1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

What kind of day will you have today? As we look at our lives, we tend to divide our days into happy days and sad days, with maybe some days which are just plain ordinary in between. But in today’s verse Peter speaks about his readers having two very different emotions at the same time.

• What is causing these Christians grief? What is causing them to rejoice?

To understand why these believers are rejoicing, we need to read back over verses 1–5. Jesus has died and risen. These believers in Jesus have been cleansed from their sins. God’s salvation is coming. God’s inheritance is coming, and nothing can spoil it. There are so many good things! Peter wrote because he wanted to encourage his friends. He wanted to tell them again about the true grace of God. Here it is!

Peter has pointed these Christians to gospel certainties. These truths are like solid rocks under their feet as stormy trials rage. These are things of which they can be sure. We can be sure of them too if we have put our faith in Christ. Whatever else is happening to us, these wonderful facts are still true. We can remind ourselves of these truths and rejoice in them even in dark and difficult times.

It seems that Peter’s readers were experiencing dark times. Stresses and difficulties were piling up. They ‘have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials’ (v. 6, my italics).

• How long would these griefs and trials go on?

Does Peter mean that none of his friends’ problems would last more than a week or so? As we read on, this does not seem to be what Peter expects.

The ‘now’ Peter refers to seems to be this present age up until Jesus returns. Peter is encouraging his readers to get a sense of perspective. Jesus is coming. Then they will live with Jesus forever. Then they will enjoy their glorious inheritance forever. Compared with forever, our times of trouble in this life will, one day, seem like just ‘a little while’.

God is very powerful, so why doesn’t he shield us from these difficulties now? He could do that. Why doesn’t he? Peter is going to tell us some of the reasons. We will look at these tomorrow.

Pray 

Whatever kind of day you have today, ask God to help you rejoice in all he has done for you and all he has promised you.