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I Peter
Just like the original recipients of this important letter known to us as 1 Peter, we live in the shadow of the end of all things. This should enable us to get a proper perspective on difficulties we encounter for our faith and witness for Jesus. It must motivate us to a distinctive Christian lifestyle. We need to be vigilant, prayerful, and supportive of those in the Christian community, showing love and exercising the gift we have been given.
It’s easy to forget that government is a gift of God’s grace. But how—as subjects of a greater King who deserves and demands our primary obedience—are we to relate to our government? Are we to be revolutionaries, or patriots, or conscientious objectors, or constant complainers? Peter’s first letter gives us three principles for an attitude check which speak to the heart of our relationship with government.
The path to joyful endurance, even over long periods of tribulation, is hope. When the heaviness of your trials begins to weigh you down, take a few minutes to reflect on what Christ has done for you in the past, is doing for you in the present and will do for you future. Hope in these things and the joy of the Lord will lift your soul.
Many think salvation is just about heaven and it doesn’t affect life now. However, our salvation should affect us tremendously. The key question I want to pose to you is: considering your beautiful inheritance in Christ, what ought you to do? The answer: set your hope fully on the future grace brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. But how are you to do so? Peter specifies two ways: preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded.
