1 Peter 1:3-12
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - (3-5)
I fail in different ways to live out the full implications of the second half of verse 3. Sometimes I try to be born anew by my own efforts, which invariably fall short. Then and at other times, I fail to let God make me anew by forsaking my former ways of being which Jesus has nailed to death on his cross, choosing to remain my old self rather than letting God keep making me into my new self. Since my relationship with my bride is so rooted in my brokenness, this includes various aspects of being in relationship with her, but in fairness to both of us, we are both a part of that problem. I think she would admit as much, even as we both continue to seek to grow together in new ways.
Well, I could take off on that tangent and fail to return to the good news here, so . . .
And that good news is found in verse 5: it isn't in my own power that I am guarded for my final and total salvation and sanctification, but by God's power. It is because of God's grace and mercy that the imperishable, undefiled, unfading inheritance awaits this mortal, sinful man, not because I deserve it but because Jesus has purchased it by his death and brought it to fruition by his resurrection and by his Spirit. Perhaps he keeps it in heaven for us because only then shall we be fully able to walk in it in eternal purity.
In this you rejoice - (6a) though surely not as consistently as I ought!
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. - (6-9)
Many times when I pray with others, it so often starts with a reminder of verses 3-7, though I haven't realized this. But God's mercy, grace and love far overcome the trials we may have to suffer, having our dross burned off so that God may be glorified by his work in and through our lives. As our attention is increasingly consumed by our circumstances, we lose sight of the greater victory that has already been secured for us. After allowing the Spirit to remind us of this, we then have the right perspective to ask God for the blessing we think we need in this specific situation and the humility to ask him to provide for what we really need - and help us accept it - if it's different from what we think. I think it's the latter part that brings us peace, when we know that we can trust God to do what is best for us.
The truth is, the trials we now suffer are as nothing compared to the eternal celebration that is ours.
The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. - (10-12)
Likewise, as recipients of this grace and glory, we are likewise called to serve others as we walk together through our various trials, that we may all receive this inheritance, with both its eternal rejoicing and its present comfort.
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