- Peter walked with Jesus. He spent as much time with the Lord as anyone in his circle. He betrayed Jesus and was received back into a loving relationship. He knew the mercy of God in an intimate way and it informed his life and teachings. After his introduction, Peter pivots to praising the Lord. He tells us that we have been given a new birth because of God’s great mercy. We take advantage that we understand the “Christianese” of new birth and salvation, but what does this really mean? Imagine that you were a 1st century person hearing that you were going be given a new birth. How can this happen? Much like Nicodemus and Jesus, there must have been a lot of confusion around this. We are born again if we are in Christ. Who we were is no more. We still may have remnants of our old selves that cling to us, but we are not the same. We are not simply better versions of our old selves, we are different people, changed by the mercy of God and the power of the gospel. What does a new life look like? How can I live out the truth of my rebirth?
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- The proven character of our faith is more valuable than gold. What does this mean? Trials illuminate who we are. If we are people of faith, the trials reveal what our faith looks like. We can point to the work of the Holy Spirit in our life when we have come through difficult times centered on God. We must see great worth of our faith. It is not meaningless or trivial. The gospel is the most important thing in our lives. Our
relationship with God should be the foundational building block of our lives. When all else is gone, our savior will remain, seated on his throne and advocating for us. What is the most valuable thing to me? Is my life built on Jesus? When hard times come, where is my hope centered?- “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of
the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable
than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb. Psalm 19:9-10
- “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of
- It is easy to think of the Old Testament as ancient history. We read the prophetic books out of obligation, thinking they don’t have much to do with us. Peter tells us that these books and their promises were intended for us. These prophets asked the Lord when they would see the fulfillment of their prophecies and they were shown that it would be for the service of believers hundreds of years into the future for them. What grace, that God would choose to use prophets in Israel in a time long ago to inform our lives today? Our lives are important in the eyes of God. We are not ants, insignificant and unworthy. God loves us and has prepared a way for us to know him over hundreds of years. When I read prophetic books in the Bible, how can I see God’s plan and provision for his people? Do I understand my place in God’s long view of history and the world?
- “Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed your punishment; he has turned back your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you; you need no longer fear harm.” – Zephaniah 3:14-15
For further study:
Read Ephesians 2:1-10. The work of the Lord in our salvation is incredible. Read how Paul tells us our new life has been brought about by the Lord.
Prayer focus for the week:
Pray for unity in the church as we step into a very turbulent partisan moment in our nation.