Unjust Treatment

Posted on by korgrocker

“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.”
1 Peter 2:19-20 NLT

Have you ever noticed that people respond or react in a bad way when they are accused of something that is false, or when they experience an injustice? For example, if someone pushes in front of them at a supermarket checkout queue, or in roadworks on a motorway. A schoolchild accused of a misdemeanour that was not their fault, and so on. We could construct a list that is endless, because we have all experienced at one time or another an injustice at the hands of another person. So how do we respond in these circumstances? The natural reaction is to lash out, probably angrily. To push back against the accusing person, sometimes violently. This is how fights develop, especially when alcohol-fuelled. 

If the accusation is correct and we have been found out for a misdemeanour, then some form of punishment or correction might be justifiable. That is the basis of our justice system. So if we are caught speeding, then points on our licences and a fine are an apt punishment for the oversight, and will help us remember that there is such a thing as a speed limit. If a schoolchild is given a punishment exercise for not doing their homework then there can be no complaint. Peter wrote you “get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong”. In other words, God will just let things take their course. He will forgive a repentant sinner of course, but there may be consequences imposed by our earthly masters or authorities.

Peter wrote that “God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment”. Jesus, of course, taught exactly that. We read what He said in Matthew 5:39-42, “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow”. And Jesus Himself exemplified His words, as we read in Matthew 26:67-68, “Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”” Jesus never reacted. He stood submissively enduring terrible abuse. But He was of course conscious of His Father’s will and acted accordingly. In fact He went even further, when, in terrible pain, He prayed for His executioners, as we read in Luke 23:34a, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing“.

We pilgrims will, I’m sure, never have to suffer as Jesus did. But we will be faced with many an injustice here on earth. Perhaps we need to remember those four letters WWJD – What Would Jesus Do. So before we let out a tirade of righteous anger, let’s pause a moment. Take a deep breath, and lift up our eyes to Heaven. And imagine how pleased God will be if we just turn away.

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for such invaluable guidance. Please help us to live the way Your Son did. In His precious name. Amen.

Honourable Lives

Posted on by korgrocker

“It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.”
1 Peter 2:15 NLT

Society is full of people who make accusations. It seems that the minute someone behaves in a way that doesn’t fit with someone else’s opinion, then an accusation follows, whether to the police, or the council or the tax authorities or whoever. The great majority of accusations and allegations are of course totally groundless, but they are made all the same. Neighbours fall out because one accuses the other of failing to remove their weeds, or playing their music too loud. Accusations and complaints, one against another abound.

We have in the current times another insidious source of accusations. Certain ideologies are supported by people who think that everyone else should agree and support the way they feel or think, and if they don’t, then accusations of bias, hate or causing offence are made to whoever will listen. We can see that with the current fixations around sexuality and gender. For example, if a woman dares to put her head above the parapet and claim that toilet spaces should only be designated and used in accordance with a person’s biological sex then a storm of abuse and accusations erupt through social media and beyond, driven by the “keyboard warriors” who blight our society today.

But none of this was the focus of this verse in Peter’s first letter. The first century believers were accused of all sorts of things because they followed a faith different to everyone else. For example, there were accusations of cannibalism made against Christians because they shared the body and blood of Jesus in their communion services. A lack of understanding became inflated to a terrible result. There were also accusations of gross immorality made against believers because they were instructed to love one another. Again, misunderstandings were blown up out of all proportion. And then we have accusations around issues such as poverty, self-righteousness and so on. The list was seemingly endless.

Jesus Himself had accusations levelled against Him. We read in Luke 6:7, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath”. To His listeners, Jesus said, “The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results” (Matthew 11:19). But the greatest miscarriage of justice ever was carried out on Jesus even though He was not guilty of any crime, let alone one that deserved a capital punishment. We read in John 18:29, 38, “So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” …  “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime”. 

Accusations against the early Christians were commonplace. It was, and still is today, easy to make accusations based on half-truths and innuendo, assumptions and bigotry. Conspiracy theories were just as prevalent then as they are today. But Peter encouraged his readers with the truth that their “honourable lives” would silence the accusers. It would be difficult, he wrote, to make accusations against someone whose life was above reproach. We pilgrims today should also take heed and be careful that we live in a way that will silence any accusations by “ignorant people”. It’s a high bar to achieve, but one possible as we depend on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.

