"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to God's elect, exiles scattered.., who have been 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." (1 Peter 1, NIV)
You have just read a testimonial message from Peter, the one who said to our Lord Jesus, after first refusing to allow Jesus to wash his feet, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Is it any wonder that the Holy Spirit chose to give us these Words through this "ordinary" man, yet one who loved Jesus so much?
Consider with me for a moment just a few phrases. "exiles scattered,"-- we are, all over the face of the Earth, some in what are called "free societies," others in severe persecution. "Who have been chosen." Never forget this, especially if you encounter a nobody-cares-about-me moment. The "Eternal One," King Jesus, chose you; enough. "To be obedient to Jesus Christ." And here, my friend, it all begins and ends. Govern our lives accordingly, and they will be what the Living Triune God intended for us. Then notice the only reality by which, "men must be saved"?--- "sprinkled with His Blood." The old hymn, speaking of the Cross of Jesus, says, "there to my heart was the Blood applied, Glory to His Name!"
I will conclude with this: "into an inheritance that can never perish, soil or fade." Look around you right now; everything you see will, yet not our relationship in the Godhead, in Jesus Christ. Every promise of The Book is our, "inheritance that can never perish, soil or fade."
Father, in Jesus' Name, what glorious, marvelous, gracious Words are Yours. Amen.
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THREE DAYS IN WASHINGTON, DC: MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 4- EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 6
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
