Category: Daily Devotionals

1 Peter 3.8-17

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. ^{v 3.8}

How real is suffering for the sake of the gospel in the modern world? Wasn’t suffering simply because one was a Christian restricted to the early church and the Roman Arena? Even if there are some examples of Christians suffering why should that significantly affect me? 1 Peter 3, shows how a unified, loving, humble church in its response to suffering for righteousness declares Christ to the world. Here are two up to date examples of contemporary Christian suffering and loving responses by the global church taken from, Barnabas Aid, July/August 2020 edition.

The first new church in Uzbekistan for twenty years has just been built and registered with financial support from the global church. Hundreds of Christians will now be able to worship without breaking the law. Churches can only register in the Muslim-majority country if they have at least 100 members. Therefore, many small congregations have to meet in private homes, making them vulnerable to police raids and heavy fines. This new church’s congregation is made up entirely of converts to Christianity making it similar to the churches addressed by Peter in that they were first generation Christians in a hostile religious environment. The blessing spreads well beyond one congregation, now six other congregations also use the building, whilst the smaller old building is used by a further six congregations.

In India the Coronavirus lock down has caused starvation level hunger in some poorer areas particularly for families reliant on daily-wage workers as there is no work and many have migrated back to their villages from the cities. Where food relief distribution is controlled by local Hindu extremist groups Christians are being denied food unless they deny faith in Jesus. In unity, sympathy and brotherly love, the global church in partnership with local Christians has been providing staple food, face masks and soap.

Suffering for righteousness sake is not exclusively something that occurs in distant places. It happens in a multitude of ways and settings including in families, work places and social settings. It takes the form of institutional prejudice and personal hostility. Sadly, it can also happen within the church. Peter expands on what a unified, loving Christian response is when suffering takes place. He draws again on previous themes of the example of Christ in the face of suffering, brotherly love and righteous living set apart for Christ.

We see conflict all around as people trade evil for evil and insult for insult, Peter here sets the opposite standard. ‘Do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.’ ^{v 3.9} Here Peter is confirming Paul’s teaching in Romans 12.17-21. In particular Peter is instructing us to be careful in our speech. Self control, Paul informs us is a fruit of the Spirit and an outcome of living and walking by the Spirit. ^{Galatians 5.22,25} James compares self control of speech to the bit in the mouth of a horse or to the rudder of a ship. ^{James 3.3-5} When we are under stress we are more liable to respond rashly and unwisely and therefore need to prayerfully prepare our minds. As Peter says earlier, ‘Prepare your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ ^{v 1.13}

The Christian should be a peace maker and a peace seeker. Peter connects such righteous living to the effectiveness of prayer as our actions and prayers align with the will of God. ‘Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. ^{vv 3.11b,12} Reading accounts of the suffering church it strikes one again and again how much their suffering has caused them to pray.

Peter says that under normal circumstances righteous life would not attract suffering. However where it does God will reward. He urges the church to have no fear and honour Christ as Lord. He returns to this theme in 5.7 and in doing so is confirming Jesus’ own teaching in Mathew 6.34, ‘Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.’ I have been repeatedly humbled alongside asylum seeking Christians, who have fled extreme persecution, as to their capacity to live trusting in Jesus during times of prolonged uncertainty.

In all circumstances the Christian’s confidence in Christ as Lord should be expressed in their preparedness to explain the reason for their faith. ^{v 3.15} However this as well should be done with self control and reflecting the character of Christ himself. ‘Do it with gentleness and respect.’ ^{v 3.16}

For the Christian the bottom line is, ‘It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than for doing evil.’ ^{v 3.17}

Refiner’s fire

^{1 Peter 3.1-7}

Eileen was brought up in a church attending family and continued with her faith into adulthood. She has good friends at church and loves going. When she met Bob he was happy about her going to church but wanted to do other things on a Sunday morning. Eileen hoped and prayed that Bob would change his mind after they married and want to come with her but it hasn’t happened.

Jane also grew up in a very active Christian family. It meant a lot to her as a child but while she was at university she stopped going to church and mixed with a different group of people. Jane never actually lost her faith but she had lots of questions. After she met and fell in love with Harry her life was filled with all sorts of other things. It was only after they had married and started a family that the feelings of wanting to revive her faith and teach the children came back to her. Harry was a bit grumpy about her going to church with the children every Sunday so that was hard.

Nieve had never been to church, she didn’t know much about Christianity and was happily married. Then a good friend told her that she had attended an Alpha course and it was great. Nieve was amazed that her friend should do that but could see she was really excited and very happy. So, when her friend asked Nieve if she would go to Alpha with her she rather nervously said yes. To her surprise Nieve herself found that she wanted to become a Christian but she was worried about how this would change her relationship with Kieran her husband.

All these examples are fictional but they represent common situations in many churches in Britain. Whilst biblical teaching is that as a Christian one should marry a Christian if you want to marry (2 Corinthians 6.14, 1 Corinthians 7.39) that doesn’t address the actual situation that exists for many. Peter when writing this letter recognized that this was the case in the churches in Asia Minor. Across the world cultural attitudes to marriage vary considerably as they have done throughout history. The reasons for marriage are also varied and the control over whom one marries, especially for women, has not always reflected equal rights and standing. This was clearly the case in the culture of the time.

