Today, we are going to begin looking at Peter’s letters to the Church. Since we are God’s Church, these are relevant words for us even today. I will be quoting from an easy-to-read and understand translation today, the New Living Translation. Consider having your own favorite translation at hand as we begin this journey through a letter written by an uneducated fisherman who spent time with Jesus.
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. (1 Peter 1:1 NLT)
Peter starts his letter listing the churches to whom he expects this letter to be sent. This is like the “To:” box in an email. The letter wouldn’t have gotten to them nearly as quickly, though, since there was only one copy and it would have been rotated around from place to place. Writing letters back then was expensive and time consuming. How would you respond if you knew you only had this letter available for a short time before it was sent on to the next church?
God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. (1 Peter 1:2 NLT)
Peter then continues his greeting by reminding us all what is most important – not just for this letter, but for life. God chose you. His Spirit is in you. Christ’s blood has cleansed you. May God continue to give you gifts like these and the resulting peace.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT)
I wonder when I read passages like these if they were originally intended. Did Peter plan to talk about reasons to praise God, or did his greeting just take him to a place of unexpected worship? I’m not sure that we will ever know in this life. Take some time to look at verses 3-5 again. What reasons did Peter find to worship God? Do you worship God for the same reasons? Do you have others? What would you write in a letter like this.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)
Peter moves from from worship to encouragement. He moves from a focus on God to a focus on God’s people. They are hurting. They are struggling. Peter reminds them that there is more to this life than just this life. Not only that, their choices in this life are being watched and will be reviewed in the next. When we go through struggles, they burn off the impurities of our lives just like a refiner’s fire burns off impurities from gold. Persevering through these trials make us and our walk with God more pure. Our faithfulness through those trials will be celebrated in the next. Does that change the way you face struggles in this life? How?
You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT)
I end up thinking about Jesus’ statement to Thomas: "You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me" (John 20:29 [NLT]). You and I have not had the opportunity that Thomas or Peter had. We do not see Jesus face to face, yet we still believe. Does that help you to know that you are more blessed than Thomas or even Peter in this way? Do you look forward to the reward?
This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ's suffering and His great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. (1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT)
I wonder if Peter was thinking about the day of Pentecost as he wrote these words. He was one of those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven on that day. Peter almost sounds in awe of his place in God’s plan. This uneducated fisherman was chosen to be an apostle, sent out by God. He received the Holy Spirit and spoke as one in a long line of prophets that God has chosen to be His mouthpiece. How humbling it must have felt to think about angles eagerly watching Peter live out his part of God’s plan.
How about you? How does it feel to know the angles are watching you live out your part of God’s plan? Is it humbling? Is it encouraging? Is it “all so wonderful” to consider?
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