The Distinctive Mark of Godly Fear - I Peter 1:17-21 - Part A

Peter reminds the believers that as Christians they are temporary sojourners on this earth and that they ought to live in awe of God.  After all, who are we that we should have an intimate family relationship with the Judge and King of all earth?


Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.   (I Peter 1:17)


It is an awesome privilege to call God, who is the Judge over all, our Father.  It means we cannot ignore God or treat Him casually, or live as spoiled children.  Rather, we are to be grateful and show respect to our heavenly Father.  God does not play favorites and therefore judges impartially according to each one's deeds.  However, His judgement is ultimate, and because of this there should be a holy reverence for God by living in obedience, and shunning evil.


Sojourners, or strangers in a foreign land, do not have the rights of citizenship, but are only temporary residents, such as Israel was in Egypt.  In that same manner, Christians are only temporary residents on this earth, and must live as though they do not belong here...nor do they plan to stay.


to be continued...

Even Angels Stand in Awe - I Peter 1:12

I Peter 1:12 – Even Angels Stand in Awe

They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen . (NLT)

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (NIV)

The one thing the prophets did know is that it would not happen in their life time. They knew it was a future event. Peter says it was an event which happened during the life time of his readers (the Christian communities, mostly Gentiles living in Pontius, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bythinia.) The Good News/Gospel of Jesus Christ was announced and preached to these believers. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets to foretell the events of Christ's life has now prompted Peter and Paul and many others to proclaim that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has made it possible for everyone alike (Jews and Gentiles) to have eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Even the angels stand amazed as they watch these events unfold. Like a heavenly choir watching the drama unfold, and then lifting their voices in praise and adoration to God. (CDC)

In this verse Peter continues to refer to the prophets. They knew that the coming of the Messiah would not happen in their life time, but they were faithful to speak forth the messages that were given to them by God's Holy Spirit. The messages they spoke never became outdated, like our news of today. They foretold of the good news that would make an eternal difference. It was a message for all generations...the salvation of God.

Peter reminds us in this verse that even the heavenly hosts...the angels themselves are not able to experience the results of the messages that the prophets spoke. The angels want to gain insight into salvation, for they stand in awe at the wonder of God's redemptive purpose.

I guess the best way to describe what this verse is saying to us is to listen to the words and music of the song, “A Song Holy Angels Cannot Sing.” I posted it on my blog before I actually began blogging about the individual verses. I was studying these first 12 verses of I Peter, and that song came to mind, but I couldn't recall the exact words, nor the title. Then somehow my husband was able to research it on the web and found it recorded by the North Valley Baptist Church (I don't know where the church is located). So with delight I again post the web site for you to listen to the song. I will write the words below so you can sing along:

“Angels never knew the joy that is mine,
For the blood has never washed their sins away;
Though they sing in heaven, there will come a time
When silently they'll listen to me sing "Amazing Grace".

Chorus:
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
I once was lost, but now I'm found!

Holy is the LORD, the angels sing,
All around the throne of GOD continually;
For me to join their song will be a natural thing,
But they just won't know the words to "Love Lifted Me".

Chorus:
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
I once was lost, but now I'm found!”


There's a button here to listen to it...http://north-valley-baptist-church-a-song-holy--mp3-download.kohit.net/_/417713/mp3player.php?single=1&tellafriend=http://North-Valley-Baptist-Church-A-Song-Holy--mp3-download.kohit.net/_/417713&id=417713.  

Where Our Joy Comes From - I Peter 1:6

I Peter 1:6 – Where Our Joy Comes From

So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (NLT)

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (NIV)

This life will have many obstacles to overcome, but because God has promised to be with us, we can look beyond our current circumstance and keep our focus on the prize before us...the Hope of Heaven. That hope is where our joy comes from. (CDC)

I am sure that believers in Christ realize what a privilege we have, knowing that God is watching over us. Also, we truly believe that we have an eternal home in heaven someday. We experience hope in God's provisions and protection here and now, plus we have the assurance that our future is going to be a blessed event, beyond our comprehension. Still, because we are human, there are times that we get discouraged and feel the burden of our pain and sorrow in the trials we go through. God created our emotions...He totally understands our grief. That's why He wants us to read His word, His love letter to us, on a regular basis. His Holy Spirit inspired the authors of each of the 66 books of the Bible to write so that we might gain insight and encouragement from the Word of God.

Peter is specifically writing to encourage believers. He is telling us to remember our trials are only for a season. Comedian Mark Lowry's favorite verse is “And it came to pass.” No matter what we are going through, it will pass. Life has a rhythm to it, just like a heartbeat. There are ups and downs in the pattern. We are sometimes on mountain tops and sometimes in the valley. That's the way God designed the mountains...to have valleys in between. If life was the same every day, we would become bored and discontent. If we read a book where there is no mystery, no dilemma to catch our attention, would we keep reading? No...we want to see how the problems are resolved and how the story turns out. That's the way life is. Only...if we keep the faith...we already know the ending is nothing but good...full of unbelievable blessings and rewards. Our trials are the means by which our faith is strengthened, and they cause us to look forward to Christ's return and our eternal hope...a time when there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more grief.

Even when we are going through the valleys, the storms of life, we know deep down inside that as a child of God, He is with us. If we are in a right relationship with Him, we have an inner sense of peace and well-being. There is no reason to stay up at night worrying. God wants us to go to sleep and leave the problem with Him. Our joy is not dependent up on our current circumstances, for we know that God will work all things out in His time. When we compare our current circumstances to our new birth, our living hope, and our inheritance in heaven, we find reason to keep our head up, our eyes focused on Jesus, and moving forward, even if only one baby step at a time.

The pain of failure is one reason we grieve. Peter very well remembers the time when he failed Jesus, and the pain it caused him. On the night Jesus was betrayed in the garden by the kiss of Judas, Peter denied even knowing Him three times. Then the rooster crowed and his eyes met the eyes of Jesus. He knew he had utterly failed his Best Friend. How could he have done such a thing? How could Jesus ever forgive him? He had behaved just as Jesus had said he would, and now here he was...at the bottom. But Peter accepted Christ's forgiveness, and refocused, making his life count for God's Kingdom. We, too, have to let go of the pain of our past, and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The pain of loss is another reason we grieve. Jesus himself also experienced deep sorrow. At the tomb of His close friend Lazarus, He wept. Tears, which God collects in bottles, is His way of bringing inner healing. Because Jesus felt the same emotions we feel, He promised to be with us to guide us through the maze of sorrow and grief. Peter tells us later on in this letter to “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7) And the Psalmist reminds us that: "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy." (Psalms 126:5) May it be an encouragement to us that God is indeed watching over us! He knows exactly what we are going through, and what our future holds. He wants us to trust Him.  


"God of the Mountain" by Lynda Randal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V65EPF2S-s0