There were a lot of really good points and areas for deep thought and reflection in this chapter, but I chose this verse because it really hit on some points that I needed to hear tonight.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
(1 Peter 2:4 ESV)
This verse first reminds of the beauty and acceptance that God has for us, and the incredible role that he allows us to play in his plan. I'm not trying to oversimply this and say ok, God love me, good, let's move on. I think that's what we do all too often (or at least I do) and we miss what a beautiful picture this is. Men will pick out our imperfections and shortcomings and will laugh at us for this when we often get deceived into seeking their acceptance, but in that moment where we can feel so dejected, "but in the sight of God chosen and precious." He treasures our life and treasures us as his creation even when we are sitting around hating ourselves for something someone said or something that we failed at. Talk about an instant confidence boost no matter what people might say to me. I am chosen and precious in God's eyes, and he has something incredible planned for my life.
I hope this is something that we can all remember on a daily basis. Not that I think that we hate ourselves all of the time, but it's easy to get discouraged and feel insufficient and let other people convince us of just that.
I'm praying for yall. I hope that we can see that whatever happens tomorrow, good or bad. God is preparing us for his great plan which as the chapter also talks about, often involves suffering.
This chapter really hit me in two areas. We are called to submit to authority and honor God. It's easy when you fall into sin to reject the laws of both this world and of God. We are called to follow these laws as if God put them into place, unless they conflict with His higher law. Just as we can reject authority when breaking traffic laws, we can easily break God's laws and take it lightly. This should not be the case! Everyone should have a rightful fear of God, because as a loving God, he is also just, and has the power to create and destroy stars and galaxies. I guess this is something to think about next time you start to wander.
ReplyDelete"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
ReplyDelete1 Peter 2:9
I thought this verse was a great reminder of who were are in Christ and what our true calling is. That being said, we have a pretty incredible identity in Christ. It only seems fitting that with such a great identity would come incredible opportunity for making an impact into the world. There is no doubt that we live in a dark world. People everywhere doubt God's goodness and design. To think that we are the instruments capable of spreading light where it is needed is a great challenge. I was encouraged by this verse because it reminded me that God wants to do all of this through us. These are remarkable plans, and it is a huge blessing to be included in them.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
ReplyDelete- 1 Peter 2:1-3 -
I think these first few verses are great and strong lines for me. With the rest of the chapter, God tells us to be different, the living stone, in the sight of God. And to be the living stone, some of the things we need to remove from our lives are stated in these verses: hypocrisy, lies, envy, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and pride. We are to be the Living STONE, a solid and strong stone for God. And God even tells us how to do that: follow God's words and live by His words. As we open our hearts and receive God's blessings, we should also think about putting down our ego and taking up what God has to tell us and what God has planned for us. I think this is a great reminder as we continue this week as an undergraduate, graduate, or medical student.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
ReplyDelete(1 Peter 2:16 ESV)
This verse really hits me. In my own struggle for temptation, I often feel almost powerless against the sin. This verse gives me strength. It reminds me that sin has no hold on me anymore. I am free. God did not just save me, he paid for me. He adopted me. He set me free as his son from the hold of this world. "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
"Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God."
ReplyDelete1 Peter 2:16
"When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly."
1 Peter 2:23
These verses really hit me. We must be free in Christ, which means free from sin and free to make our own choices. If we do not have free will, then we can not love God or have faith in God because both love and accepting the gift of faith from God our choices that we must make freely in order for them to to be viable.
The second verse shows another aspect of Christ that we should imitate. He didn't retaliate, he didn't even threaten others when we was treated as badly as any man can be treated. It's worth noting that we crack and get frustrated so easily and resort to insults and bickering when Jesus shows us that as humans we have the ability not to and we have the obligation not to so that we can remain pure of heart.