Before the Grand Cannon

Before the Grand Cannon was carved out of the rocks, before the Great Sierra Desert sands stretched across the plains, before Mount Everest jetted into the crystal blue skies, The Father planned that Jesus would come to save us from eternal separation from God.  

Before your infant cries called for comfort, before you were given a name, before you knew about God, he decided to rescue you from sin.  

Before you admitted you needed God, before you recognized your rebellion, when you were still devoted to yourself God knew you and loved you.

Why then would he stop loving you now (1 Peter 1:17-21; Romans 5:5-10)?  Our faith and hope are in God, not in our perfection 1 Peter 1:21)

Daddy's Anger

We were reminded yesterday that God does not give his children a special dispensation to sin, but on the contrary, judgement begins in the house of God.  Why would God be so angry about sin?  Why should he be angry if someone does not believe in his son?

Think about it.  He saw and felt what Jesus suffered on the cross.  Why would he not be angry at anyone who showed disrespect toward Jesus?  Why wouldn’t he be angry at anyone who took Jesus for granted?  

When we practice sin, in essence, we are spitting in Jesus’ face.  If you were Jesus’ father, what would you feel (1 Peter 1:17-18)?

Begins Here

Peter reminds believers that God is no respecter of persons (1 Peter 1:17). That means God’s children do not receive a special dispensation to sin.  God will judge habitual sin.  In fact, scripture also says, judgement will begin in God’s house (1 Peter 4:17)

Taking Control

I grew up as a pastor’s kid.  I was taught that meant I had a responsibility to behave as the daughter of a spiritual leader.  Because he was a leader, I was a leader among the children.  The community expects the son of a police officer to obey the law.  And so the character of the parents were reflected to be reflected in the children.

We are children of God.  Our heavenly Father tells us, “Be ye holy as I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:15). He gives us instruction on how to do this.  “Be obedient children and do not fashion yourselves after your fleshly desires” (1 Peter 14).  

In other words, we do not allow our fleshly desires to rule us; we take authority over our flesh and bring our desires into submission unto God.