Shifted Eyes--Heb 12:2

Last night I went to bed in not a good place.  For all practical purposes it looked the devil would win today and I was utterly helpless.  I prayed.  I rebuked the devil.  And I smashed my pillow in frustration. (It probably has died a thousand deaths.)  All I could see was that the devil was trying to deceive, kill and destroy.  All I could do was watch the "devil, prowling around like a lion seeking who he may devour," (1 Pet 5:8).  My prayers seemed empty. 

This morning I woke up and those thoughts lingered.  Then all of a sudden I realized I was looking at the wrong one!  I was looking at the devil feeling helpless.  But then I fixed my eyes on the Almighty.  And I prayed the same prayers but with eyes on the One who has REAL power.  It brought great joy to my spirit!  So I prayed, recruited others to pray, and joy came back.  I felt the victory in my spirit before anything took place.

"Fix your eyes on Him."  It says.

That is the way to victory.

The Suffering of Patience--1 Pet 3:20

There's not a need to have patience unless there's some kind of suffering in waiting.  That waiting can be for something bad to change or for something good to finally happen.   It's what makes patience so very difficult, at least for most of us Westerners.

Even God suffers and has to wait patiently.

"God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built."  1 Pet 3:20

You have to wonder if God was thinking, 'Hurry up, Noah, please. I can't stand the level of evil that is on the face of the earth.  This suffering humans are inflicting on one another causes me unspeakable distress and I must wait until you build this boat.'

Patience is a barely existent virtue in my character.  I don't like suffering and I want it to end quickly.  I want somebody to do something.  More often than not when I have to wait too long, I try to take control and do things myself.

But this isn't the way of the Lord.  His ways are patience.  Endurance.  And long-suffering.  Because timing matters as He assembles everything and all people in place.  It's not always just about me.

Foundations of Persecution--1 Pet 1:1-2

"Foreboding" perhaps wasn't the best description.  But definitely a sense of change coming, change that would cause the followers of Jesus to be a bit more alert.  The economy was tanking, corruption was going viral and the highest leadership of the nation fell to the lowest of standards.     Persecution seemed to be lurking in the shadows and perhaps would rear its ugly face openly.  Nero was Emperor and he held no affection for the followers of Christus.

So Peter writes.  He writes as one who has himself walked through scary times and even failed.  But because he did not give up but had pressed on, restored by the resurrected Lord himself, he had something to say.

He identifies himself as the sent out one of Jesus and then writes to those scattered throughout Asia Minor.  It was a scroll passed from one house church gathering to the next.  After identifying himself and his audience, he opens with this:

"[you] 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: grace and peace be yours in abundance."

If you look at the core of this sentence it basically says "chosen...to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood."

 This is... strange.  Chosen for obedience?  Sprinkled with blood?

It could be strange but not for those who would know the Old Testament/Covenant stories.  When Moses was sealing the covenant with the Israelites, he spelled out the commands for them to follow, then took blood and sprinkled the people (Ex 24).  The blood and the commands both were signs of the covenant (Heb 9:19-21).  All covenants have expectations and a loss of blood.  (Think marriage and the marriage night with a virgin).

Chosen for covenant.  Western culture doesn't always get the concept of covenant.  Covenant is a binding union.  Not a contract.  It's secure and irrevocable.  Covenant was very appropriate for the time.

Soon the Christians would watch as their children, friends and experience for themselves what it was like to be hated by the masses, and tortured by the authorities.  Peter needed to prepare them.  And in the same breath he says hello he reminded them that God's people were a covenant people--a people chosen to be in covenant with God.  This security, this eternally binding and inseparable union was to be the foundation for any and every trial that they were to face.

It wasn't the promise of deliverance from trials.  It wasn't the promise from deliverance from anything of this earth.  But it was the promise of Himself.   Forever.  Eternally. 

Living as a Refugee: 1 Pet 1:1-2

In the book Insanity of God by Nik Ripken (one I highly recommend), in his grief from all the atrocities he has seen, he travels the world to interview those who have been persecuted for their faith.  At one point he is so amazed at the stories coming from one family in particular that he exclaimed, "You need to write a book!"

