Devotions from the Book of 1st Peter

Main idea: Called to Salvation as exiles. Believers must praise God for His promised salvation and live out that salvation daily even in suffering.

Peter is writing to a group of Christians whom he calls elect exiles. If you like they are physical strangers in the world they are living in but also away from home spiritually. What a description!!! This is a group of Christians who are suffering for their faith; either they are faced with the idea of giving up completely on this faith or slip just a little back and stop living like strangers as their current situation is in this land. Peter encourages them to keep going in their faith despite the current situation; being elect exiles.

So as these words were for these elect exiled Jewish Christians, they are still relevant to any Christian living today in the 21^st century who are feeling exiled or lost. This side of heaven, we’re part of an empire in which we don’t fit, part of a system with which we can’t agree. Therefore, Peter’s words are as needful for us now as they were for the early church.

As you read this first chapter of 1 Peter, I hope you notice how the three persons of the trinity are involved as mentioned in v2: the foreknowledge of God the father (God chose his people ahead of time that they would belong to Him), the sanctification of the spirit (the spirit sets apart God’s people), for the obedience of Jesus Christ. This ought to encourage us that even amid suffering, the trinity is fully involved and is working in and for us to make us better. Also, a reminder to this elect exiled Christians that they are a chosen community of God.

V 3-6: Peter is quick to remind these believers of the living hope we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which unlike human hope which tend to get weaker and dimmer over time and eventually dies, this hope in our savior is truly living hope that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for them guarded by God’s power through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

See what peter tells these believers in v 6-7: suffering changes and refines us. This is what God does for and with us to make us purer than gold and the result of this is, so we praise and glorify and honor Jesus Christ.

In suffering then (v 10-12), these Christians got to understand the things the angels and the prophets of old longed to see and understand. The same is true for us today, thanks be God that we have the bible which helps us to understand things that happened long in the ages past and gives us a foreshadow of things that will come. Christians have heard this good news in the gospel proclaimed to them.

When people go through difficulty, there is a tendency for them to drift into carnality. “Oh, what’s the use of this suffering,” you would say.

As we face trials and difficulties, Peter tells us we’re to gird up the loins of our minds, to think soberly, and hope to the end. Whatever we do, we’re not to return to our old fleshly inclinations, for God says we’re to be holy, to be whole. In other words, we’re not to tear ourselves apart or wear ourselves down with sin and sloth, laziness, and iniquity. Instead, we’re to choose amid our difficulty to think rightly.

The inheritance promised to followers of Christ should motivate them to set their hope entirely on their future reward and live in fear of the God who redeemed them at the cost of his own son, Jesus Christ.

So, remember as God’s chosen people, suffer well in the hope of the glory to come that Christ also suffered well for us.

Big Idea: God’s chosen people living to proclaim the glory of God.

Peter closed the first chapter of this epistle by saying we should love one another fervently because we’re members of the same family. Just as we were all conceived by the incorruptible Word of God, as newborn babes, we’re to continue in the Word of God.

If you’re a parent, you know how newborn babes crave milk. In the middle of the night, they want milk. When you’re trying to study/work/cook/etc., they want milk. Every few hours they want milk. Peter says we’re to be the same way. He doesn’t say if we’re newborn babes, or when we’re newborn babes, but rather we’re to continue all the days of our lives as newborn babes, craving the sincere milk of the Word of God. Peter is not saying that believers are immature in their faith, rather, all Christians are to be like infants in their longing for the pure spiritual milk, which is the word of God.

You and I will long for this truth, the pure spiritual milk if we have indeed tasted that the Lord is good vs 3. When you and I stop reading or studying the Word of God, it’s because we’re eating the junk food of the world. That’s why Peter says, “First lay aside the junk and then you will desire the milk of the Word” to taste and see how this is better than the junk we might feed on or might have fed on.

Notice how you are supposed to do this, v 4 says “… as you come to him…” an indication that this is a continuous thing, a daily thing, you ought to crave this each day as you come to Him, the living stone, chosen by God and honored above all.

V 5-8 Peter not only compares us to children in the same family in the previous verses but now to stones in the same building/house. You realize that since by craving the pure spiritual milk you are growing, so then like living stones, the house is also growing with Christ being the chief cornerstone; this house is our bodies where God dwells. We’re living stones being fit together for an eternal temple in heaven. This life is the quarry, which explains why we always feel like we’re being chipped and chiseled away. Sometimes you may ask “Why am I next to this person?” or, “Why are they part of the family?” You know why? As living stones, we constantly rub against one another, knocking rough edges off one another in the process. You see, God puts us right next to the very people He knows will smooth us down so He can build us up into a temple for His glory.

