1 Peter 1:1-2

COMMENTS

I picked up my Bible today, not knowing what I was going to read.  I’ve been studying Acts this year at Community Bible Study—we’re almost finished, about 5 weeks to go.  So, I thought it might be good to start back at the beginning of Acts and refresh my mind about what I have learned.  When I opened my Bible, it fell open to 1 Peter.  I immediately knew that’s where God wants me for now.  I suspect that He’ll have us go through the entire book; but He’s the boss, so we’ll take it a day at a time!  ;-)

NOTES

If I’m totally honest with you, I’ve been struggling a lot lately with obedience.  I’ve been wanting to do what I want to do—and frequently, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.  Not surprisingly, I haven’t been feeling very close to God, not hearing His voice like I used to.  I’m not crazy, so I knew WHY I wasn’t hearing Him; but I still wanted my way.  As they say, I wanted to have my cake and eat it, too!  Reading 1 Peter 1:2 confirmed that I was where God wants me.

I’m taking some “poetic license” and rephrasing verse 1 to make it applicable to me.  I don’t mind doing that because I believe these verses apply to all of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.  I’d encourage you to make substitutions that apply to you.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood:” (I Peter 1:1-2 NIV)

Now, there’s a lot of important stuff in verse 2.  It tells us a lot about God, making reference to each part of the Trinity.  And I’m in no way down-playing that.  However, I find that in order to be able to see the essence of what’s being said, I have to initially leave out some of the phrases and look only at the basics.  After I have grasped that, I can go back and focus on those important details.

That is exactly what happened when I read verse 2.  Even though I read every word, all my mind processed was:

“who have been chosen…for obedience to Jesus Christ…”

God chose me, and I was chosen to obey Jesus.  Not to do my own thing.  Not to spend my time indulging my arrogant self.  I was chosen for obedience to Jesus Christ.

The Father, in His foreknowledge, CHOSE me (amazing!).  The Spirit is working to SANCTIFY me (also amazing!).  Jesus SAVED me by His blood (incredible!). 

There was purpose in all of that.  So, how do I fulfill my purpose? 

OBEY!

Square Peg In A Round Hole

COMMENTS

Most of you have probably heard the saying, “I feel like a square peg in a round hole.”  That, of course, means that you feel out of place or unfit for whatever it is you find yourself doing.  I’ve said it myself.  You probably have, too.  I had lunch today with a friend, and she used the phrase for a situation she’s in right now.  I found myself thinking about it….

NOTES

We don’t like to be put in situations that make us uncomfortable.  We don’t like to feel like a square peg in a round hole.  I want to feel like a square peg in a square hole or a round peg in round hole.  I want to feel like I “fit”.

However, I have found that in my Christian walk, God frequently puts me in situations where I feel uncomfortable.  Those are the circumstances that cause me to rely on Him instead of myself.  When I’m comfortable, I foolishly believe that I can handle things just fine all by myself.  Isn’t there a part of each of us that loves to be self-reliant and independent?  There’s a bit of the rebel in most of us that wants to say, “I don’t need anybody or anything!  I can do it myself!”  Especially when we’ve been hurt.  But that’s the worst place in the world for us to be.  God made us to be social creatures; we need each other.  And more importantly, we need HIM!

So, He puts us where we have to admit that we need help—help from other people and, as was said above, help from HIM.  We don’t just FEEL like square pegs in round holes; we ARE square pegs in round holes.

As I was thinking about all of this, God told me that there is one circumstance when a square peg will fit in a round hole—when the square peg is small enough.

When God puts me in a “round-hole” situation, this “square peg” cannot fit unless I become smaller.  I cannot be prideful; I cannot force myself into the hole.  It is only by humbling myself before my God and yielding to His infinite power that I can become just the right size to fit that hole.  It is in His power that the uncomfortable situation becomes fulfilling, invigorating, and life-changing!