One of the older men took him to a window.  He pointed to the sun and said it raises and sets every day because it's what is expected.   Then he turned to Nik and said,

"When did you stop reading your Bible?"

This has reverberated like thunder to my heart.  Those of us in prosperity and freedom read the Bible through a different lens than those in persecution.  We approach the historical background of a book like 1 Peter and in dry and dusty terms talk about the "historical background is one of persecution."  It's like we're writing a research paper. 

"To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered...."

The Christians in some countries know what it is like to have lose their homes, their land, their valued memories, their children, their husbands and wives, mothers and fathers.  They are refugees with no place to lay their head.  They are hunted and hungry.  This is the price they pay for their faith.  They understand very clear what it is to be "strangers in the world" and "scattered."

Now read the next part:

"who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood."

This is both an encouraging message and tough message to the hearers.  It's one that invites the readers--the persecuted, to continue reading.  And when they do they will find more encouragement:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
"new birth into a living hope"--priceless hope
"into an inheritance that can never perish"--encouragement after losing everything
"who through faith are shielded by God's power"--something of their prayers
"now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials"
"These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise"--purpose
"you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy--fruit
"you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls"--goal

These words read through the eyes of the suffering are a breath of life and truth.  Through the eyes of the prosperous they're sweet and ho-hum.

But history has shown that no Christians are forever exempt.  One day we too may need to know these truths at an experiential level.  In the meantime, let's pray, and give and do whatever as we 'remember those in chains as if we ourselves were suffering.'  Because when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer together.

Deeply, from the Heart--1 Pet 1:22-2:3

This morning I read through part of 1 Peter again, and I realized a connection I had missed previously.  The end of chapter 1 talks about loving one another deeply, from the heart.   Chapter two opens up with getting rid of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.  It just dawned on me that all those words deal with relationships. We don't get rid of all these things just so that we can be righteous, but because to do so opens up the door for us to love each other deeply.  There's not much room for grace with each other when we give way to grumbling.

One who Understands--1 Peter 5:1-4

I used to think the main theme of James was "a faith that works is a working faith."  And while true, James says a lot about the rich and the poor.  I also used to think 1 Peter was about staying faithful in the midst of suffering.  True, but now I see a main theme connected to this--submission.  ("Submit" is used more in 1 Peter than any other book in the Bible!).  The fullness of Peter's theme is to submit to God and human authorities even in suffering.  We kind of all leave out that 'submit' part.

But the thing that warms my heart is that Peter through the Spirit of God understands the role of leadership.  With a very strong appeal (as a fellow elder, as a witness of Christ's suffering, as a sharer in the glory to come) he admonishes the other leaders:  'Serve as shepherd and overseers..willingly not because you 'have-to,' not greedy for gain but eager to serve, not lording it over those under you but being examples.'  I'm sure he wrote these because there were those leading because they felt it they 'had to do it,' they did it because they got paid, and they lorded their authority over those under them.  Not fun.  But Peter pleads with them to walk in the opposite spirit.  And this gentle, kind yet diligent authority is what we all long for.   This is the authority that people respond to.


Thanks Peter for understanding.  You can be my leader any day.

Each One... 1 Peter 4:10-11

"Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, 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."

A first look:

• "Each one" seems to clearly imply that "each one" does indeed have a gift to use to serve others.
• This gift is a "grace,"  not just to each individual who has a gift but for the "us" who will need other people and through others that God provides the fulfillment of that need.  God wisely makes us so that it is impossible for us to be independent.  We could lie to ourselves and think that we are, but we cannot.  No one can.  Therefore he graces others with gifts for our hour of need, and gives us gifts to serve others in their hour of need. 
• God provides strength so that those gifted to serve can serve and that He will get the praise.  I believe this also happens for the ones who speak, that God provides the words to those who speak so that He gets the praise.  Those who serve need to rely on God's strength, and those who speak to rely on God's words.
• End result is that God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

To the heart:

Clearly God gives gifts to his people.  That's not something I've doubted.  I see it even in those who do not follow Jesus.  But at times in my own life I have felt frustrated and hindered in being able to use those gifts.   Yet the reality is that if I'm frustrated that I can't use those gifts, it's probably because I'm being more conscious and concerned about me using them than I am about using them to meet the needs of others.

