The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Feb.19-24, 2024
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) You, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(M) you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
(W) a holy nation, God’s special possession,
(M) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
(All) Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:5, 9-10)
Confession
Jesus Christ, we confess that the world throws all kinds of identities to us. Yet, deep in our being, we know all those identities are indeed temporary. Thank you for offering a new identity and a new mission as our fundamental identity and mission. Yes, the circumstances can change. We are also in changing constantly. In you, we find our anchor to explain our purpose and meaning of all other identities. Thank you. In your name, Amen.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter (NIV)
1:3-5 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.
2:11-17 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans …. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
2:18-24 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
4:7-11The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. …so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
5:1-4 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Thoughts to Share: Christian Living in a Hostile World
The entire 1 Peter was situated in the context of Christian sufferings. We can discover that the status of audience of 1 Peter is revealed in many short phrases that we may easily pass by. These phrases include exiles, dispersion, sojourners. They imply that audience of Peter constantly faced a bunch of subtle difficulties- loss and grief, adjustments, stress, struggles, intentional or unintentional discrimination, misunderstood, marginalization, exclusion, despise, tricks, suspicion, ridicules, slanders, insults. Life was tough and often depressing. They must ask: what does Christ mean to me? How can I live out Christian living? Is it worth to follow Christ? They could have two choices. One is to fall back to the world they came from. The other was to stay in Christ. But how?
Peter intended to guide those Christ-followers into the deeper understanding of their faith and the better strategies of living out their identities in Christ in such life circumstances.
He first reminded them of their faith in Jesus Christ.
1) They have eternal blessings- living hope, imperishable and unfading inheritance, and salvation of their souls.
2) They have an assured salvation which was rooted in the ancient prophets in the Spirit of Christ.
3) They have the tools of living against the attraction of the flesh: be sober-minded; set the hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ; conduct themselves with fear of the Lord; love one another earnestly from a pure heart; love and obey the word of God, which is the truth.
4) They have a set of unique identities in Christ: living stone in the spiritual house, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of God’s own possession.
5) They have a mission in the world for Christ: to proclaim the excellences of God.
Then Peter went on instructing them how to proclaim the excellences of God in their daily life contexts.
To slanders- abstain from the passion of flesh, keep your conduct honorable, silence them with your good deeds.
To society- Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor emperor.
At workplace- Be subject to your masters with all respect. Determine to rather do good and suffer for it. Endure the hardship and injustice. Let Christ be your example and let his strip heal you.
In marital relationship- Win your unbelieving half by your respectful and pure conducts. Wives, adorning yourself with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Keep doing good and submitting yourself to your husbands. Do not be afraid of frightening. To husbands, be considerate to your wives. Learn and understand your wives’ likes and dislikes, strengths and weakness. Treat her in that acquired knowledge and honor her. Respect her because she has the same status as you in receiving the grace of life from Christ.
In the body of Christ- Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Not repay evil for evil but bless. Turn tongue from evil.
Peter concluded this section with the opportunities of declaring the excellences of God in all forms of suffering circumstances-
1)Knowing suffering for righteousness’ sake is better for doing good. And there are blessings for them who suffer. Do not be afraid of others. Continue to honor Christ the Lord as holy.
2)Be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Do it with gentleness, respect, and good conscience.
3)Remember the suffering example of Christ. In his suffering, he made a way of all humans to be reconciled with God. In the same way, Christ-followers suffer for others in order that those people can “see” the Gospel, “hear” the Gospel, and come to God himself.
Finally, Peter moved on to focus on the sufferings that those Christ-followers were in. How could they survive and thrive over suffering for the righteousness’ sake? Peter instructed them –
1) The willingness for sufferings- Understanding the suffering for righteousness is a subtle part of Christ-follower’s lives and their communities. Indeed, it is a sign that they are already set apart from sin and a witness of their victory over the sin and doing God’s will.
2) The power of Christian fellowship- In Christian fellowship, they have a new perspective to see the world events around them.” The end of all things is at hand”. In everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. “They are to remind each other to be self-controlled, sober-minded, and prayer. They are to keep love one another earnestly and show hospitality to each other. They are to continue to use their talents to serve one another. They can bear suffering together.
3) Rejoice. Know that they are still the “beloved” children pf God. God will not forsake or abandon them. Their suffering for righteousness is not alone. They will enter the fellowship with the suffering of Jesus Christ. There they will receive understanding, comfort, strength, and redemption. The glorious Spirit of God will be with them to strengthen them. God will be the judge to their enemies. So, their faith become purer and stronger.
4) To leaders- continue to shepherd and watch over the flocks with pure motives and willing heart; being an example to flocks in your life and lifestyles; avoiding compulsion, greed, and controlling; expecting the unfading crown of glory from the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ himself.
5) To all members- Be humble. Believe that God cares. Be sober-minded and be watchful. Accept God’s purpose. Do resist the evil. Trust that God’s grace will be sufficient to them. See and learn from other suffering Christ-followers.
6) Among churches- Look up to the faithfulness of God’s salvation. Greetings and visits in love one another to break away isolation, loneliness, worries. Let the fellowship and friendship warm up their cold hearts, rekindle the hope, bring encouragement, expel the depressing feelings. Give peace blessings to counter the disturbance of the world.
In the 1 Peter, we encounter a Peter who has grown out of his early years’ denial of suffering in Jesus’ ministry. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter has fully comprehended the teachings Jesus passed down to him. He faithfully uses the language inspired by the Holy Spirit to exhort the Christ-followers in the suffering in his time. Today Christians live in pluralistic world and encounter subtle hostility toward their faith. Peter’s teachings continue to be valid to us. We must know our faith, declare the excellence of God through our lifestyles in daily various life contexts, and live through suffering with wisdom.
Prayer Suggestions
Eternal living God, we give you thanks and praises that you know our world reality and you give directions to us how to live with our unique identities from you in the real world. Help us to stand firm in you in our life journey in the world. Help us to grow and declare your excellence in season and out of season. Help us live wisely in suffering for you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benedictions:
May peace and grace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:2)
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