Reading – 1 Peter 1
Incorruptible Inheritance
As I sat to read this the first thing that jumped out to me was verse 4. We will have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” Yes, our inheritance is incorruptible, which with all the corruption in the world right now sounds wonderful. Can you image with me for a minute what a life of incorruption will be like. Thankfully we do not receive this promise by our works but instead it is a free gift from a loving Father, through our faith in His son, Jesus.
Faith Tested, Joy Inexpressible
Peter continues that we can rejoice greatly because of what we will have. Yet even today many are grieved by various trials. Trials will always be a part of life and they will test our faith. However, “the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Vs. 6-7) What I love about this is the precious our faith is. When our faith is tested, may we be found to praise, honor and glory because of who Jesus is to us.
“Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.” (vs. 8-9) Peter walked with Jesus but he talks here to us as believers, that have not seen him, having a heart full of joy. If our hearts are full of joy, there is something different about you from that of the world.
The truths we read in the word should be our words spoken to those around us not the lies and deceitful ways of the world. Our only concern should be about the gospel and sharing that good news with the lost. Many, myself included, get caught up in discussions and arguments that bring no light into the kingdom but rather divide all the more. These words today are reminding me of where our concern and focus should be. If we are not focused on growing the kingdom and sharing about Jesus, and instead have been in strife and dispute, we have been deceived.
Prepare Your Mind
‘Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;’
1 Peter 1:13
When I read this, I had to google what it meant to gird up the loins and what I found is interesting. In biblical times men wore robes so if they were doing any physical activity before they started, men would gather their robe and tuck it into their girdle, or to us a belt. So how would one gird up the loins of their mind? As I was thinking about this I summized it was a preparing to work or for action that the men were doing. So, we must prepare our mind for the grace that is brought to us. We must first be told by someone about Jesus. It is by the telling or sharing about Jesus, that we can prepare our minds to receive the salvation that is given to us. We cannot receive what we do not know we have.
The Word Last Forever
Furthermore, Peter tells us to “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” We are not able to do this however in our own flesh. First it is through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren. Because our souls have been purified through the Spirit we can now love. I had to look up the word soul and it’s the Greek word psyche, which means breath, heart, life, mind, soul. Therefore, we must work to purify our mind and soul in obedience to the truth.
Loving with a pure heart can only happen “through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” God’s word is alive. It will remain with all of us. People will come and go, but His word will remain. ‘My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.’ Proverbs 4:20-22 Gods word can give life and health to those that find it. Do not allow His word to depart from your eyes. Instead we need to pay special attention to what His word has to say. I pray you would read this with a desire to know the heart of the Father.