Peter in this passage has not changed his underlying themes of living for the sake of the gospel and humble obedience to Christ through following his example for his glory. In whatever situation we find ourselves we are to be distinctively his people and that includes within marriage. Marriage itself is a reflection of Christ’s own relationship with the church. Authority and submission are seen in the relationships within the Trinity of God. ‘There is only one God, and he exists in three Persons. Each Person is equally God, yet the Son submits to the Father (1 Corinthians 11.3), and the Spirit submits to the Father and the Son (John 15.26).’ (1 Peter for you. Juan R. Sanchez) We can see then that in Christ, honour, equality and submission are not in conflict. The man is equally required to, ‘live in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman’ ^v7 and as Paul instructs the Ephesian church, ‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. ^{v Eph 5.25}

Peter is making clear to Christians that it is the quality of their relationships and love that is the most important thing. External beauty changes over time but God is causing an internal beauty that is even more attractive to grow in the Christian. ‘Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. ^v4 It is in the quality of love and Christ like character that we seek to win our spouse for Christ or grow together in the Lord.  At the same time the church should not simply leave someone alone within a marriage but create a supportive, loving prayerful culture that understands the complexity of marriage.

Is there a married person in your church who you can be a listening friend to and pray for?

How is the church supporting married couples especially during this intensive period of lock down?

When God made you

1 Peter 2.13-24

No it doesn’t but it does say stuff about the principles of obeying governments.  There are times when people are tempted to look for specific guidance when it is not there. At these times there is a temptation to cast around for additional specific guidance perhaps through a prophecy or dream and there is a risk that these can take precedence over existing biblical guidance. 1 Peter 2.11 begins a section that sets out guiding principles for much of our everyday life. It is then our responsibility to consider how they apply to our circumstances and how they fit within the wider teaching of scripture. On the day of writing significant Conservative Party advocates and donors have resigned their party membership in the belief that the government has breached their individual freedom to choose where they refuse to wear a face mask.

Today’s passage addresses submission to Authority and individual freedom, whether it is in the context of obedience to governments or employment even in unfair circumstances. The starting point for Peter is acting for the Lord’s sake ^{vv 2.13,25} following the example of Christ. ^{v 2.21} Peter is building on his teaching that we are not our own but have been ‘ransomed’ ^{v 1.18} from our former life and are now a, ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession’. ^{v 1.9} The freedom we have now received is to, ‘live as servants of God’. ^{v 2.16} In doing so we are to, ‘honour everyone’ ^{v 2.17} whether we like them or agree with them. The notion of universal human rights is for most of history an unknown concept, outside of the gospel. Even today although affirmed by most nation states it is very widely ignored by many of the same states. But the Christian is called to see people as Christ sees them and in every individual there is a likeness of God, ^{1 Corinthians 15.49} however deformed it may have become. The Christian is to love the brotherhood, fear God and honour the Emperor. ^v2.17

The purpose of respecting civil authorities is to promote law and order and to assist society to prosper. There are also gospel reasons and that is to silence those who would point to Christians as rebels or insurgents in society. Such allegations later became common currency in Roman society. Christians are called to emulate Jesus’ own character of one who does good even when treated badly, who speaks honestly, behaves humbly and does not retaliate with the same attitudes and behaviour that he has been subject to. ^{vv 2.21-13} Judgement and justice is ultimately to be trusted to the hands of God as Jesus himself did.

Does this mean that Christians should always be passive recipients of injustice on behalf of themselves or others? This is clearly not the case as we take into account the wider teaching of scripture. Peter himself draws a line when the will of God diverges from the will of a governing authority. Standing before the highest court in Israel he said, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard … We must obey God rather than men’. ^{vv Acts 4.19-20,5.29} This same challenge faces many modern Christians. During the reign of the Nazi Party in Germany they rewrote the statement of faith of the Lutheran Church to conform with racist ‘Arian’ ideals. Sadly, much of the church leadership agreed to it because they thought they were obeying the principles Peter wrote in verses 2.3-15. Others such as Bonhoeffer opposed the Church leadership and Nazi Party in that and other ways. Bonhoeffer lost his life for participating in the plan to kill Hitler. A similar situation is now being faced by the Christian church in China as the government is authorizing a ‘new translation’ of the bible to conform to the Chinese State communist ideology. (The same action is being taken over the Koran.)

Similarly, Peter and other apostles repeatedly instruct Christians to do good. This includes advocating for justice, fairness and the good of society especially the most vulnerable. In this way Christians have been and continue to be at the forefront of campaigns for racial justice, improved prison systems, provision for the poor, the care of refugees fleeing persecution and care for the elderly, along with many other good causes.

To revert to the first question, does the bible say we should wear face masks? Not specifically but where the Authority has brought in a regulation for the good of society, even if we are annoyed that it infringes our personal liberty, the biblical principle is to obey.

In what ways are we challenged to follow the example of Christ to do good even if we suffer for it?

Do we uphold in prayer and in other ways Christians who face the challenge of obeying God by disobeying their government?

Trust and obey

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