19th October
Read Psalm 131
If you don’t have a bible at home you can find the readings on a website such as www.biblegateway.com or an app such as YouVersion
“I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me”
So says the Psalmist in verse 1. It is a Psalm about humility and trust. He tells us to get rid of the haughtiness of pride. He tells of being content like a baby lying quiet in its mother’s arms after being fed, and picturing himself satisfied in the arms of God. This is what faith is all about. Be still and quiet this morning; He cares for you.
As you read the Bible Stop; Read; Ponder; and Pray.
Monday 1 Peter 4:7- 11
Peter wants tell his hearers, especially in the time of opposition and trial, that things aren’t going to last forever. He speaks of the end of all tings being at hand (the Greek word) which doesn’t imply about to happen – Jesus told the disciples before his ascension not to fixate on the when of the conclusion of things (Acts 1) – but as a pointer on how to prepare for that.
To be alert and to pray is what he says with the addition of love for each other. Love covers sins it doesn’t highlight them. Openess to others and their needs compasses hospitality and that without complaining. I like the Greek word which sounds very onomatopoeic – gongusmos – which sounds like a noisy gong.
The gifts we have received from God we should use not for ourselves but for others because we are to be stewards of those gifts not owners of them. In everything we do God should be praised and not us.
Tuesday 1 Peter 4:12-19
Peter is probably referring to the persecution that Christians experienced which he does not want them to be surprised about. The idea that ‘nice’ Christian people should be happily accepted by everybody is a false belief. In keeping with what Jesus told his disciples about in the Sermon on the Mount in Mathew 5-7, persecution ought to be met with rejoicing because it implies a sharing in the sufferings of Christ. If we wanted an illustration from the physical world, we can imagine feeling coming back in a part of our body which had been injured and felt numb. The returning ‘pins and needles’ ought not to be a cause for fear but happiness that feeling and health was returning. In the spiritual life the Bible speaks of us as being ‘dead in sins’ but then being made ‘alive in Christ’ and when that comes about we feel and share in the sufferings of Christ amidst the trials of a sinful and fallen world.
No suffering should come about through bad behaviour but what impinges on us as followers of Jesus should be a cause for praise and thanks as it testifies where our true life lies.
Wednesday 1 Peter 5:1-6
Peter now has a word to the elders in the Church referring to them as fellow elders with himself. As Jesus gave Peter the task of shepherding his flock so Peter tells his fellow elders to act as shepherds to those under their care. And to do so willingly and not through any advantage gained. When I am in the States I always hate the use of the word ‘hire’ in Churches when speaking about those they ask to be leaders such as youth leaders or assistant pastors. No minister of whatever kind ought to be working for gain though it is right and proper to give them due financial support for what they do. The elders were to be examples to the flock and to those who were younger in the faith, he tells them to submit to those appointed as elders over them.
He gives the general principle of humility before each other, quoting from the book of Proverbs that , “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” (Prov 3:34)
Thursday 1 Peter 5:7-11
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” V7 starts and the word about ‘casting’ is a word that could be used about the saddling of a horse. When a saddle is carried, it is heavy, but when thrown onto the back of a horse it isn’t lost but its weight is carried elsewhere. When troubles come into our lives we can’t always get rid of them but when we can bring them to God such that we aren’t bowed down under them.
Peter knows that there is an enemy who will try to defeat us (v8) but we need to resist him standing firm in faith knowing that others share the same experience in the world. He says that the God of all grace who had called them will restore them and make them strong, firm and steadfast. If there are any troubling weights on you today, you know through this word where to take them and ask for his help.
Friday 1 Peter 5:12-14
In his concluding remarks Peter notes the help of Silas with whom he has written this letter, and perhaps whose Greek eloquence shows through. He wants the recipients to know that what he has written is true and that they should stand fast in it. Read the first chapter again to get a real flavour of what the apostle is teaching.
The reference to Babylon is most probably a reference to the city of Rome which was at the heart of the persecution of the early Church and it came to be a code word referring to the city. He means that the church in Rome sends greetings to the Churches in Asia that he is writing to (1 Pet 1:1.2). Mark who has been a close partner with Peter and the writer of the Gospel of Mark he refers to as his son and closes with an encouragement of mutual love within the Church and a benediction of the Peace of Christ to be with all who are in Christ. It is worth mentioning that peace only comes to those who are ‘in Christ’.
Saturday 2 Peter 1:1-4
In the first letter of Peter, the apostle was writing to encourage his hearers in the midst of persecution, reminding them of who they were, the called of God, and encouraging them to persevers, here in the second letter his purpose is somewhat different in that he is writing to warn them of false teachers coming into the Church.
He begins by telling them once again of who they were, the recipients of a common faith through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. We should note that he refers to Christ as both God and Saviour uniting the two in the plan of salvation and praying their grace and peace upon his listening Christian fellows.
He tells them of what they have, now that they belong to him, divine power to live a godly life. Having received our salvation we are heirs of God’s promises because we participate in his divine nature which enables us to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. When Christian people excuse themselves for behaviour which ought not to be seen in them by using phrases such as “we’re only human”, they need to be stopped by telling them that that is not what they are or how they should behave. Having been united with Christ we are to grow into him in every way. The apostle Paul puts it well in the second Chapter of Philippians, “having the same mind as Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). No more excuses for bad behaviour then.
