God’s Word Daily

Like a cookie in the mouth of the devil.

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:8-11

8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Observations:

Because the devil is on the prowl seeking to devour someone… be clear-headed and watchful.  The devil is our adversary.

Resist the devil, remaining firm in our faith; others throughout the world in the family of Jesus are suffering too.

After our suffering, the God of all grace, who has called us to share in the same glory as the crucified and resurrected Jesus will “restore, confirm, strengthen and establish” us.

Application:

Peter continues in his theme of faithful perseverance in the Gospel faith even in the face of difficult, trials, and suffering.  This time he recognizes that the devil, our adversary, seeks to make the most of these troubles.  The devil sneaks around like a lion in order to devour his prey.  There’s nothing like trouble, suffering and darkness, to kick up the temptation to quit believing God… and the devil seeks to make the most of the opportunity.

Peter gives a command and a commendation:

  1. The Word of God calls us to resist by remaining firm in our faith.  Faith here is the revelation of the Gospel and God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.  Faith here is also the active choice to continue believing and trusting God through our sufferings.
  2. Remember that we are not alone in our sufferings.  Together with all those who suffer for their faithful obedience to Jesus we will experience God’s salvation.  He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us.

So here’s the thing, when the pressure comes, when I’m worried about what others think of Jesus and His people and His ways (and of me), then I should be wise to the temptations that come to challenge my faith so it crumbles like a cookie in the mouth of the devil.  No.  Stand firm.  Your resistance to the devil by exercising faith in Jesus taps into Jesus’ victory and glory.

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, may you have dominion always.  You know how weak I am.  Yet, I am asking for grace to boldly persist in trusting Jesus today.  Protect us from the evil one and strengthen your church today by your Spirit that we might persist in faith, love and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

I’m so humble…

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:6-7

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Observations:

“Humble yourselves” is a choice.

As a follower of Jesus humility is a choice made with a prevailing view of life and all the pressures we face that says God is above all and that His timing is right.  See vs. 6

Choosing humility doesn’t mean we ignore reality, rather the cues that create anxiety become cues for faith — for us to trust Him, “To cast our anxieties on him” because He cares for us!

Application:

I’m so humble, except when I’m not getting my way.  Ha!  Peter’s audience was a group under increasing pressure because of their faith in God and identification with Jesus.  They were having to wait for relief.  When I am under pressure does it cue up faith? Do I somehow believe God has forgotten me?  or Do I revert to a twisted view of God that is not consistent with the Gospel?   Anxiety can paralyze us from doing what we must do.  And anxiety can create compulsive and frantic behaviours.  Being busy or going into hiding may not be actions of faith.  But they could be.

The first action of Gospel inspired faith in Jesus when the pressures of life come screaming at us is to pray: to audibly cast our anxieties on Him, in a declaration of His faithful care.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the grace to trust that you care for me.  When the pressures of life scream at me, let me learn the new habit of humility: to prayerfully trust you with my issues and to declare your care for me.  I trust that you will direct me and those with me to keep in step with what your Spirit is doing here and now for the glory of your Son and His Kingdom.  AMEN.

Beyond Dress Up

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:5

5Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Observations:

To those who are not old– be subject to the elders.  All of you: the elders and the younger:  Put on humility.  “clothe yourselves”.  toward one another.  God is against the proud.  God gives grace to the humble.

Application:

The ancient world did not value humility on a broad scale. Even today there are cultures  and people that do not value humility.  John Dickson argues in Humilitas that valuing humility broadly in our culture is a Christian development.

Hubris or pride is antithetical to the life God wants for us.  Humility opens the door to God’s grace and actually enlarges a person in their influence and their capacity to love well.

The problem with pride is that we are usually not conscious of it.  I reek of it and don’t know it, because its the “odor” I’ve gotten used to.  So the Word of God asks us to develop a new habit in response to the Gospel.  In our relationships with those who are older and with those who are younger we must make a decision to “put on humility” toward each other.

The younger person thinks the older people don’t know anything.

The older person thinks the younger people don’t know anything.

Ah, humility.  Humility says I can learn from you, younger and older.  Humility says, I can let you know the truth about me, younger and older.  Humility says, I am looking for God’s grace in my relationships with you because of the incredible hope and potential of the power of Jesus Christ unleashed in your life through the Gospel.

Listen to John talk about humility and his book.

Prayer:  

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to just play dress up when it comes to humility.  Grant me the wisdom to appreciate your mercy and grace shown me in the Gospel of Jesus.  Fill me with your Spirit.  I need you to change me from the inside out.  Help me learn from others, both younger and older today.  AMEN.

Leading in His Church

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:1-4

1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Observations:

Peter speaks to the “elders” as an elder, as a witness to the sufferings of Jesus Christ, and as a participant in the glory that is going to be revealed.

Shepherd the flock of God

exercising oversight willingly;

not under compulsion.

not for shameful gain, but eagerly.

not domineering, but as an example.

When Jesus the chief Shepherd appears, you will be rewarded. 

Application:

I have had the joy of serving in leadership in Jesus’ church for the past 27 years.  As under-shepherds to Jesus, leaders of His church must be able to check their motives.  Leading out of neediness produces toxic leadership.  The church is not meant to bear the weight of my soul.  So I must keep going to Jesus with my heart and life and let him heal me.  His Spirit sources willing labour, circumspect contentment, and humble submission.  Persistent service for the advancement of His people requires the long-view and the willingness to let leading be about Jesus and not about me.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the grace to call Jesus, Lord, and for the grace to serve to your church.  Strengthen the men and women who are serving your church today here in Vancouver.  May your church be shaped by the Gospel of Jesus that they may pour their lives out for His glory.  AMEN.

The fear of offence never wins.

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Scripture:  1 Peter 4:14-19

14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”  19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Observations:

We are blessed when insulted because of Jesus’ name.
Avoid suffering as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or meddler.
Glorify God when you suffer as a Christian.
There is an urgency about life:  God rightfully judges all people.
Keep entrusting your soul to our faithful Creator even while doing good.

Application:

Several times a week here at UBC I am having to evaluate the statement “I don’t want to offend or shame another person.”  I do believe it can be a sincere desire motivated by love.  However, when self-preservation and the fear of people inform our reluctance to move forward in love, service, and witness we are living without the urgency of God’s big-time and righteous view of our lives.

Love is our best motive.  This is how the Spirit of glory and of God works in our lives.  The presence of God is bigger than the face of our neighbour and our fearful imaginations.  The fear of offense creates defensive positions and never wins.

The standup and improv comedian is taught in his or her craft “to move into the fear.”  I wonder if that’s what we must do as well as followers of Jesus when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel and identifying ourselves as His disciples.  We move into the fear; we serve; we speak up of God’s wonderful love in Christ Jesus.

To lean into this fear we must entrust our lives to God:  “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I entrust my soul to you.  Empower me today to do good.  By your Holy Spirit pour your love into my life and give me courage to serve and to speak up in ways that are consistent with your will, your Son, and your Gospel.  AMEN.