Daily Devotionals

1 Peter 2.4-12 and Ephesians 4.4-16

‘But you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you into his wonderful light.’ ^{1 Peter 2.9}

Are you a don’t look back, look forward type of person or do you spend time pondering the if only question? Have you wished you had said something while there was still a chance, written that message or sent some flowers? Do you spend time wishing you had been bold enough to have made a different decision? Perhaps you wish you had gone, when instead you stayed or gone when you should have stayed. A lot of this is tied up with how we manage our feelings. Our emotions are strong forces that either drive us on or prevent us taking action despite what we may know is right.

Shortly before my Father died I realized I wasn’t sure if I had ever really told him how much he meant to me. And I think he was the most formative person in my life. We lived three to four hours drive away, the family were growing and demanding of time and so we only saw each other during school holidays when there seemed more time.  It suddenly became important to me to say to him what was deep in my heart but I knew it would never work out face to face. So, I wrote him a letter. It was never mentioned until I was alone with him some months later in the hospice and I said to him, ‘I would just like to say how important you are to me.’ He replied, ‘I know, you wrote me a letter.’ That was all either of us needed. I am not sure how I would have coped if I hadn’t written the letter.

What regrets will we have as we are judged by a ‘Father who judges each person’s work impartially’. ^{1 Peter 1.17} In particular what will we regret not saying in the light of Peter’s conclusion to the quote to, ‘live out our time as foreigners here in reverent fear’? When Peter and Paul are writing they are addressing believers individually but they are also speaking to the church as a whole and expecting the church to respond and act as one whole entity. Paul uses the biblical analogy of the church being the body of Christ and Peter of the church as a spiritual building. How good is the modern church at being a unified body or building directing its energies in a collective ‘declaring the praises’ of him who saved us.

The declaring of praises is much more than singing worship songs and prayer in the confines of a church building or home group. It is the obedience to the great commission to, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’ ^{Matthew 28.19,20} There are three broad strategies to achieve this, each one essential. Holiness of life, that is a life set apart overcoming sin that makes us aliens in our own world. Good works that are derived from God’s grace towards us. The proclamation of the gospel. The church is called to be at one in all three areas.  Which if any do you struggle with? God has done all that is necessary for us to be obedient. All three in their own ways declare the praises of him but perhaps the one we may most regret when meeting our God is whether we have shared the gospel with others.

God has empowered the church through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

He has equipped the church for the work of ministry through the, ‘apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.’ ^{Ephesians 4.11}

He has given the church the identity and authority to convey the word of God and make disciples. ^{1 Peter 2.9}

In that case why is the modern church frequently so reluctant and ineffective in reaching people with the gospel? Here are some thoughts to address what is for God a vital issue.

Follow the money – How much of the churches resources (people, time, money, events, prayer) go into reaching out to people with the gospel.Training and equipping – How does the church equip itself to communicate the gospel in helping people understand the gospel, the questions people ask, the ways to listen, explain, mentor and coach people who do not yet believe?

Invitations – How often and how many are invited to join in with the family of God. It can be small social gatherings, films, quizzes, courses, individual bible reading, church services.

The attention we give to make the Christian life understandable – From what is done in church to why Christians make different decisions.

Engaging with the market place – The apostles met people where they were, by a river, in the street, in a place of worship, in a community hall, in people’s houses, all with the deliberate intent to share the gospel. Where do people meet now with an open mind?

Friendship – Have we ever asked a friend to come to a Christian function or do we think it will hurt the friendship? Have we ever explained to a friend why we believe and why it is so important to us?

What regrets will we have as we meet our Father?

Here I am Lord

1 Peter 2.4-12

When the church comes together whose church is it? It is easy to become possessive over a church and the reasons for going can be strongly about oneself. Church leaders can easily adopt a position where they say this is my church and what I say goes. It is my vision and if you do not agree then go somewhere else. Another might say, it is where I have been for a long time and it is what I like and there should be no change. Some might go as long as the music is what they want. Others may decide based on the version of the bible that is used in preaching. Many go because their friends go and leave if their friends are not there.  Some go because of the children, others leave because of the children. At the heart of much of this decision making is a consumer mindset and it exposes a limited and reduced view of the church. It answers the question, ‘whose church is it’ by saying it is mine. Peter answers the question by saying it is God’s and God’s with a massively larger vision than any one person or group of people may conceive of, at any one time or in any one place.

It is God who chooses the people, ^{1 Peter 2.4} not the church leadership. God who made Jesus the keynote foundation of his church. ^{v 2.4} God who made the church a new race. ^{v 2.10} God who appointed the roles to the church. ^{v 2.9} Crucially it was God who showed mercy to those who had not known mercy, that is ourselves. ^{v 2.10} God is not a brick in the house we are building, we are the bricks in his house if we come to him through Jesus. ‘As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..’ ^{v 2.4,5} Through Jesus Christ, God has made the church the new temple and the new nation that is his medium for declaring the goodness and glory of God through the life of the believers and the gospel.