Then there is the reality of the gifts I don't have.  I am not a children's worker, but everyone tends to assume this if you are a woman.  Add to that is that I see that those who work with the poor and the orphaned children of the world seem to have this communion with God that goes above and beyond.  Think Mother Theresa.  Think George Mueller.  Think of the young 21 year old woman from the blog below (her blog is extraordinary).  And it's no wonder.  James says that this is what pure religion is all about.  And yet I find myself having a Godly jealousy for that kind of communion.

Now I know there are other great people of God who didn't primarily work with children--Billy Graham for instance.  Where would the world be if we didn't have his evangelistic work and the standard of holy living that we know him to have? And I've met other people, one young man I'm thinking of who is only around 30 and yet carries in him the very presence of God.  Neither work with children.

And yes, I can name a bunch of others, but there is just something special among those who work among the poor and the children.  Maybe it's because as James has said, "God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith."  Perhaps we need to move our seminaries among them.   They are the ones who teach.

As an aside, when I was in Bible college we had to write out our statement of faith.  It consisted of things like "I believe the Bible is God's Word, Jesus died for our sins, the Holy Spirit indwells us, etc...  These are all good, but I think if I were ever asked to do it again, I would want to write something like, 'I feed the poor in Jesus' name, I give the very best clothes I have to the homeless because Jesus gave his very best for us, I adopt the orphan (through sponsorship or adoption) as I have been adopted by God, etc...'  Wouldn't this be a much better statement of 'faith?'

Ok, so now that I'm off on as many tangents as Peter (try reading 1:3-5 in one breath), perhaps I'll get back to a semblance of the trail that I was on.  EACH ONE receives a gift from the Lord, and these gifts are different.  But they all have a similar purpose--TO SERVE.  My gift is different from your gift.  One serves through the strength of God.  One speaks as if it is the very words of God.  One helps the poor through the power of God.  And in the end it is all for the same goal--FOR PRAISE.  To God.  For his glory for what he has done through Jesus.   And really, if our heart cares only about using our gift for His praise, what does it really matter about anything else?

The Four Scary Words--1 Peter 3:1

If the words "be submissive" weren't challenging enough, one only needs to read the previous four words to be completely troubled.  But before we go to the Four Scary Words, maybe we should look at the issue of submission in general.

The good news is that submission is for everyone!  Even Jesus was one who was submitted.  Unfortunately when we hear the word "submission" we tend to be myopic and think immediately of "wives."  Didn't you?  It's the same with respect.  When we hear the word "respect," we think it immediately it pertains to respecting leadership and the way in which a wife should treat her husband.  This is correct, but it isn't limited to that either.  

The first time Peter initiates the subject of submission is in 2:13 where we are all to submit to authorities "for the Lord's sake."  At least this is a more comforting passage than in Matt 23:1-7 where obedience to leaders is a commandment even to those that are clearly hypocrites.   Or in Rom 13:1-5 where "submission" to the governing authorities is commanded during the time when Nero was king.  Clearly we are to submit to authority not because those in authority are Godly men/women but because they are God's men/women (Rom 13:1-6).

The next time in 1 Peter is mentioned is slaves submitting to masters.  And it is at the end of this list where marital relationships are addressed.  Wives are told to submit to husbands, husbands are told to treat their wives "with respect" (1 Pet 3:7).

And in this subject of submission, we all know that the word "submission" means to 'stand-under,' as one stands under an umbrella on a rainy day.  Ideally it is a safe place--when everything is going according to the ways of God.  But then there are those Four Scary Words.

So how are we to submit?  In what context are we to submit?  And now here are the Four Scary Words--"in the same way."  What same way?  If we look at the context, the slaves are being told to submit to those who are harsh and possibly beating them.  And wives are told to submit to husbands who do not believe.  And Jesus?  He "suffered," "they hurled their insults at him," he was placed "on the tree."  These are just not comforting thoughts at all.  Submission?  In the context of beatings, ungodly leadership and just plain suffering?  These are not what I want to hear.

