By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace
The Apostle Peter wrote his letters to the churches in a complex and changing society.
In 1 Peter 1 he calls the churches exiles, scattered.
He recognises the suffering, grief, and trials they are facing.
He’s writing to churches of ordinary Christians scattered across Northern Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.
It’s likely they are facing sporadic, but increasing, persecution under the Emperor Nero.
What is fascinating to me is the approach he takes with the churches.
He doesn’t shy away from naming where they are; they are scattered amongst a challenging, complex society living as exiles. It’s simply hard.
He doesn’t shy away from naming what they are going through; suffering trials and all sorts of grief.
He doesn’t shy away from explaining how they are to live as a result.
He pastorally reminds the people who they are in 1 Peter 1:2:
"You are people 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".
OK, WOW! I need to read that slowly.
Then he addresses why they are facing the grief, trials, and suffering, writing in verse 7:
“These 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".
Peter is saying the griefs, trials, and suffering have come to refine, strengthen, mature, and prove our faith in Jesus.
He doesn’t shy away from explaining how they are to live as a result.
- They are to be hopeful, centred on the hope they have in Jesus (vs 13)
- They are to be holy in all they do (vs 14)
- They are to be happy, living with a settled delight in the greatness of God (vs 17)
- They are to love each other deeply from the heart (vs 18)
This weekend we are chosen by God, through the sanctifying Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus. In the challenges and complexities of the week ahead God is refining, strengthening, and maturing us.
He is growing the hope we have in Jesus. He’s making us more like himself, he wants us to live our daily lives content in him, and growing in love for each other.
