This is not easy...1 Peter 2:9-12...It takes a change of heart

 

Here is part of the Rocky Mountain Range from 11,400 ft at the base of Gravel Mountain.  A hike/hunt for 1st season rifle put me in a place to see this beautiful view.  When hiking up you typically don't see the majesty until you turn around.  It is amazing that I can name a bunch of the mountain peaks just be looking at their shape.  Here is another framed shot by the pines of Longs Peak.  


Thinking you are the only one on the planet, I look to my left and here is another man who came up from the other side of the meadow.  His name is Cam and he drives the snowcat for the snowmobile trails.  He was preparing his route for the upcoming winter season.  We had a great conversation "on top of the world" and found out we live not a mile from one another.  I was dedicated to hunting and putting some meat in the freezer and he was dedicated to safety for the snowmobilers in the near future.  It opened up a door when I might see him again around town.

What Peter is instructing Group #1, those who believe, to do is extremely hard.  He reminds them first of who they are.  I think this is key when you are being persecuted for your faith.  If you don't remind yourself that you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people of His own possession then you will not act as such.  Peter keeps bringing Group #1 back to their glorious salvation provided by God.  It was planned by God, purchased by Jesus and being polished by the Holy Spirit.

Peter also reminds Group #1 of their purpose.  They are the ones to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  They are the mouthpiece of the gospel, the good news, to Group #2, those who do not believe.  This is crucial to stay on point.  You remember that you once were those who do not believe but God opened your eyes to His beloved Son Jesus and now you do believe.

So the really hard part comes next.  Peter instructs Group #1, those who believe, to abstain from the passions of the flesh; keep their manner of life before Group #2, those who do not believe, beautiful and excellent while Group #2 is speaking of them, Group #1 as evildoers.  On top of that, Group #1 is to keep doing good deeds to Group #2 so they can see them.  There is a method to Peter's madness here and it will come out in the next passage.

Peter has such a love for God and others that he is instructing Group #1 to come alongside of him in this effort and God given strategy to reach out to those in Group #2.  We will see their different responses to these actions of Group #1 in the coming passages but the ultimate goal is that some of Group #2 will be glorifying God on the day of visitation.  The only way that could happen is that they have moved from Group #2 to Group #1.  They "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:10, ESV)

What has happened to Group #1, those who believe, was what Peter wanted to happen to Group #2.  It would take a different view of Group #2.  Are they just the persecutors of Christianity or are they people to proclaim God to and show them your love to through an honorable way of life and good deeds?

The big question for us is will we as Group #1 in our time join Peter in the same effort and strategy to reach out to Group #2 of our time?

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 40th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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