This is priestly work in terms of worshiping God, interceding for others and teaching his word. Peter explains that the church belongs to God to declare its own salvation and the salvation that is for all who have faith in him. The church is to, ‘proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ ^{V 2.9} The declaring of his excellencies is to be by word and life. God keeps these in balance. To do this we need to recognize that we are not to conform to the pattern of life in the surrounding non-believing culture and to overcome those inner desires that as Peter puts it, ‘wages against your soul.’ ^{v 2.11} The Holy Spirit will make us very well aware of these desires of the ‘flesh’ through the word of God (Scripture). Clearly Peter’s meaning is more than simply abstinence, that is the avoiding of things, it is the positive outworking of good deeds. ^{v 2.12} The reason for this is to make evident what God has done and bring him glory.

Changing our view of belonging to the church to perceive it through the eyes of God leads on to a radical change of motivation and life.  How does being part of a chosen race, priesthood and nation challenge us regarding our future?

How does our part of the spiritual house of God speak to the world that has not yet received mercy?

Cornerstone – Hillsong Live

1 Peter 1.21-2.3

How different is belonging to a church from belonging to any other group? The question matters not just for the sake of those who belong to a church, it matters for the sake of the gospel and it matters for the glory of God. Problems in relationships within the church often lead people to take the view that faith is private, their relationship with God is individual and not connected with other believers. Some say they have no need of church. Poor relationships within a church become known in the community and become a barrier to others accepting the validity of Christian teachings because they see a disconnect between what is said and how the church behaves. Christians at times place their own ego and wants above the interests of the gospel and the glory of Christ.

At the same time we are all in need of genuine brotherly or sisterly love. Everyone thrives in a loving environment, however understanding the appropriate way to show love is also crucial. It is easy to take modes of expressing love from one’s surrounding culture and assume that is Christ-like love. Examples of inappropriate behaviour repeatedly occurred in the early church as it does in the modern church. This brings into focus what is distinctive about the ‘sincere brotherly love’ that Peter refers to.

At the heart of this issue is Christ’s perspective. It is through him that Christians, ‘are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.’ ^{1 Peter 1.21} The object of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection are both God’s glory and our faith and hope in God. At that point then when we have trusted in the saving work of Jesus, God has purified our souls. ‘Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth …’ ^v22a Purified means cleansing or washing but also in the context of 1 Peter it also has the Old Testament meaning of being set apart or dedicated to God. In verse 1.2 Peter tells the churches they have been, ‘sanctified of the Spirit, (purified) for obedience to Jesus Christ (set apart). Having been set apart for obedience or discipleship they are now aliens in their own country. They belong to a new spiritual kingdom. They have been born again into a new family, the family of God. Belonging to this family through Jesus Christ is the source of their brotherly love. Obedience to Jesus is expressed through obedience to the gospel of word of God. ^{v 1.23}

It is the word of God that is the seed of eternal (imperishable) life. This new birth brings forth a new and pure heart, set apart or sanctified to God. Brotherly love then comes from obedience and a sanctified heart. Your old life Peter explains will wither and die but your new life brought about by the word of the Lord remains forever. ^{vv 1.24,25}

What is this loving new life like? Peter explains it initially in terms of changes that need to be made in their personal and collective life. Put away he says, ‘all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.’ ^v2.1 These are challenging principles because they take away many of the protections we create around ourselves and make us vulnerable in our relationships. They mean we do not massage the truth so that it appears personally more favourable. It means that groupings within a church that plot against another group are not acceptable. It means being careful in the way we talk so that we do not claim things that are untrue. It challenges our motivation for what we say and do so that we allow others to prosper even if there is a personal cost. It means being open and honest in a way that shows love rather than self-interest. Our desire instead should be for the word of God so that the whole church matures in its spiritual life. We have already experienced the goodness of God through his love for us and want that to be the way we are. ^V2.2

I will be my brother’s keeper

1 Peter 1,10-20

Holy isn’t a word that one hears too much these days. When it is used it is often in regard to the exotic, a personal special place or object. It is defined by the individual, a cricket fan might call the Lords pitch their holy ground. Sometimes it is linked to a personal aspiration and is termed their holy grail meaning the goal at the end of a quest. Historically holiness has been linked to pilgrimage and it still is for some Christians, particularly Orthodox and Catholic traditions but is now perhaps more associated with other world faiths. The idea that it is God who determines what is holy is central to the Christian faith and other theistic religions but is at odds with common western world views that are rooted in materialism or relativism that emphasize individual independence.

Peter makes holiness a main theme in his letter. He repeats God’s command in Leviticus ^19.44, ‘But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”. ^{1 Pet 1.15,16} Holiness is defined by the nature of God himself.  But is that realistic and how do we go about being holy? Wouldn’t that make one into some kind of oddball? How can one possibly live a normal life and be holy? It does sound rather medieval and completely out of touch with modern life. It is a big topic but Peter in the second half of the first chapter does provide some starting points that are not odd but have a lot to do with one’s mindset.

