Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
that is, into an reserved in heaven for you, undefiled, and unfading.
It is reserved in heaven for you,
who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.
Such trials show the proven character of your faith,
which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire,
even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
You have not seen him, but you love him.
You do not see him now but you believe in him,
and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (1 Pe 1:3-9). Biblical Studies Press.
Our text for today just leaped out at me when I opened the word today. I have been struggling over the past little while with the resistance to the things that I have been trying to do, with the hope of bringing glory to God.
I just want to say that this "encourager" has been encouraged by several readers over the past couple of weeks each one lifting my arms when they seemed just too heavy to lift high. These words were greatly appreciated.
I have struggled wondering if this blog project even makes sense. With so much resistance, and the feeling that perhaps I am not worthy to be proclaiming anything of God's Word, this text snapped me right out of my wallowing and just made all this turmoil make sense.
So lets forget me and dig into this word.
We got to start out putting God first, not ourselves or our weakness or sin or guilt. It has to be God first.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! "
What did He do for us?
"By His great mercy He gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading."
"It is reserved in heaven for you" and it "brings you great joy". Yes the things of God do bring you great joy when you find them.
The next line brought me to my knees. It brought a completely consuming lump to my throat.
"although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.
Such trials show the proven character of your faith,
which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire,
even though it is passing away – and will bring praise
and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
How could Peter have known that we would need to hear these words almost 2000 years after he penned them. Can you imagine the joy Peter would have felt to know his words are of value so far off in the future. But again these are the words of God only penned by Peter.
Wow, everything does not have to go perfect. We can walk in the light and while walking in the light we may have to suffer short times of trials. But the word tells us that these trials are more valuable than gold.
We do not look for these trials they find us. Such trials show the proven character of our faith.
That "You have not seen him, but you love him. "
"You do not see him now but you believe in him,"
"and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy"
"because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls. "
It is really hard not to doubt in this crazy world, but we have been provided with much guidance through His word. Words recorded by men who walked and struggled and faced trials and were inspired to share and carry on the calling put in their hearts by a loving God who gave them and us an imperishable inheritance reserved in heaven.
May the grace of God fill all our hearts with a touch of joy that can bring us through our times of suffering and trials and help us see it is all about Him, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen
Music Encouragement Bebo Norman - Borrow Mine
3 comments:
Wow! I really admire you for letting God speak through you. Especially to me, lol. The last few years have been a trial for me, but I know that Paul said to be happy in whatever circumstance we are in and that is what I try to do. I find myself counting my blessings instead of focusing on what I don't have and asking God, Why can't I have that?
This last year has brought many of us trials and hurts. We just have to trust in God that He is who He says He is and He has it ALL under control. My favorite saying is, "Worry is a wasted emotion." How true is that? I love you my precious brother in Christ. Keep on keeping on and God has and continues to bless you. Thank you.
Helena
I am particularly moved by the verse "You have not seen him, but you love him. "
"You do not see him now but you believe in him,"
"and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy"
"because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls."
In times of difficulties and trials, it's so easy to fall into the trap of looking at our circumstances rather than God. Circumstances make us blind to what God can do to them because they're what seem real to us at that moment- tangible things, experiencing consequences or situations, feeling the pain, etc.
But God's words remind us to look up to Him and see His greatness. His grace enables us to see beyond what we can see, soar above the gamut of feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. We have a God that created all and has the might to destroy all but chooses not to. Same God who allows us to face these trials but does so out of love and compassion, for us to grow in faith and give him glory by overcoming.
Isaiah 40:28-31
"Do you not know?
Have you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary and
His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint."
And most of all, He is the God who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Faced with these truths, all we can really do is bow down before God and praise and worship Him for the things He has done and for all that He's about to do---come what may.
God bless you, JG. Encouraging you to write more.
-mystique- (red_butterfly)
Hi jgud,
Thought to look through archives and this note on 1 Peter 1.3-9 reminded me of the Lara Martin tune from your 6 June 2011 post. Hope the weather is treating your work well.
Lon W. (glor)
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