 

Hypocrisy, envy, and slander are all written in the plural tense.  Unfortunately, it happens more often than we would like.. 

Hypocrisies - again, this deals with deceitfulness - play acting, pretending;  This is a common accusation against the church.. and maybe it should be.  It is easy to put on a costume of "holiness" on Sunday morning.. and then take it off, hang it up, and act in a whole different way the rest of the week.  We need to examine ourselves.. and ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy and truth-filled lives every day and in all circumstances.  Again, "Lord, help us!"

Envies- jealousy, spite, ill-will;  Envy is hateful and resentful and consumes us if we don't deal with it.  It is more than just wanting what another has.. it is harsh and destructive.  It is the opposite of what God desires for us.. for He wants us to be thankful, content, kind, and loving. 

Lastly, Peter says for us to put aside "all slander". ..all "evil-speaking".  Defamation, back-biting.  Maybe Isaiah was thinking of this when he cried out.. "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips!" ( Isaiah 6:5)  O how thankful we can be that God healed Isaiah's lips and He will heal ours too!

Heavenly Father, You have allowed us to taste "the kindness of the Lord".. and we are so thankful.  May the power of Your Spirit at work in us  - enable us to put away all of these things that are not pleasing to You. Again we pray for the Word of Truth to fill us so that we might "grow in respect to salvation".  Feed us on this Bread of Life..  and we will be filled and transformed !  Forgive us our sins, Lord God, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. By Your Grace, may Your will be done in each of us. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, our perfect, sinless, and precious Lord. Amen. 

 I Peter 1:14-25   We are to be girded.. prepared.. for "action"-  What action?  Obedience.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) says this.. "Obedience is a conscious act of the will. Christians in conflict need a tough-minded holiness that is ready for action."  The BKC says that Peter is giving us 5 exhortations:

prepare your minds for action

be self-controlled

set your hope

do not conform to evil desires

be holy

To have "hope " and to "be holy".. are commands. We will have hope with prepared minds and self-control.  We will be holy by not conforming to our evil desires.  To obey these commands.. to be "obedient children".. it is essential to deliberately and consciously determine to live according to the Truth.  Our lifestyles should reflect "not [our] former ignorance but the holy nature of [our] heavenly Father who gave [us] the new birth and called [us] to be His own." BKC

"..be holy yourselves also in all your behaviors" Peter writes.  Behavior - our lifestyle, our conversation, - becoming conformed to God's perfect and holy will and not to "this world" as Paul wrote in Romans 12.  Peter continues.. "conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth." (v17) 

We are to  live this way because:

Our Father is "the One who impartially judges according to each man's work"

We have been "redeemed.. with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." 

We have "been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God." 

"Obedience to the truth", Peter says, purifies our souls.  It is seen in "a sincere love of the brethren".. a fervent love for "one another from the heart." 

Life is short.  Over and over the Bible reminds us and Peter repeats..  that "All flesh is like grass.." It won't last. Psalm 49 says it this way.. "But people, even rich ones, will live only briefly; then, like animals, they will die." (CJB v12) But... God's Word "abides forever"! Long for the Word.. like a baby longs for milk.. Peter tells us (2:2)  Here is the secret of real life.  Read it. Study it. Obey it. 

Father in heaven, how we need Your power from above to fill us continually so that we can live according to these Truths.  Thank You for saving us.. for redeeming us by the blood of the Lamb. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit to guide and counsel us, to empower us to walk in holiness.  Thank You for loving us and enabling us to love one another from our hearts. Have Your way and will in us today we ask, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 I Peter 1:13   "Therefore..."  because of all that God has done for us.. because of His great and precious promises.. because of the salvation that is ours in Christ Jesus.. Peter tells us to:

 ".. gird your minds for action.."

How do we "gird" our minds?  Paul wrote, "Stand firm therefore, having girded up your loins with truth." (Eph. 6:14)  Peter is saying the same thing.  To "gird" means to encircle, enclose, equip.. prepare. We call it a belt of truth. It is a belt that surrounds our "loins" - our center, our heart, our mind... the region of strength.. our core.  To gird our minds is to prepare ourselves.. mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally.. for action.  We are to be spiritually alert and prepared.  Paul tells us that what prepares us for action is TRUTH.  We need God's Word.. in our minds, filling our hearts, becoming our strength, guiding our words and actions. 

Peter goes on to say.. ".. keep sober in spirit".  Sober - sound-minded, self-controlled; balanced; serious; Peter tells us that we can keep ourselves ready for action by preparing our minds and also keep our spirits under control.. not allowing emotions to explode in anger or hatred or passion or lust.  

