Always Be Prepared

 

Pray that God would give you perspective on your suffering and pain

 

Read 1 Peter 1:1-2:11. Reflect on 1 Peter 1:1-9.

 

Peter is an apostle, meaning he is a “sent one”, appointed by Jesus to spread the good news about Jesus.  Peter is writing to “the chosen” – his key term to describe those who believe in Jesus.  These people live in regions of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) that Peter calls the “dispersion” (1:1), which likely refers to Jewish Christians temporarily living outside the land of Israel.  The term also could be used figuratively to describe Christians awaiting the return of Jesus-living as foreigners in this world, since they belong to God’s kingdom.

 

Peter offers hope:  Not only does God have foreknowledge, but we become more like God through the work of the Holy Spirit- the definition of “sanctification” (1:2).  Peter then uses the analogy of the “sprinkling of the blood” to allude to Christ’s sacrificial death-casting Jesus’ death in terms of Israel’s priests sprinkling blood in the front of the curtain of the sanctuary (see Exod 24:3-8; Lev 4:6, 17; compare Isa 52:14).  What type of hope do we have-and how do we have it (1:3)?  What has God accomplished “according to his great mercy” (1:3)?

 

What are the churches in the dispersion dealing with, and how does Peter reframe their situation (1:5-6)?  What will be the result of their difficult situation (1:7)?  How do the churches feel about Jesus and how do they react to him (1:8)?  Does your response to Jesus align with this perception?

 

When Peter says that the believers will obtain salvation, he is not suggesting that they obtain salvation from their sins through their efforts.  Instead he says that through their efforts they will find a way out of their current struggles; they are saved from their circumstances. When Jesus returns again, they know that they will be found in his favor-honored for sticking with Jesus during difficult times.  What are some immediate steps you can take to change your perspective on suffering, persecution, and pain?

 

Reflect and pray through these questions throughout your week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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