Peter was writing this a followers of
Jesus that had been persecuted. It had been about 30 years since Jesus
had been
crucified, resurrected than then ascended into Heaven.
At first, followers of Jesus were persecuted primarily by the Jews, but
as they began to differentiate themselves from the Jews, the Romans began to
persecute them also.
Christianity was easily misunderstood
during that time. They didn't have Priests, Temples
or Rituals that other religions did. Not only that, some Romans
thought Christians were cannibalistic because they, "drank of the blood
and ate of the body" of their leader. Roman allegiance was
to Caesar as god - Christians would no acquiesce and became
an enemy of the state. Additionally, there was no
"class" among these followers of Jesus - everyone was
equal. This was unheard of in Roman Society.
Nero's persecution of Christians was
brutal. He had animal skins sewn and tied to Christians then threw them
to the lions. He impaled them, set them on fire and lit his palatial gardens
at night. Women were tied to bulls and dragged through the city. Many
Christians were crucified. The persecution was fierce.
It was in the face of this
persecution that many fled. Peter writes in verse 1:2 the provinces of
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia as places where Christians had
fled. So Peter writes to this "exiles" who had lost everything.
Some had lost family, others jobs, savings, many had fled just with the
clothes on their backs. He writes to instruct them in how to live in
exile - how to live when your world have fallen apart.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for
action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to
the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who
called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be
holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)
We all have times of hopelessness.
Times of suffering. We bring it on ourselves at times - sometimes it is
at the hands of others - sometimes it is just part of living in a world
that is hell bent on hurt.
So what do we do? What do we do when
bad things are happening while we try to follow Jesus?
Prepare Your Mind for Action: Rather than spending time in
despair - Gather your thoughts and remember what you have learned. This
was written to believers - followers of Jesus. They had been taught by
the disciples what Jesus had said. The world would persecute you the
same way their persecuted Jesus. But He would never leave you - He left
His Spirit to comfort and guide you.
Today as believers we know much
more - biblical principles such as knowing that God is at work in our lives to
mold and mature us (James 1:2-8); that whatever we are facing will ultimately
be used by God to future His kingdom (Romans 8:28) and that ultimately we will
spend an eternity with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) And
so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God
because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the
kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and
customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing
the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is
good and pleasing and perfect.
This is Part of Life – There are going to be difficult
times in life. Sometimes we bring them on ourselves through our own
choices; sometimes Satan is active in our lives; sometimes there are those who
truly wish to do us harm and sometimes it is just
the everyday chaotic events of life.
John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you
all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many
trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Don’t Allow Externals to Control You – What externals? People,
expectations, fame, money, there are many things that control our lives.
What controls your life is the thing you will push everything else aside to get
to. That is what you worship. Peter says control yourself -
don't be controlled by anything or anyone.
The old illustration of
the Thermostat and Thermometer comes to mind.
The thermostat controls the surroundings -
the thermometer at the mercy of his surroundings. Which are
you?
1 John 2:15-17 (NLT) Do not love this world nor the
things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of
the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical
pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and
possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And
this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone
who does what pleases God will live forever.
Focus Your Trust/Hope on God - Where is your focus? On
your troubles or on Him? Where is your focus? Where do you look for
help? In what do your place your faith? Faith is living as though
something is true even though you have no evidence of it. Do you have
faith that God will guide you, protect you, see you through? Live as
though it is true BEFORE you see God move!
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Trust
in the LORD with all
your heart; do not depend on your
own understanding. Seek his
will in all you do, and he will
show you which path to take.
Do Not Respond Like Someone Who Has No Hope –There was a time you
didn't know about God. You didn't know what Jesus said. You didn't
know about the Holy Spirit. But now you do! Don't live - don't
think as if you don't!
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek
the Kingdom of God above all
else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Be
Holy – For He Is Holy – The difference
between holiness and blamelessness is that one looks at the heart/motives while
the other just looks at the externals. Holiness not only does what
is right - the motives/intents of the heart are pure. One day we will be
totally holy/spotless before God - until then we are to strive to be holy.
1 Peter 1:16 (NLT) For
the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Peter writes to those who are in the
midst of fleeing persecution and tells them to get their thinking straight.
Reason/respond as someone who has been prepared for
the inevitable problems that come here on earth. Don't
let people, situations or externals to control you. Keep yourself
controlled by following the Spirit of God. Keep your focus on Him - not
on all the problems around you. Don't respond to life like someone who
has no hope. Don't respond like someone who doesn't follow Jesus.
Live a life that is Holy. Live a life that is complete.