What then this has done for us is to remind us that God has chosen us as His own possession to proclaim His excellencies for He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. So then we ought to live our lives amongst the unbelievers in an honorable way so that through our good deeds they may have a turn of heart when the Lord visits them and glorify him.

You see, friend, Satan won’t come blasting into your life with a glaring ‘big sin’. No, his strategy is much more subtle. He simply wants you to compromise a little here and a little there, until there is nothing left of your purity. The problem with sin is not that it hurts God or others. The problem with sin is that it wars against us. It tears us down as it wears us down. But our resolve should be to look to Jesus, crave the spiritual milk (the word of God), to continue working in and for us towards our sanctification.

Big Idea: God’s chosen people are called to submission just as Christ did

We all would naturally hate to hear the word submission or even the idea of another person making us or even reminding us of submission, yet this is what our Lord tells us we ought to do. Submission to the state/government, submission at the workplace and submission at home. Peter reminding these elect exiled believers that in as much as they are living in a hostile world and they have considered submission to our Lord Jesus Christ, then their true submission will be revealed or seen in these three areas as they live their lives as sojourners in this world.

Submission to the state would be seen in a life dedicated to civil obedience. Perhaps the thought through our mind is that, surely this means submitting to good Godly authority, but notice what Peter says in v 13, submission is to every human institution. You may ask, does God require me to submit to a corrupt government, YES. Does he require submission of me to a rude police officer, YES, indeed this is required. Do I have an option not to? Absolutely NO, in fact not submitting means you will be punished as recorded on v14. See, God’s people are to submit to governing authorities for the Lord’s sake v13. But there is a caveat to this as recorded in v17, you ought to fear God, allow His word to be the rule even as you submit to governing authorities. So, then submission is only to the extent that it does not allow you to sin. By doing what is right, submitting to the authorities, God’s people are commending the Lord Jesus to the world; this is the will of God.

Be subject to your masters vs 18-20. The principle here is that these elect exiles ought to willingly obey their bosses with respect. Did you notice its bosses without exception? Those you like or dislike, be subject to them, and why is this important; this is a gracious thing v 19.

V 21-25: Follow the example of Christ. God is not calling us to do something he has not done; whether submitting to authorities nor masters, Christ did these. We are only fully surrender to the Lord, when our lives are a mirror of how Christ submitted.

Submission at home 3:1-7: A husband is to be the leader in the home. A wife is to be subject to and follow her husband’s leadership. If a wife has an unbelieving husband who is disobedient to the gospel, she should not try to pressure him to converting. Instead, her godly conduct will demonstrate the truth of the gospel without a word.  Submission and obedience is not a women’s issue, it’s a Christian duty. Submission is Christlike. It has to be done willingly v1. The husbands work is not to make the wife submit, in fact Peter says, the husband should be loving to his wife v7.

Peter is telling wives to submit to their wives as long as their submission does not lead them to sin. See v 1 and 2. You are to win your husbands simply by submitting to them.”

Husbands are advised in v7 to live with their wives in an understanding way showing honor as equal heirs of the grace of life. Male leadership is not about the right to dominate but about taking the responsibility to serve our wives.   Did you notice that Peter uses the word honor for the wife? Is this not the same thing we do for our rulers? How about that for your wife? It will be nice for your wife to know that you put her first. Husband, more than success in ministry, more than professional accolades, more than material wealth, God wants you to experience the joy of seeing your wife as a joint heir with Christ. He wants you to see your kids grow up serving Him wholeheartedly. To that end, as He did with Moses, He’ll stop you if your priorities are amiss. If you notice a dryness in your walk or a brass ceiling that causes your prayers to bounce back to you, could it be that something is wrong at home? The Father loves us too much to let us go about our business for Him if things aren’t right with our families. If our faith doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work anywhere.

Indeed, God’s chosen people are called to submit just as Christ deed, modeling a real and good example of submission.

Big Idea: How God’s chosen people should respond to suffering and entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good

I wonder what this section of scripture does for you. For me, I reckon that this is one of the hardest bits of practical Christian living. In a world where pragmatism is the thing that stands out, this section of 1 Peter really sounds more counter-cultural and anti-grain. In fact, Peter reminds these Christians that suffering is what they will face in this exiled land, it’s a question for When for them and not if they suffer (4:1)

You see friends, Peter is reminding us of the big lesson in this section of his epistle, that Christ’s suffering is an example for us to follow/emulate 4:2. So then, what are some of these things that we need to emulate from Christ? Brotherly love, unity of mind, sympathy, a tender heart, and humility of mind. Never retaliate v 3:9: do not repay evil for evil but rather bless for to this you were called. Isn’t this what Christ did hanging on the cross for our sins when he said, Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing? 

