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!