"He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." (From 1 Peter 1: 3, 4--NIV)
Here I am today in the first chapter of 1 Peter. I remember preaching from 1 Peter for the first time 50 years ago. It still brings the, what can one say, blessing? it did 50 years ago. I just cannot understand why people do not read the entire Bible over and over and over (well, maybe I can).
Such richness from the old fisherman. Oh, yes, he was Peter, the Apostle and, "a fellow elder." But he started out as a fisherman who met Jesus. The first meeting was by a lake while Peter was washing some nets. Maybe it was a Monday or Thursday, people coming and going, other fishermen going about their daily tasks. As the song says, "Then Jesus Came." Yes, the Catholic Church calls him "the first bishop of Rome," and "Saint Peter," but aren't all of us in whom Jesus lives saints? I'm sure Peter would like us to call him "a fellow saint."
At any rate, now we read Peter's testimony to Jesus and his "revelation" of the Gospel Message. Consider some of the phrasings here: "....chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood....Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
Do we really need someone to "explain" such words to us, "dig deep," etc.? Just reading these "God-Breathed" Words bless, strengthen and uphold me. Yes, "God-Breathed," Holy Spirit inspired, and also rich testimony from a man who was just like most people, a working person with a family, going about daily tasks. "Then Jesus Came," and Peter was, "sprinkled with His blood." What was Peter's response? "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Amen.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I just find such refreshment in You and Your Words. Thank you. Amen.
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* I sent a recording of "Then Jesus Came" to: jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please pray for us and the Berlin/Bosnia Mission, May 1-20
Such richness from the old fisherman. Oh, yes, he was Peter, the Apostle and, "a fellow elder." But he started out as a fisherman who met Jesus. The first meeting was by a lake while Peter was washing some nets. Maybe it was a Monday or Thursday, people coming and going, other fishermen going about their daily tasks. As the song says, "Then Jesus Came." Yes, the Catholic Church calls him "the first bishop of Rome," and "Saint Peter," but aren't all of us in whom Jesus lives saints? I'm sure Peter would like us to call him "a fellow saint."
At any rate, now we read Peter's testimony to Jesus and his "revelation" of the Gospel Message. Consider some of the phrasings here: "....chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood....Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
Do we really need someone to "explain" such words to us, "dig deep," etc.? Just reading these "God-Breathed" Words bless, strengthen and uphold me. Yes, "God-Breathed," Holy Spirit inspired, and also rich testimony from a man who was just like most people, a working person with a family, going about daily tasks. "Then Jesus Came," and Peter was, "sprinkled with His blood." What was Peter's response? "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Amen.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I just find such refreshment in You and Your Words. Thank you. Amen.
**********************
* I sent a recording of "Then Jesus Came" to: jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please pray for us and the Berlin/Bosnia Mission, May 1-20
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
