A Devotional Essay

"For you have been born again not of seed which is corruptible/perishable but incorruptible/imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.  For, 'All flesh is grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.'  And this is the Word which was preached as good news to you."  (1 Peter 1:23-25, NASB)

There is a very real sense in which our text is foundational to, "the Faith of Jesus," or as some call it, Christianity.  These Words reveal the contrast between the, "....perishable... grass,.." and, "The Enduring Word of God...."  The reality of These Words has affected and determined the history of the human race.

I was looking at my Kindle list today, and some might find it a sort of personality insight.  There are quite a few books on Germany of the early Twentieth Century.  Now some would attribute this to just some old guy interested in war movies, or a morbid curiosity of totalitarians who had brief moments of military glory, or whatever one's psychological "prowess" might be.  Whatever, the Germany which arguably manifested the worst evil the world has ever seen is a fascination to me, perhaps for one reason at least, it was/is a Western Culture, one of which I am a product as well as much of the United States of America.

I come back to the question which William Shirer asked many years ago.  "How did it happen that an ancient and cultured people, steeped in Christianity, cultivating the arts and sciences, preeminent in modern technology, who gave us Luther and Kant, Bach and Beethoven, Goethe and Einstein, collapsed into savage barbarism in the mid Twentieth Century?"  He went on to say that in looking at these questions and studying this period, we not only gain a greater knowledge of the Germans, but also of ourselves."  I can tell you that the more I read of this period of history, its "climate," the atmosphere in Germany of that period, the more I see how what happened in Germany between 1919 and 1945 can happen anywhere to any people.  At the risk of sounding presumptuous, the answer to Shirer's question is that most of the "christianity" of Germany, as has been true of most nations throughout history, was/is of, "the seed...corruptible/perishable."

Peter, tells us that we are, "born again...through the Living and Enduring Word of God."  There is just no other "answer" for humanity, no religion, no philosophy, politics, nothing can bring us into, "fellowship/partnership," in the Godhead, impart the peace and fulfillment which all crave other than, "....born again...through the Living and Enduring Word of God."  All who surrender their lives to Jesus Christ are born out of sin, darkness, decay and the evil which affects all humanity, "into the glorious liberty of the Children of God."  Only the New Birth, which from beginning to end is surrender to Jesus Christ, can, "deliver us from the Evil One."  Everything anyone does apart from Jesus Christ is simply, "....like the flower of the grass...."  Everything done in Jesus Christ, "....endures forever." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I freely confess that I am, "....grass, and...like the flower of grass."  Thank You for taking this withering grass and imparting You, "the Living and Enduring Word of God," into my very being.  Amen.

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

Oh, No, Don't Write About That!

"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"  (1 Peter 15, 16)

Notice that it is, "in all conduct," not "in all talk."  I remember saying many decades ago that if you want to know how to conduct yourself in this life, just do the opposite of what the world is doing.

I'm sure you have either read or heard that the Word for, "holy," in the Scriptures means, "set apart."  It means our lifestyle is different, it is, "apart," from this present world system.  Primarily, it means that we follow One others do not.  We are, "set apart," to Jesus. 

Jesus was hated by the religious establishment because He was living and speaking as one person said, "No one every spoke like this Man."  It was more than His Words; it was/is Jesus Himself.  Jesus walked the shores of the Galilee, "set apart."  Others may have said similar words, did similar things, advocated similar principles.  What they never did nor could do is be Jesus. 

Principles, teachings, lifestyle are a part of our walk in, "the faith of Jesus," aka, the Christian Life.  These are integral to, part of what, "be holy," may mean.  The fundamental definition of, "holy," to me, however, is Jesus Himself, and to, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, whatever, "be holy," means, I pray You teach me in all "fullness."  Amen.

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I hope you watch and listen to the brief video of the President's statement on the "impeachment" hearings."

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

"....Chosen...To Be Obedient...."