But again I have to look deeper into what "in the same way" means and what Peter is shooting for.  I hope I'm not taking liberties with the text but seeing the bigger picture.  I don't think submission means always letting yourselves be treated like a doormat.  Slaves were encouraged to get their freedom if they could (1 Cor 7:21).  Divorce was permitted under extreme conditions such as "marital unfaithfulness" (Matt 19:9).  And Jesus himself throughout his life when they hurled their abuse at him he answered their questions with a question, and often escaped unnoticed through the crowds.  It was only when his time had come that he allowed them to take him.

But most important was the spirit of submission.  When it comes to authority to rulers there was the spirit of "honor" (1 Pet 2:17).  Wives were to submit in the spirit of "purity and reverence" (3:2) and in gentleness and a quiet spirit (3:4).  (Just an aside, I think 'gentle' and 'quiet' go together and do indeed talk about her "spirit" and not just that she is a silent sufferer).    And lastly Jesus responded to suffering by 'not retaliating' and 'making no threats' (2:23) but entrusting himself to him who judges justly.    All of this is summed up in the conclusion of Peter's teaching on submission which I believe encompasses the spirit of what he is teaching--"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."  This is the spirit of our submission.

So having said that, when it comes to our governing authorities such as Barack Obama and our local senators and city authorities, do we have "honor" in our spirits?  It doesn't matter if we agree with them/him or disagree, do our spirits have "honor" or do they have mockery, contempt and are the butt of our jokes?  With our bosses and supervisors at work, do we show respect for them in how we treat them and how we talk about them with others?  Or do we grumble and complain about them, venting to others 'who will understand.' And in marital relationships, do wives show gentleness, purity, reverence and a peaceful spirit to their husband?  Or are they difficult to lead, argumentative, cantankerous and speaking against their husbands with their friends?  And husbands, are they "considerate" with their wives and treating them with "respect" and as "heirs with you of the gracious gift of life?"  Or is there mockery, condescension and disregard for the wives?  (Aside, with husbands it is the only place where their disobedience has a direct consequence--to not treat their wives with respect will hinder their prayer-life).  

Many suffer at the hands of authority.  Whole nations with their dictators.  Employees with their bosses and supervisors.  Wives with husbands.  (And husbands with wives although wives are not in the position of authority).  But the example of Jesus is best.  He did not retaliate or lash back.   And this is the spirit in which we are to respond.  And as Peter would have it, the Four Scary Words of "in the same way" lead to the Five Scary Words--"to this you were called."

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should  follow in his steps.


'He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.'


When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threads.  Instead, he entrust himself to him who judges justly.'


1 Peter 2:21-23

Strangers (1 Pet 1)

Almost every country has a slang word for a foreigner.  In Thailand it is "farong," in Brazil it is "estrangeiro," in Spanish it is "gringo."  A stranger is one who is on the outside, who speaks a different language and who has different ways about them.  They don't always know the ways of the "locals."
And in Scripture, this is a good thing.

Peter in his first letter writes to God's elect and calls them "strangers in the world."  He then says that since we call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially and are redeemed with something so precious as the blood of Jesus, that we should live our lives on earth as "strangers here in reverent fear."   So how are we to live as strangers?

My first thought is to think of contemporary culture.  What would be considered "strange" in this country?  Here are my thoughts:

• A couple who doesn't live together before marriage
• A dating relationship where there is not sexual engagement until marriage
• A marriage that stays together, for life
• When a boss, supervisor or leader is not doing things well and others are slandering them, for a person to walk away and not become involved
• Where there's been a wrong committed, that there would be forgiveness even when it is not asked for
• In tough economic times, that generosity would abound
• Instead of grumbling that there would be words of gratitude

All these things would be "strange" indeed in contemporary culture.  But what does Peter say?  Chapter two says that since we have been redeemed from our empty way of life and are born of imperishable see, we "therefore" are to rid ourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy envy and slander.  And so what are the polar opposites of these destructive behaviors?

• Forgiveness instead of malice
• Genuineness instead of deceit
• Integrity instead of hypocrisy
• Contentment instead of envy
• Encouragement instead of slander

If we lived this way, indeed we would grow to become ever more "strangers in the world," ones who are on the outside, those who speak a different language, have a different way about us and do not participate in the ways of the "locals."  And this, for those who love Jesus, is a very good thing.

