Monday, June 16, 2014

Peter's Letters

We turn to Peter’s letters to believers. Historians believe Peter wrote his first letter around 60 AD  He is writing to believers who are suffering persecution because of their beliefs.  He is reminding them  that those who follow Christ will be persecuted, but that it is temporary.  One day Christ will take each of us home to be with him.  There no one will be able to touch us. 

His greeting alone encourages the believers heart, telling them that God knew before hand that they specifically were going to be persecuted.  In fact, God actually ordained it.  “Those that were elect exiles…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood” (1 Peter 1:2). 


The knowledge that God ordained that we should suffer persecution, and has sanctified us with his Spirit for the task we face brings a sense of peace.  The greater the persecution, the greater his grace he gives us to be victorious.