Do Not Turn Back

God has commanded us to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-15).

When life suddenly is turned upside down (i. e. we loose a job, a loved one dies, or our spouse divorces us) our emotions can go into a tailspin.  Some people react by turning their backs on God and his church and walking away.  Their bitterness consumes them.  

The people who choose this path return to former habits (2 Peter 2:2).  Their Christianity goes out the window and their hearts become dark, their hope gone.  We grieve for such a person, but we cannot change their hearts.  

There are others who choose to cling to God when their lives have unexpectedly turned upside  down.  These people mourn their losses.  They struggle through the pain filled days, holding onto God’s promises that he loves them and will never abandon them.  They remain living a life in holiness.  These hearts eventually return to peace. 

Gathering Our Thoughts

“Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

Peter is saying, “I am aware of the difficult trials you are facing.  That is why I am reminding you about the mystery of salvation that has been delivered to you through Jesus Christ, so that you no longer focus on your trouble, but on God and His bigger picture.”

We need to gather our thoughts refocussing them onto the salvation that  is to come at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Take a moment and jot down what affect focusing your mind on the grace of God has on your emotional state.

Angels are Curious

“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:24).

Before Jesus came to earth, the people knew the kindness and mercy of God, but they knew it through animal sacrifices.  The Law of Old Testament emphasized sin. Jesus emphasized mercy and forgiveness.  He also brought the new message of kinship with God, namely to be his children and joint heir with Jesus.

Before Christ came, there had been a rebellion in heaven.  Many of the angels fell under the influence of Lucifer.  They were judged severely.  I do not recall an offer of forgiveness for them.  So when the prophets spoke of a Messiah to come to make men and women into children of God. it is no wonder the angels and prophets wanted to find out when and how this would happen ( 1 Peter 1:10-12).  

But they had to wait for God’s answer, just as we have to wait for his answer to our need.

Longing for His Coming

In America, pentecostal churches believe that the events that are occurring around the world point to the soon return of Christ for his people.  We long for the end of wars, famine and persecution of our brothers and sister is Christ in other countries.  We continually look for signs that Christ will return in our generation (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

In the Old testament, the prophets through whom God spoke about the first coming of Christ,  longed to know when the Christ was going to appear.  They too longed for his coming, but did not know when that time would arrive (1 Peter 1:10-12).

God has revealed many things to us, but some things he has kept to himself (Matthew 25:1-13).

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