Who You Are? (1st Peter 1:1-12)

Every so often, when we approach Scripture, it’s important to know and understand why the Lord spoke them into existence, who did He send it and who are the readers.

Peter, one of twelve disciples, loved of the Lord, wrote this letter to believers who had to scatter because of persecution under Nero..

These were believers who once had the comfort, security, and encouragement of a community of believers.

Who are you?

Now they lived among the unbelievers. Who would encourage them, guide them, give them assurance and, most of all, remind them of their identity? Peter, led by the Spirit, was that person. He reminded them they were:

• Scattered believers among unbelievers.
• Selected and destined by God, the Father.
• Made holy by God the Spirit.
• Obedient to Jesus the Lord, our Anointed Savior.
• Purified by the blood of Christ Jesus.

We may not live under the shadow of so great a persecution, but we scattered among unbelievers. We can, with confidence, read this letter. The Holy Spirit knew that on this day and this time we would read the verses and believe.

So, let us have minds to understand, eyes to see, and ears to hear what our gracious Father wants us to know. May God’s grace and peace remain in your hearts as sister disciples.

You are not of the World

As the early Christians stood apart from the culture, so should we. We do this not by judgmental attitudes or condemnation of the world, but by our quiet, confident moral courage and fortitude. We are in the world, but not of it. Furthermore, we are more citizens of the kingdom of God than the United States. We respect and pray for the President, but he is not our King.

We are light in darkness, and a witness for God. Likewise, we are those who walk with God. We carry His fragrance and know Him by name.

Remember who you are.

Through God’s great mercy, we’ve been reborn into a living hope. We live our daily lives with a greater inheritance than the sons and daughters of men. We are children of God, have an eternal inheritance held in reserve for us.

What is our inheritance?

God Himself is our inheritance.

Jesus came, lived, died, and was risen from the dead so that we might have salvation. Salvation, more than a ticket to heaven, is reconciliation to Father God and in such a sweet reconciliation where we come to fellowship with Him daily. Christ died to make that inheritance real. No one can take it away.

Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting us for salvation. The enemy may threaten us or even kill our bodies, but he can never own our souls.

Our salvation is secure despite our suffering. This world, the enemy, and death are marked for destruction. A new heaven and a new earth will come, and we will live where there is no pain, suffering, heartache, mourning, or death.

Father God Himself will wipe away ever tear from our eyes.

I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Not only that, but everything around me was new because of the heaven and earth that had been passed away… and I heard a great voice coming from the throne:

“See, the home of God is with His people. He will be among them; they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them. The prophecies are fulfilled. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more, for the first things have gone away.”

Revelation 21:1 & 3-4 (The Voice).

Our Blessed Hope

This is our blessed hope and our secure inheritance. Our certain assurance and solid confidence are in the Lord and our future.

Rejoice in what is waiting for you.

For a little while, we will suffer. But our suffering is not in vain. It tests our faith, so that if found genuine, we can be received by Christ with joy and happiness when we meet Him face-to-face.

Remain faithful, sister disciples, despite every trial, tribulation, persecution, and temptation. Your faithfulness will be rewarded.

Peter saw Jesus, first hand, we have not. Peter heard the sound of His voice, we have not. Yet, we love Jesus so much and believe that by faith we will celebrate with Him when He reveals Himself in the resurrection.

God is our hope, our salvation, and our inheritance.

As a born again Christian – a true child of God, you have nothing to fear or be anxious about. God is with you. It is a good thing, an excellent thing, to be in the hands of the living God. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble, the peace that passes all understanding, and the joy of our salvation.

Rise up, Sister Disciple, you belong to the Lord. Trust Him and with grateful lips praise, Him for who you are, where you are and where you will be in the future. Extend your faithful soul to the heavens, so the Lord of glory will hear your song of praise.

Continue in the faith. Do not be discouraged. Rest in God’s protective power to secure and keep you. God knows you by heart, and He will test your faith to see if it is genuine or superficial. The testing is for your good, so you can turn with faith and allow Him to make your faith genuine. He’s got you. Just trust Him.

The Lord your God is with you! Amen.