The believer has always been in the mind of God as he prepared salvation. The Spirit of Christ inspired the Old Testament prophets to point to the coming of Jesus as Messiah. ^{1 Pet 1.10} A key understanding to start the walk of holiness is grasping that one has always been in the mind of God but more than that, each one of us is so valued and loved that it was always his intention that Jesus would through suffering bring about salvation.  Jesus’ death and resurrection followed by his return to glory was never a spontaneous event, it was a matter of pure deliberate love.  As post resurrection Christians we have been in the privileged position of having the good news (or gospel) explained to us. The wonder of it is so great, Peter says, ‘Even Angels long to look into these things.’ ^{1 Pet 1.12} Closely associated with holiness is awe, as we increasingly grasp the depth of God’s love for us then awe of God will grow.

Peter says in the light of this, prepare your minds for action, be sober minded and, ‘set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ ^{1 Pet 1.13} Being holy then is a deliberate thing, one must be resolute and determined, crucially in being like Jesus in one’s attitudes involves positively embracing godliness and rejecting passions that once controlled one’s life. As Peter goes on to say, ‘As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.’ ^{1 Pet 1.15} This is not a colourless drab life, it is filled with love, joy, good relations, peace of mind and fulfilling deeds that are aimed at bringing the good news of the gospel to all in your sphere. As a disciple of Christ one becomes part of a loving, generous community with a common goal.

Disciples of Jesus are in the combined position of being able to know and address Almighty God as Father and at the same time understand that he also is the one who judges impartially. ^{1 Pet 1.17} That combination of what might feel contradictory understandings makes sense in the light of Jesus’ sacrifice. As we deliberately choose to walk the path of holiness we do so knowing it was Jesus who ransomed us, not a matter of, we pass God’s judgement based upon our own good deeds. Peter reminds us that we were not ransomed with material wealth but, ‘with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.’ ^{1 Pet 1.19} Carrying that knowledge with us helps us to soberly prepare our minds for holiness.

What is your passion?

Holiness – Micah Stampley

1 Peter 1.3-9 and John 3.1-15

We live very close to the coast and the wind plays an important part in our lives. We have just had a four day period of 40mph winds. The wind howls round the front door and the trees whip and twist. Young plants have been torn from the ground and established trees in the fields are bent permanently in the direction of the prevailing wind. Walking on the beach in shorts becomes painful as the sand blasts the skin below the knee. This last weekend my wife turned to me and said, ‘Look at the wind out there.’ Clearly, we could not see the wind but the effect of the wind was dramatically apparent. Jesus describes the impact of the Holy Spirit on people’s lives in just these terms. ‘The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it’s sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ ^{John 3.8}

Peter celebrates this spiritual birth, ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!’ ^{1 Pet 1.3} Peter is referring back to Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus a prominent Pharisee and Jewish religious leader, who later came to faith in Jesus and helped with his burial in the tomb. Jesus made clear that just as we have a physical birth, for a relationship with God, there is a need for a spiritual birth. ^{John 3.5-7} This new birth involves being cleansed from one’s old sin driven life and our heart, or inner person, being spiritually renewed. As Paul puts it, ‘He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus expresses surprise that this is puzzling to Nicodemus as an Old Testament scholar because it is clearly expressed in Ezekiel ^36.25-27 and Joel. ^2.28-32 Just as a tree bending in the wind is evidence of the wind so a believer’s life should be evidence of their spiritual new birth. Many look for dramatic spiritual signs as evidence of the Spirit’s work but the most significant signs are to be found in changes in the believer’s life. Peter encourages them to live out their new life. ‘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. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.’ ^{1 Pet 1.22.23}

Peter explains that this new spiritual birth is due to the believer’s participation in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ^{1 Pet 1.3} The new life will not die as our body dies but is an inheritance of eternal life. Once given it is God who keeps it secure and it will become evident in what Peter terms, ‘in the last time’. Peter is encouraging believers to live in the light of this secure hope. The reason Peter wants believers to be secure in this understanding is that it will create resilience in times of trouble.  Resilience here is more than simply bearing suffering, the knowledge of God’s eternal promises will bring about joy during suffering. ‘In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.’ ^{1 Pet 1.6}

New birth has led to resurrection hope and rejoicing in times of trouble, resisting sin, and this in turn brings glory to Jesus Christ. ‘These (troubles) have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. ^{1 Pet 1.7}

Peter is the one who has seen for himself the suffering, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and heard his teaching. Time now has passed and the letters’ recipients have only heard about Jesus, they have the Old Testament writings but as yet they would have limited, incomplete collections of New Testament gospels and letters. It was therefore very important for the churches to hear firsthand from those who lived with Jesus. Even so, Peter is excited by the evidence of their new birth through the Spirit. He shares with them the joy of their salvation. How lovely that he is thrilled by their salvation and is rejoicing for others. ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.’ ^{1 Pet 1.8}

How much would others see in our lives evidence of new birth as the wind can be seen in the trees?

Who are we rejoicing with that though they have not seen him, they love him and are filled with joy as a result of their faith and salvation of their souls.?

Power of your love