Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
As you come to him, the living Stone—
These are the opening words of a beautiful passage. Peter is beginning a description of a house built of stone. But more than a house, it is a temple. A holy place.
The Scripture reference that he uses as the “foundation” of his own words is from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 28: 16). Isaiah is chastising Israel and Judah for abandoning the Lord. Through Isaiah, God explains his plan going forward.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:4 (a) — Cornerstone”
… now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
I don’t know why this should be, but there are some verses in the Bible that seem to jump off of the page. Then they grab me by the lapel and shout, “ISN’T THIS THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER?!” For me, this is one of those verses.
Peter has been talking about nourishing our spirit using the food we feed our bodies with. Specifically, he uses the example of a newborn baby craving milk. His example is ripe with all kinds of inferences that color our understanding of what he means. Then he goes on to say, “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:3 — Yum!”
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
Today we finish what we started yesterday; the first verse of the second chapter. What are we dealing with here? What is Peter asking us to do? What are malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander? Is there something that they all have in common?
Malice is the desire to do evil. Okay. We can probably agree that we should avoid that. We can also agree that malice is ungodly.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2: 1 — Good Riddance”
Therefore, rid yourselves of …
In our post, “Checklist for Love,” we outlined some of the key points Peter has made in the first chapter of his letter. Today we begin the second chapter with, “Therefore…” As Pastor Rich loves to remind us in Bible study: “Always ask the question, ‘What is the ”therefore” there for?‘”
Peter has finished summarizing his thoughts by saying (in effect) people die, God’s Word is forever. Therefore…
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:1 (a) — Inside Outside”
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.
So far in these first few words of Peter’s letter to us, he has touched on a number of points:
He continues with more insights into the Christian life:
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:22 — Checklist For Love”
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Who do you place your hope in? Jesus Christ or God the Father?
It is an interesting question, isn’t it? Is there a difference? Well, yes. Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven. On occasion, God spoke to his Son. Then, of course, Jesus taught his disciples that, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9 b)
Peter provides us with a very interesting logical construct.
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:21 — Logic”
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
The question today is what does Peter mean when he writes, “…a Father who judges each person’s work impartially…?”
Wait a minute…
Doesn’t Peter know about grace? Doesn’t he understand that if we believe in Jesus we get a pass on judgment? How can he say that God is judging our “work?” What is going on here?
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:17 — Boxes”
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.”
The word, “holy” suggests that something or someone is pure, sinless, upright, and set apart for God. God, Himself is the definition of holy. As I understand Peter he is saying that we who are called by God should be like God. Not in the things that are unique to God, his power, omniscience, and authority, etc., but in his character. God is humble and loving, patient, kind, and long-suffering. Those are the things we can emulate.
Discerning the difference between what is unique to God and what he can share with us is important. We need to understand that He is God and we are not. It is the lack of discernment in this area that led Lucifer to presume he could be like God. I think we are in danger of falling into the same trap when we presume upon God’s authority.
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:15-16 — Picking Nits”
Even angels long to look into these things.
Today is the third installment of what salvation means. We are exploring this topic because Peter is. He has just pointed out that the prophets were serving you and me when they wrote down the things that we have been told about the gospel. The “things,” he goes on, are of such significance, that “even angels long to look into [them].”
The first thing we noted (and remember, we are speaking in broad terms here!) is that Jesus redeems us from spiritual death. In referring to a “spiritual death” the scriptures point to our separation from God as being dead to God. (Genesis 3: 3; 3: 8-10)
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part III”
Even angels long to look into these things.
In yesterday’s post, I started by saying, “Peter is telling us about salvation. Broadly speaking ‘salvation’ in this case refers to several things.” And then I went on to tell you about only one thing. Today I would like to follow up on that thought with another thing related to salvation.
As we discussed yesterday, the first thing salvation refers to is the restoration of our relationship with God. The second “thing” is that the restoration of this relationship is complicated. Human nature was irreversibly altered by the sin of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3: 5 the serpent says,
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part II”