I Peter 1:1-5

I Peter 1:1-5

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Lord, Peter wrote this book as an ambassador of Christ….to help the "strangers" in their SUFFERINGS. Lord, I, too am an "alien" along side Peter, a pilgrim, a foreigner in this world. I just don't "fit in". Where I really belong is with You…in heaven, by Your grace! Yes, strangers will SUFFER…You bring to mind just now these verses, and as I read them slowly and think about the emphasized words…well, the verses really come alive!

1) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God…IF so be that we SUFFER WITH HIM." (Rom. 8:18)
2) "Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER persecution." (2 Tim. 2:12)
3) "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to SUFFER for his sake." (Phil. 1:29)

2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

We are "strangers" because we are elect, and one way to know that we are elect is if we SUFFER WITH HIM.

"Elect" in Strong's means "select, by implication favorite:-chosen". Am I chosen? Yes, but certainly because of nothing good in me…for I am not inherently good…I have had a bad heart. I was once dead in my trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1) But I am chosen simply because of the good pleasure of Your will. (Eph.: 1:5) You have "appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jer. 31:3)

Lord, we are elect according to foreknowledge…to know…Adam "knew" his wife Eve. That was special…that was intimate. And although You love all Your creatures, yet You have a special intimate relationship with a "chosen generation…a peculiar people" which You have "redeemed…out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Rev. 5:9) Wow!

I'm humbled, Lord! Why ME???

O Lord, this verse has so much truth!

We are elect through sanctification of the Spirit…Sanctification involves heart change…a growing in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance! And You also have elected us unto obedience, it says here…

OBEDIENCE....Yes, Lord, You have predestinated me for a reason! I am "predestinated to be conformed to the image of Your Son.." (Rom. 8:29) I'm not saved just to escape hell, but I am saved to be made holy! And You are using SUFFERING in my life to bring forth obedience.


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The word "begotten" implies procreation according to the dictionary… I guess I didn't get myself born physically, and I didn't get myself born spiritually either, did I, Lord? YOU made it happen! I WAS "born, not of blood (my family heritage), nor of the will of the flesh (my intellect, emotions, etc.), nor of the will of man (my own will), but of GOD." (Jn. 1:10) Wow! It was ALL of race!…by Your Spirit…"the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Yes, Lord, Your "wind" just blew upon me, and You opened my heart to spiritual things just like You did for Lydia. (Acts. 16:14)

Yes,…Hallelujah! You fulfilled Your promise to me from Ez. 36:26:

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

Wow! My salvation was not of my own doing. It was ALL OF GRACE! Hallelujah and Amen! And You have begotten my unto a lively hope!

"Lively" – "to live".

"Hope" – "anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence."

I have a lively hope because Jesus died and rose from the dead. He overcame death….and the promise for me is that I will overcome death, too! Hallelujah!

But the living starts now, doesn't it, Lord? Living is happiness… perfect peace… sitting on Your lap…learning from You. So even though I'm dying here, I am living in the Spirit. And someday I shall not have the "dying part" at all! I won't even have to take a "break" to cook and wash the dishes or clean the house. I'll be able to have fun meditating and talking with You always! Learning from You and having You whisper sweet promises and "I love you's" in my ear….THAT
is LIVING…That is a lively hope!

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,


"Inheritance" means "possession", and one that is incorruptible and undefiled is a pure one that will last forever. All of my possessions here on earth are getting old. In fact, after 8 kids
and around 21 moves in my married life, most of my earthly possessions are gone or rotting. But that's o.k., Lord, because You have given me a beautiful home in heaven…a possession that will not fade away! You are reserving it just for me! Thank-You, Jesus!

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The "you" at the last of verse 4, the ones who have "reserved" homes in heaven…are those who are KEPT unto SALVATION. And it will be revealed for sure in the last time who they are. They are the "elect" of verse 2, aren't they, Lord? They are the disciples who CONTINUE in Your Word. (Jn. 8:31) They are the ones who "Keep on Keepin' on"! But how! Through faith! And how do they get the faith? By Your POWER, the verse says! For by grace are ye saved through
faith….It (the faith as well as the salvation) is Your gift! Hallelujah! It's ALL of Grace! Amen!

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Would love to hear your comments on the next two verses and how you are applying them in your life TODAY!

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations;
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

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