Dear Lord Jesus. You know at first hand the pain of false accusations. Please help us to respond in a way that shows the complainants a better way. In Your precious name. Amen.

The Called Ones

Posted on by korgrocker

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NLT

Peter wrote “he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light”. Did we pilgrims hear a call when we decided to believe in Jesus? Was that a call or a decision? And did we feel we were in a dark place? Of course, for some this is exactly how it happened. Perhaps a person was living a normal life when, suddenly out of nowhere, everything collapsed like a house of cards. A marriage broke up. The illness of a loved one was announced as terminal. A job was lost. Many things can conspire to disturb the status quo and leave us in a dark place. Dark because there seems no way out. For other people the darkness of their previous lives only becomes exposed when they find themselves living in the light of God’s presence. After they make that so important decision to follow Christ. 

So, was it a call we heard? We read in Matthew 4:19-22 the calling of the first disciples. “Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.” Then there was the “calling” of Zaccheus. Luke 19:5, “When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”” Those “callings” were dramatic and immediate. But on 21st Century Planet Earth, Jesus is not physically present to do the calling. He has delegated the task to us pilgrims. We get a glimpse of how this might work from the calling of Levi (Matthew). Jesus called him to follow Him, and the first thing he did was to hold a party. We read in Luke 5:29, “Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honour. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them”. The natural thing for Levi to do was to introduce his friends and acquaintances to Jesus. 

We pilgrims have responded to the call of Jesus in our lives. Did we hear a “call”? Perhaps it was something less tangible, but the Holy Spirit within us was the key. We read in John 16:8 about the work of the Holy Spirit, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment”. We today are commissioned to tell the world about Jesus and His saving grace. But the Holy Spirit does the “calling” in our hearers’ lives. To facilitate the process, perhaps we, like Levi, should also hold a party, with Jesus the guest of honour.

Who have we shared the Good News about Jesus with lately? Do our lives measure up to promote the Gospel? Or are they just like anyone else’s? Do we have the message on the tip of our tongues, ready to share at the first opportunity? The world about us has lost its way, becoming confused by so many unnecessary issues. Confusion about gender, education, origins, finances – the list seems endless. But it is only we called ones who have the answers. The darkness around us needs the light, the light that can only be found through God. Who else will light up the world around us, if not us pilgrims?

Father God. You are the Light of the world, but we are Your reflectors. Please help us to shine with the light of Your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jerusalem

Posted on by korgrocker

“As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honour, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.””
1 Peter 2:6 NLT

In his letter, Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Isaiah’s prophecy in his chapter 28 was scathing about the rulers in Jerusalem, and he foretold their fate. Isaiah could see coming a time when there would be a righteous Ruler in Jerusalem but his prophecy is still to be fulfilled of course. Other prophets foretold of Jesus ruling in Jerusalem – we can read their prophecies in Zechariah 14 and Jeremiah 3. We refer to this coming of Jesus as His second coming, because we already know about His first coming, as a baby, born in a stable located in Bethlehem. Some 50 days after the resurrection, Jesus went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives, located just outside Jerusalem, from where He ascended into Heaven. But Jesus is returning to this world, and we read about His return from the angels’ message in Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” We knew this was at Jerusalem, because the next verse in Acts reads, “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile”. Jesus Himself foretold of His return to Planet Earth in Matthew 24:30, “And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

But why Jerusalem? Surely there are better places for Jesus to return to? Places where He could be a “cornerstone” far more effectively. Jerusalem is riven by conflict between Jew and Gentile, Israeli and Palestinian, Muslim and Jew. There are many more peaceful places on earth, we could argue. But it will be as God has ordained it. And we also need to remember that one day there will be a New Jerusalem that Jesus Himself foretold about, as recorded by John in Revelation 3:12, “All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” In Revelation 21:2 we read, “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. The names Jerusalem and Zion are synonymous and the author of the Hebrews wrote, “No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-23). 

There is something special about Jerusalem. It figures greatly throughout the Bible as God’s home and one in which we too will live one day. Whether we consider it as a physical place or a spiritual condition, we must never discount it, and must always be obedient to the Scripture, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6-9). There is much strife in 21st Century Jerusalem, but God will one day answer our prayers.