1 Peter 2:1-3: Taste and See

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,  now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

When you have the real thing, the substitute begins to pale.  That is actually is important when sharing the things of the Lord with people.  It's not enough to say "put down that snicker bar because it's bad for you."  You acutally have to give people something else worth holding onto.  "If you put the snicker bar down, here's a glorious buffet where you can have anything in any amount.  Now what would you like?"
Here we find a similar thing.  When we have the real thing, the other stuff seems less desirable.  This is a text that almost would be better if written in opposite direction:  'Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Crave spiritual milk so that you can grow and mature.  Get rid of all the substitutes and fillers now that you have the real deal.  I don't want the mock meal, give me the real thing. --------
Memorized Aug 27, 2010

1 Peter 1:13-25: Obeying the Truth

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth..." (v. 22

I just finished reading Loren Cunningham's The Book that Transforms Nations.  In it he talks about how the Word of God transforms nations.  One of his chapters is that there are several nations in the world where there are many professing Christians but the Word isn't applied to their life.  For this reason the terrible triad exists:  greed, corruption and injustice.  This terrible triad destroys nations.

But here in this Scripture we are told that it is through obedience to the truth that we are purified.  Of course we are purified by the sacrifice of Jesus and the Holy Spirit's purification, but this element of purification depends on our responsiveness.  Furthermore this process leads to sincere love for each other which Peter again exhorts us to act upon.  I just find it encouraging somehow.  My obedience is participant in the process of purification.

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Memorized 1 Peter 1:13-25 Aug 22, 2010

1 Peter 1:1-12: Shielded

Perhaps this is one of those things I keep needing to hear, but it's such a good word to know that I am "through faith shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation..."  I'm in a season of low stress, but feel like the enemy is warring against my soul.  There are some big things ahead of me that need to be accomplished and I believe this is why they attack because they will make a big kingdom impact.  I keep reminding myself of the Scripture in Jude that he is 'able to keep (me) from falling and to present (me) before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy' (Jude 24).  This is a good word and combined with this word that we are "shielded by God's power," I have hope.
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Memorized:  1 Peter 1:1-12 (Aug 21, 2010)

1 Peter 1:1-2: Foundations of Suffering

Peter knows who he is and whose he has become.  He is an apostle.  No longer a fisherman, though I'm sure he still fished.  But he has a different purpose now, a higher one, and that is one who is sent out by Jesus.  This is a privilege, a responsibility and a place of leadership.  And in more comfortable times this might have been a different kind of job.  But how do you encourage people who are suffering greatly for the faith and have been scattered far and wide?  Away from their homeland, their friends, their family and their roots?


In the secret moments of the night when they were on their beds wondering how they were going to make it the next day or if they were going to even make it, I'm sure a few of them felt abandon by God.  But this could not be farther from the truth.  They were "God's elect," "strangers in the world,"  people who had been "chosen according to the foreknowledge of God."  Always and evermore when we face trials, our identity in Him becomes our key to overcome.  

Not only this but they were connected to a greater family, a family of faith.  They had brothers and sisters just like them in similar circumstances scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.  "You know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (5:9).  They were not alone in their struggles, and their challenges while difficult were not things that no one else could understand.


Yet for purpose they lived.  Their purpose was obedience to Jesus Christ.  And in the midst of their suffering, that might have been harder than we think.  How tempting it would have been to become bitter towards those who drove them out and betrayed them.  How angry they might have been at their circumstances instead of choosing joy and faith.   How tight they may have been tempted to become when their possessions and finances were so scarce instead of the generosity that God yearns for.  "Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."


And then there's this phrase "sprinkling by his blood."  Sprinkling people with blood was uncommon but was used for sacrifice, for consecration of priests and for forgiveness of sins.  All of these elements are found and needed among those who suffer.  Their lives are the sacrifice in the manner and spirit of Jesus.  Their purpose and consecrations is as a "royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of his darkness into his wonderful light" (2:9).  And for forgiveness of sins.  It's not that anyone is perfect, but we live in the land of Forgiven.


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Memorized May 22, 2010