Encourage

I am finishing up 1 Peter. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

1 Peter 5

12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Encourage. Obviously, I didn’t write this letter; but like Peter, my purpose in connecting you with God’s Word is to “encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” I love that thought and pray you take it to heart as you journey.

Humble

I am currently reading through 1 Peter. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

1 Peter 5

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Humble. I could spend a whole week on this passage; but I wanted to present it as one thought. It covers everything from worries to temptation to suffering while warning of danger and promising restoration; but it all begins with humility. We need to humble ourselves before God ... daily.

Never

I am currently reading through 1 Peter. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

1 Peter 4

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Never. God will never fail you ... an important reminder from a guy writing to a group of people being persecuted for following that same God.

Privilege

I am currently reading through 1 Peter. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

1 Peter 4

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

13 Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

Privilege. I appreciate Peter’s clarification regarding suffering in verse 15; but I was struck by the thought in verse 16 ... “Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” It is a privilege to be called a Jesus follower; too often, I live as if it is my right.