Dear God. We pray for the Holy City Jerusalem today, that peace will reign and Your Word upheld. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Holy Priests

Posted on by korgrocker

“You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”
1 Peter 2:4-5 NLT

When we mention the word “priest” what comes to our minds? An Anglican will form a picture of a person, usually a man but it could be a woman, wearing a long robe and other accoutrements, who stands at the front of the church leading the service in accordance with the liturgy and worship service of the day. For Roman Catholics a similar picture might result, but the “priest”would also be available for other duties such as confessions. But whatever religion we follow, the “priest” is a minister who purports to teach and lead his adherents, with a sacred involvement in his parish and consequent liturgical duties, and looking after the spiritual needs of the community. 

In the book of Hebrews, we read about the ultimate High Priest, Jesus. Hebrews 7:16, “Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed”. The writer, or writers, of the Hebrews letter wrote about the connection between the priests of the Jewish religion, and the High Priest of the New Covenant, Jesus. In Hebrews 8:6, we read, “But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises”. Just as in the Old Covenant, the priests stood between God and man, Jesus, in the New, ministers “a far better covenant with God” because He is God. We pilgrims now each have access to the throne of God. No more earthly priests required. This is made clear in Hebrews 10:19-22, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

We pilgrims have an important role as the “holy priests” that Peter wrote about. We are part of God’s “spiritual temple” and we are responsible for sharing the “good news” about Jesus and His saving grace. There is no more important job for a priest. All the liturgical flummery we find in some denominations will probably not help a person find God. Rather, it might even put them off. But sharing what God has done for us will be a matter of life and death. Our personal testimonies of God’s grace, love and mercy are priceless and worthy of a “holy priest” in the Kingdom of God.

Dear Lord Jesus. We are indeed Your representatives here on Planet Earth, priests in Your kingdom. Please help us to become more like You, day by day. Amen.

The Living Cornerstone

Posted on by korgrocker

“You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”
1 Peter 2:4-5 NLT

I recently looked on as a man in the village where I live was laying the foundations for a new house. He approximately dug out the foundations, and poured the concrete, before the arrival a few days later of the builders. But the bricklayers were delayed until they knew exactly where to start building. The surveyors had some fancy equipment that they used to measure and mark the orientation of the walls and finally the builders made a start on the first corner. The knew that they had to get the foundations right, because it was from them that the future of the house would depend. 

Jesus is “the living cornerstone of God’s temple” Peter wrote. But what is this temple? We can find the answer very helpfully and clearly in Ephesians 2:19-22, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit”. God’s temple is made up of all the believers in Him. There are no unbelievers in His temple.  Jesus taught twelve men about His kingdom and they founded the temple, or what we call the church, but we remember that Jesus sets the standard for the whole “building”. He is the “living cornerstone”. 

The Old Testament prophets were well aware of the foundational role of the Messiah, still to come. We read in Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken”. 

As we look around us we find that there are many other spiritual foundations other than the one we know and love, the one that “God’s temple” is built upon. Building ourselves into a spiritual temple based on anyone other than Jesus will result in a chaotic collapse when the storms of life come against it. Jesus warned the Pharisees of the danger of rejecting Himself as the Cornerstone, as we read what Jesus said in Mark 12:10-11, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see’”. 

We pilgrims are ourselves “stones” that are being built in God’s temple, the church of Jesus Christ. There will be other “stones” around us, but as anyone who has watched a craftsman building a dry stone dyke knows, there are rough edges to be smoothed down to form the wall. So we “living stones” will find that being built into God’s “spiritual Temple” may be a painful process. But there is no other way to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom. Those Christians, people who profess a faith and belief in God, but who refuse to be a part of the church, will sadly miss out on the fullness that God has for them. After all, in Heaven we will be part of a great multitude of fellow believers, worshipping our glorious Heavenly Father. No solitude there!

“Living stones”, the “living cornerstone”, “spiritual temple”, “holy priests“. All these entities represent a new kingdom, totally foreign to our everyday world. But we note that this kingdom pleases God. As such we want to be a part of it. So, fellow pilgrim “stones” join with me in the praise and worship of the “living Cornerstone” Jesus Himself.