(I pressed "send," but my computer indicated that it did not go through.  If you receive this twice, apologies)

"....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...."  (1 Peter 1:2, NIV)

This is a novel statement for too many:  We, "have been chosen...to be obedient to Jesus Christ..."  One can only wonder if the charismatic renewal would have plateaued the way it did if this would have been fundamental teaching: "....chosen...to be obedient...." 

Too many have put forth that we have been chosen to "claim the promises," or, "declare/speak" things into existence.  There may be some merit to this, but as the Bible says, "....the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God," e.g., does not willingly embrace, "chosen...to be obedient."  I have seen in myself over the years that I have had a tendency to obey what I want to obey and not obey what I don't want to obey.  Many of Christendom throughout the centuries have become masters of such.  But away with this!  I have not only been, "....chosen...to be obedient to Jesus Christ..," I make a "declaration" today that as I have been, "chosen...to be obedient to Jesus Christ..," I choose to obey Jesus Christ. 

And there is more.  Not only have the Followers of Jesus, "....been chosen...to be obedient to Jesus..," we, "....have been chosen...to be...sprinkled with His Blood," yes, "chosen," to be forgiven, bathed, cleansed, purged, and as Peter later declares in the chapter, "....redeemed...with the precious Blood of Christ."  Father sought out you and me and chose us to be, "....obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His Blood."  If Jesus is to you and me what we so often claim in testimony, worship, prayers, if Jesus is, "....to you who believe precious," then the "obedience factor" will not be objectionable.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess today, I choose obedience to You.  Amen.

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

"Stones" of THE "STONE"

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house...." (1 Peter 2:4-5a)

So here we have the Ever-,"Living Stone," producing, "living stones."

Both Words for, "stone," are the exact same Greek Word, which means, my friend, that you and I are of the very, "Stone," Himself.  This is no "knock off model."  We are the "real deal."  Jesus Who Is, "the Chief Cornerstone," dwells in us.  Indeed, the next verse tells us, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame," or, "disgrace, confusion."  Because the Enemy could not bring to, "shame, disgrace, confusion," our Lord Jesus Christ, so too he/they cannot bring to us to that.  Never mind what the world says about us and attempts to do to us; these are Father's Words.

To say that our Lord Jesus Christ is, "precious," is a great understatement.  The Word is another attempt to "describe" our Glorious Lord, but our words can never do this.  Maybe if you and I live, believing that we are the, "living stones," of the, "Living Stone," Jesus, we at least will be a "living" picture of Him; then others will see His Preciousness.

Father, in Jesus Name, You are Precious to me, just how Precious I don't fully comprehend.  Amen.

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

"Pilgrims, Sojourners, Temporary Residents"Re

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims ('sojourners, temporary residents') of the Dispersion...." (1 Peter 1:1a)

Why do we attempt to make this present age "home," when it's not?  All throughout Scripture we are referred to as, in one way or another, "the pilgrims of the Dispersion...."  Look around you right now.  We are, "temporary residents," of what you see. 

I have used the term, "sojourners," many times in my writings.  And, we are indeed, "temporary residents," in this life, and not just the Followers of Jesus; those who reject Jesus are also on temporary ground.  The sad reality of life, however, is that so many live as though Peggy Lee's inference was right, "Is That All There Is?"  The vast majority of humanity, which includes way too many church-goers, is living life as though this is "all there is." 

When a person realizes that he/she is a, "temporary resident[] of the Dispersion," it affects their goals, plans, agenda.  It does not mean that we should not plan or have goals.  It just means that whatever plans and goals we may have should always be governed by what the Bible teaches us, "You do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"

Now some may find this depressing.  If it does, the reason is that they have listened too much to, and embraced the "you-can-have-it-all-now" teaching.  Now, now, now, is all they are concerned about.  Try this instead:  Jesus said, "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom."  The Book of Revelation tells us, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away....Then I...saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband....There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying...He Who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'  And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'"  I want to "work on" embracing this more.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I accept and want to live by my title as one of the, "Pilgrims

('Sojourners, Temporary Residents') of the Dispersion."  Amen.

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