FOR YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN
1 Peter 1:22-25 (NIV) 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable
seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
In yesterday’s Scripture, Peter reminds his readers that Jesus was chosen to be the spotless lamb from the very foundation of the world. If anything makes us feel safe and secure, it is knowing that nothing is by chance or happenstance. Instead, God has a plan. And that plan includes a pathway to salvation.
In the Bible, salvation is equated with being born again. You remember how the Pharisee Nicodemus came to Jesus asking what he must do to be saved. Jesus said very simply, you must be born again.
The new birth through Jesus is the most life altering event we can ever experience. Peter says our love for others is sincerely, deeply and from the heart.
So how does being born again enable us to love so deeply? When we give our lives to Jesus, and we begin to practice being intentional in our discipleship, we are transformed into people who can love even those who have hurt us to the core.
I recall watching a clip of a serial killer being sentenced to death for his crimes. The victims’ families issued scathing comments, cursing him to having unbearable pain. But one man stood up and said you are making me prove my faith in a way no one should have to do. I forgive you.
When we can forgive others who have hurt us, maligned us, taken something precious from us, made our lives generally unbearable, then we are living out our faith.
May we never forget the life affirming power of the enduring Word, and may we allow that power to change us from the inside out.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Redeemed by the Lamb
1 Peter 1:17-21 (NIV) 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Repentance, redemption, restoration—oh how I love those words!
Repentance is more than being sorry, it is turning away from our sins and toward the One who exchanges our sin for our salvation.
Redemption is the act of Jesus buying us back from our sin-state with His very own blood.
Restoration is the act of Jesus bringing us back into a right relationship with God our Father.
And here is the defining moment—all of this was established before the earth was even created. God made a way for each of us through Jesus Christ, who was “born to live, born to die, born to sacrifice His life, born to be the spotless lamb that would save the souls of man.”
May we turn each day to the One who loves us completely, knowing and believing that only Jesus can bring the peace we need, only Jesus can bring healing and restoration.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Life Blazing With Holiness
1 Peter 1:13 (MSG) 13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
I started a blog in 2009 called “Seekingholiness.blog.” You see, I have been an intentional disciple for many years. I understand when God said “I am holy, you be holy” it was not just a suggestion. And I also understand that attaining such perfection is not within our reach while in our mortal bodies. But that doesn’t mean we should quit trying.
I love, love, love the way “The Message” interprets these instructions: “roll up your sleeves and get your head in the game.” We roll up our sleeves to engage in heavy work, and we get our head in the game so that we are completely present and aware of what is going on around us. If we are not attentive, we will be in danger of returning to a lifestyle that does not glorify God.
May we who know better, do better, and may we hunger for a life that is truly energetic and blazing with holiness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Living Hope
1 Peter 1:1-6 (NIV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: (1 Peter 1:1 (MSG) writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgot
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3 (MSG) we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!) 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Peter, brash, bold, one of Jesus’ inner circle, yet he would go on to fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus prayed, chop off a man’s ear, and deny Jesus three times. If someone like Peter could overcome all of these missteps to become a leader in the church, then it would seem we are without excuse when it comes to being intentional disciples.
Peter is writing to followers of Christ who had fled due to persecution and, as he put it, were scattered to the four winds. Few of us in 21st Century America can fully appreciate having to pack up a few belongings and flee for our lives. Peter addresses the elect, “foreknowledge” (prognōsis), those whom God knew would respond to Him.
Isn’t it comforting to know that God not only made a way for our salvation through Jesus Christ, but we have an inheritance of eternal life that can never be taken away!
WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER (James M. Black, 1893)
1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
May we be confident that we, too, have an inheritance laid up for us in heaven, and may we share this good news with all we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
James 5:13-20 (NIV) The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Oh, how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.
Today we finish our reading of the Epistle of James. James, the half-brother of Jesus and for a long time the chief doubter of Jesus’ divinity, closes his letter to the Jews scattered due to persecution by pointing out the significance of prayer. I love this! James says if you are in trouble, or if you are happy or if you are sick there is one answer: PRAY.
I mentioned before that I have used the model “PRAY” for years. For those who may be unfamiliar with this pattern, it is as follows:
PRAISE—Begin every prayer praising God for all He is worth. I often refer to Habakkuk, the questioning prophet, who, after asking God why his people had to suffer while in captivity, ultimately reconciled himself to praising God NO MATTER WHAT! So, I praise Him for Who He is, for what He has done, and for what He will do!
REPENT—I ask forgiveness of my sins, for although Jesus took my sins to the cross where they were crucified, I still have a sin nature. I will tell you at my age my sin nature is pretty much under the control of the Holy Spirit, and He enables me to keep my accounts short. What does that mean? If I say something that hurts or offends someone, the Holy Spirit tugs on my heart immediately so that I can ask forgiveness.
ASK—I normally begin by praying for others. It is a glorious thing to be able to stand in the gap for a brother or sister in Christ who needs prayer support. Then I pray for those who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus, I pray for famiIy, friends and I pray that God will increase the territory of our church and all churches that preach the gospel. Finally, I pray that God would send someone across my path that I can help.
YIELD—I relinquish my will for God’s. Blessed relief!
James ends by counseling Christ followers to pray for brothers and sisters who have turned from the faith. And what is the result? Repentance—Redemption—Reconciliation.
May we be eager to pray at all times, knowing that this is the will of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