Dear Lord Jesus. We reach out to You today, grateful for the opportunity to be part of what You are building, a temple that will be finally completed on the day when You return. Amen.

Fading Flowers

Posted on by korgrocker

“As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”
1 Peter 1:24-25 NLT

The first chapter of 1 Peter concludes with an Old Testament scripture from Isaiah. The prophet wrote, “A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever”” (Isaiah 40:6-8). Isaiah 40 is one of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible and was delivered to a fearful and insecure people, under threat from the Babylonians. The chapter ends with one of my favourite verses, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). 

I’m writing this in the month of August. The early Spring burst of growth in the woods near where I live has peaked and recent winds and rain have started the process of decay amongst the undergrowth. Flowers have finished blossoming and the petals mostly disappeared, leaving lonely stems and the start of seed growth. All too soon it will be autumn and the greenery will start to blacken and die away. Isaiah used this picture to describe how it is with people. The process might take a bit longer but a person’s “beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field”. Some might find this depressing. Certainly the cosmetic industry invests much to promote products designed to delay the inevitable as much as possible. But we do have a finite natural life, which is all the more reason to invest in the life that lasts forever. That process starts with the “Word of the Lord”. Peter wrote that this Word is the Good News about Jesus. The Word who became a man and who died for us, that we who believe in Him will receive eternal life.

Regardless of our age, young or old, God is with us. Isaiah 46:3-4, “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” We pilgrims may feel that as we get older, our usefulness diminishes. We may be able to do less, our fitness and physical abilities declining. But God’s plan for us never stops, and he promised to care for us regardless. Our petals might have fallen off. We may have started to wither in appearance. A few lines may have increased to become crazy paving. But one day we will hear the call and soon after inherit a new body, that will never decay and that will last forever. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

That is the Good News that Peter wrote about. Perhaps one day we will have the opportunity to talk with him and find out the thinking behind his words. After all he spent over three years with Jesus, walking around Galilee and beyond. But in the meantime, we have a mission to complete. Not for us the temptation to sit back and wait for the day we hope for. There are many around us who have not made a decision to obey the “Good News”. And if they haven’t heard it, or perhaps need a reminder, that’s why we’re here.

Father God. It truly is Good News, about Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins. We worship You today. Amen.

Equality

Posted on by korgrocker

“And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favourites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.””
1 Peter 1:17 NLT

We look around us and see others who seem so much better than we are. Or we feel smug because we think we are better than them. I have come across families where a mother perhaps has a favourite son, or a father a favourite daughter. In the workplace, a manager favours one of his employees over another. A school teacher has his or her “pets”. These are all human traits that are sinful and nothing to do with life in the Kingdom of God. The reality is that in God’s eyes, everyone has the same status. He “has no favourites”. 

In our contact with our fellow human beings it can be very difficult to be truly impartial. We might be put off by someone’s behaviour or speech, cringing because of their brashness or coarseness. Our own prejudices prevail and often colour our opinions when faced with the way someone dresses. And we can get caught into the trap of being critical about others, just because they don’t conform to our own false and worldly standards. The Apostle James, in his letter, wrote, “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people over others?” (James 2:1). Blunt and to the point. He went on, “For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewellery, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?” (James 2:2-4). Finally, he concluded, “But if you favour some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law” (James 2:9).

In 1 Samuel 16 we read the story of how God sent the prophet Samuel to the home of Jesse to anoint Israel’s future king, to replace Saul. Jesse had eight sons and one by one they were paraded before Samuel but God didn’t choose any of them, until David was called in from his work in the fields. But as God rejected the first son, even though he was favoured by Samuel, we read, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7). That really sums it up. In our humanity we concern ourselves about how a person looks or behaves, but, in reality, it is what is within them that matters.

A sober theme today, but we have to be discerning. People can be manipulative. They can ingratiate themselves before another to gain favours, to get their way. But our discernment starts with the condition of our own hearts. Is our behaviour aligned with God’s ways? Is what we think compatible with God’s thoughts? Once we have sorted out our own lives under God’s gaze, we can then pray for His guidance as we look at other people. And we might just be amazed at seeing others as God sees them. I have come to know some lovely people but, superficially at least, they don’t conform to my expectations. Paul wrote “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (Romans 15:7). God doesn’t much like our sinful behaviour either, but through Jesus He has accepted us, warts and all. How can we not accept others, especially as He has?