We  can do both of these things when we, ".. .fix [our] hope completely on the grace to be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Jesus, the "author and perfecter of faith" is our example and our goal.  He is the Truth.. girded with truth and the one who gives us truth to prepare us, surround us, and lead us.  He was always in perfect control of His spirit as He walked this earth..  and now He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us keep sober and balanced and self-controlled.  He is the One who will complete everything.. for each of us personally and for all of creation on that day when He is fully revealed as the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is on Him that we fix our hope!

Lord, may we fix our eyes.. and our hope on Jesus Christ, knowing that the Day is coming soon when the trumpet will sound and the clouds will be rolled away. Father in heaven, may we be surrounded and protected by Your Word, the Truth.  May we be self-controlled by the power of the Spirit who abides in us.  May we keep walking in holiness and obedience, because we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus.  May we love as You have loved us, forgive as You have forgiven us, and be faithful as You have proven Yourself faithful over and over again. We ask these things in the wonderful Name, the Name of Jesus. Amen. 

 I Peter 1:6-13  We rejoice!  For our God has shown us His grace and mercy. He "caused us to be born again"; He has given us an imperishable possession and a powerful, protected salvation to come.  So, when the trials come.. and they will.. we can keep on rejoicing.  For as James wrote and Peter echoes.. the "testing of our faith produces endurance".  

There is a purpose in this testing.. an untested faith is an unproven faith.  How do we know that our faith is sure?  How do others know that we have faith?  It is sure when it endures through the trial!  When we are distressed... by disease, by our culture, by disaster, by persecution, by misfortunes, by financial, physical, emotional.. or any kinds of problems... our faith is tested.  If we continue to trust our Lord.. if we continue to praise Him and rejoice in Him... that is a testimony of a "precious" faith that will "result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  O Lord, may it be so in me!

Peter reinforces the substance of our faith.. Jesus! ".. though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (v8-9) 

We do not have a blind faith.. but we have faith in the One who we cannot see.  Remember what Jesus said to Thomas?  "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." ( John 20:29)  He was talking about us!  We are blessed because, even though we have come on the scene much later than Thomas... God our Father has "caused us to be born again".. He has given us "living hope".  He has promised us a glorious future.  He has chosen us to be His own.  We have been "sprinkled" with the blood of Jesus!  Yes, we are blessed! We have been saved!

Peter reminds us that the prophets spoke of this "grace to come".  They wanted to see Jesus! Even the angels longed to look at this wonderful gospel.  It is a gospel like no other.. that Jesus became a man, died on a cross as the Lamb of God, slain for our sins...and rose again on the third day.. a resurrection that brings us to "faith and hope in God". (v21) This is the gospel that Paul testified about.. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.. " (Romans 1:16)

Father in heaven, we praise You and rejoice in this great salvation that is our in Jesus Christ as we believe and receive Him with great joy!  May our lives overflow with this joy even in the trials of life to the praise and glory and honor of Your Name.  Father, we now "gird [our] minds for action."  We will "keep sober in spirit".. and "fix [our] hope completely on  the grace to be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Lord, haste the day, when our faith will be sight!  Amen. 

 I Peter 1:3-7 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..."  Peter continues this sentence with deep and vital truths that will fill our hearts with rejoicing and praises to our God! 

The Father's mercy "has caused us to be born again ..."  James says, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth.." ( James 1:18) .  Peter wrote in v 23.. "for you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is through the living and abiding word of God."  It is all from Him... 

He chose us. He bore us.. He CAUSED us to be born again...  It is all of Him showing us mercy.. doing what only He can do.. bringing us to Life.  And not just that.. "to a living hope"... A promise of Life that is as imperishable as the Word that will "abide forever". 

The Father does this "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."   The same power... that was evident.. that brought Jesus out of the tomb.. brings us to Life.  We come to real Life.. and receive an incredible gift.. "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.."   Think of this... We have been granted a future that will never decay.. always will be perfect and pure.. that will never rust, or rot, or tarnish.  More precious than gold.  More valuable than anything the world could afford.  More important than anything we value on this earth... because our God has willingly chosen to give this to us.  Have faith!

And there is more! He has given us Life. He has promised us an inheritance. And He is protecting us.. "for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  By His power.. His resurrection power.. His Creation power.. the "dunamis" of God.. we are sheltered and preserved for that day, when we will be delivered from these mortal and corruptible bodies.. and made perfect and whole.  

"In this you greatly rejoice.." 

Rejoice! Believe what God has said. Know that you.. yes you!.. are chosen to receive all that Christ died to give us.. a living hope.. an imperishable inheritance..  a perfect salvation.  The power of God is able and will accomplish this.. have faith!

Father in heaven we bless You and give You all our praise.  We rejoice in the Truth and cling to You by faith. Fill us with the power of Your Spirit to renew us for this day..  so that we might stand firm, our faith tested and proven.. so that it will "be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Amen and amen.