Did you notice what Peter instructs these elect exiled Christians to do? Vs 3:15 in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy and be prepared to defend your faith even amid your suffering. Yes, friends you do not need to be pragmatic about your suffering, but rather think about this, what is the reason for my hope in the Lord Jesus Christ? How might my faith in Christ even in suffering be a means for me to show love to my oppressors/enemies/etc. and win them over to Christ?

When you go through tough times, realize, first, that suffering loosens sin’s grip on us. That is, when you go through suffering, you no longer give in to the lusts of the flesh; you no longer succumb to sin with the same ease, the same vulnerability you experienced previously. You come out better and refined; remember that analogy that Peter gave us in 1 Peter 1:7? The process of refining gold? Yes, the result of our suffering should be such that we are changed and not slip back or remain the same. Simply put, bringing a newness and change in our way of life and conduct.

Do you realize that there are those who respond to suffering negatively? Read 4:5. Those who choose to continue in sin will one day stand before the Lord. Peter is not saying this out of condemnation, but rather out of compassion, for he realizes they’re in grave danger. The moment you and I choose the path of keeping in sin and not looking to this good and gracious savior who suffered well for us, we stand judged on that day when Christ will tell those who were not His,  ..I do not know you.

Our response to suffering: beloved when you suffer for doing good for Christ’s sake, rejoice!!! Because you are sharing in Christ’s suffering that you may rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed 4:13. For those who suffer according to God’s will, should entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. In other words when suffering, our attitude should be “Thank You, Lord, that I’m found worthy to suffer. I’m in good company; you suffered well for me, so I am confident I will come out of this better than refined gold. You’re freeing me from the sins that used to enslave me. My vision is refocused on and for eternity.”

Dear, friends, may we be those who slowly but surely learn to embrace suffering. May we begin to understand that suffering truly loosens sin’s grip on us personally, causes others to see us differently, places us in good company – that of our Lord Jesus Christ, keeps us focused on eternity, frees us to participate in ministry, allows us to experience glory, and reminds us to commit our souls unto our Creator faithfully and fully.

Big Idea: God’s chosen people living, loving, and serving one another as they await God’s restoration

Peter understood that fiery trials would begin at the house of God (4:17). He also knew that the house of God had better be in order. That is why here in chapter 5, he ends his letter talking about the leaders and structure of the church much more looking like how we need to relate with one another in a church setting.

Although he knew tough times were coming, Peter says, “elders, do not neglect your main responsibility to feed the flock of God.” Making an address to the elders or if you like those who oversaw church leadership. Yes, suffering is there, in fact it might be Mega for you the elders but shepherd the flock of Jesus Christ. As you shepherd the flock of Christ, please do this willingly as God would have you and not under compulsion, not for shameful gain(money) but doing it eagerly, not domineering but be good examples to the flock of Christ. You know what, there is a promise to this, elders please remember you are also under another shepherd who when he appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory for faithfully serving the people of God.

I like how Jon Courson describes pastors/elders/church leaders: he says “As pastor, I’m not the Reverend Right Most Holy Bishop. Rather, I’m just one of the sheep. Why am I up front? If the church were likened to a hospital, I am up front simply because I’ve been a patient a little longer than most of you in the Hospital of God’s Grace and Goodness. Thus, I know where the cafeteria is and where the restrooms are. I know which orderlies to watch out for, and which doctors have big needles. We’re all in this thing together. We’re all sheep. Therefore, no one in the body of Christ can lord it over anyone else.”

Now, to the younger, perhaps referring to those younger members of the congregation, Peter writes: v5”…be subject to the elders.” Why is Peter particular in addressing the young and admonishing them to be subject to the elders? There is a high chance that this group of people is more likely to resist leadership hence the reminder for them. See, this is a call to humility, it is not about tearing down those who are in leadership because we think they are not doing it right, Peter is simply reminding them that, hey become the right person regardless of what the leader does, you are called to be right and remain humble. Would this resonate closer with us when we have torn down our church leaders? How often have we maligned them instead of praying for and with them? The Lord help us.

More than just feeling the weight of our burdens and suffering and the need to be relieved, the Lord reminds us that we need to cast our anxieties to him because he cares for us. But please bear in mind that the devil is all ready and waiting out here eager to destroy, keep your focus on Jesus because he says he cares for you, he will not let you to be destroyed by the enemy. Believers need to fear the devil for the Lord has given them power to stand against him by being firm in their faith. You and I are equipped to face suffering because the Lord really cares for us to let us be destroyed by the enemy that is sin.

Remember friends, it’s God’s grace that will establish, settle, and strengthen you if you learn the lessons God has for you even amidst suffering for after you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Amen