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your grace, that saved a sinner like me. In Your name we accept our brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Obedient Children

Posted on by korgrocker

“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.”
1 Peter 1:14 NLT

The Bible includes many references to God having children. Not natural children of course, but spiritual sons and daughters. However, there was one exception – Jesus. The Apostles’ Creed includes the following statement, “ … I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary …”. Jesus pre-existed his birth to Mary, as we know, but God chose to bring about the miracle of the virgin birth to introduce His Son into the world. The Creed goes on to say “ … He ascended into Heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father …”.About Jesus we read from Philippians 2:8, “he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Jesus was the first, the ultimate even, obedient child of God. 

The world is full of natural children. Everyone has a mother and a father, even if certain ideologies are trying their best to convince otherwise. But everyone has an opportunity to have a spiritual Father. We read in John 1:12-13, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God”. In John 3:5-6, Jesus explained something to a Jewish leader. “Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life””. 

So, we have a scenario where, on the one hand, we have Jesus, the Son of God, the obedient Son, showing us perfection in everything including His obedience to His Father. On the other hand we have a sinful world full of natural birth people, and who are disobedient about anything to do with God. A nightmare scenario for our loving Heavenly Father? But one which He in His grace had a plan to resolve. We read about the obedient Son in Hebrews 5:8-9, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him”. And we read about the plan, so simple yet so profound, in John 3:16-17, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him”. 

What grace! What love! Who would ever have thought that we sinful human beings can become children of God. It starts with being obedient to His invitation through Jesus. Saying “Yes Lord!” to open the door into our spiritual birth. And our lives then become aligned to His as we are obedient to the truths made available to us through His instructions and precepts that fill His Book, the Bible. Obedience to parents is sometimes an unpopular course of action. But with God He expects us to be obedient. Not for His sake so much as for ours. Living life God’s way becomes eternal.

Dear Father God. We thank You for conceiving the plan to save mankind and bring about our new birth as Your children in Your family. Amen.

Prepare Your Minds

Posted on by korgrocker

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
1 Peter 1:13 NLT

What do we pilgrims make of this verse? It’s an “action” verse with instructions to do things. It starts with a “so”, so we need to look at the context of the previous verses. Peter had previously reminded his readers that they were experiencing the salvation foretold by the prophets of old, that the “Good News” they had subsequently heard was preached to them through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was all a very timely reminder of the saved state they were now in. And because of where they were at, it was now time for action, it was time to prepare their minds. It was all connected with the “hope” they now had “in the gracious salvation” that was their inheritance. And Peter reminds them this will finally happen “when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world”. 

For the early believers, Christ’s return to Planet Earth was considered imminent. There was of course the statement Jesus made at the end of His conversation with Peter, as recorded in John 21:22, “Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”” And we can read what other New Testament writers wrote in their letters. For example, James 5:7-8, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near”. The old Apostle John recorded what Jesus said to him in his vision – “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. ” … “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” (Revelation 22:7,12).

So, what was the preparation Peter was advising? He was writing about their mindsets. They were to be mentally prepared for what was to come. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church, wrote, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24). That too is a call to action, a preparing moment, a step in the sanctification process we must all go through.

But Peter didn’t write any specifics. What was the “action” and what was the “self-control” required? If we pilgrims were reading the same text today, what “action” would we need to implement? There is of course an internal implication, as we clean up our thinking, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to get rid of the all the wrong and sinful thoughts we experience. For example, if we are worriers, then we consider what Paul wrote to the Philippian church – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6). There is also an external implication to “action” and “self-control”. We must endeavour to make every opportunity to be salt and light in our communities, sharing the Good News that we have responded to, with others. And together with fellow believers we will find ourselves in a place of anticipation for receiving the fruits of our hope in Jesus. We don’t know when He will return, but we need to be ready in any case.

Dear God. We pray, as many of the saints have done over the centuries, for the return of Your Son to this sad and dark world. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.