“… For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!…”
Every day I am hit by how much I misunderstood the bible and the teachings when I was growing up… my understanding was always that we are saved from Hell… and I suppose it’s technically true… but the message is not one of salvation from torment, but rather being re-united with a loved one!
I watch my kids…
As they grow up, they also grow in confidence. They will happily go off and talk to people and do stuff, knowing that I am right there. But then, when they look up and don’t see me, panic used to set in. They are already imagining a life without me!
As they grow older, they are still uncomfortable but more sensibly start looking around, and then start searching for me. This weekend my daughter came bursting through a door, saw us, visibly relieved and said “I thought you left me!” At which my wife replied: “we will never leave you!” – It almost a biblical quote!
Isn’t that what God says to us when we return to Him and step into His grace? I will never leave you…
As I put the little one to bed, she is busy falling asleep and turns to me, saying, “I will always be yours, right?… and you will always be mine? Right?” Affirmative little monkey… no matter what you do or where you go, I will be there for you!
At one time I knew nothing and understood even less of God’s mercy, but now I know, because I am drenched with it every day!
Understanding makes me look at the next part from 1 Peter 2 just a little bit differently. Peter speaks about living Godly lives and submitting to authority, but read it with a different tone of voice:
v11: “…divorce yourself from the evil desires that wage war within you…”
Why? Because if you don’t you will go to hell? That was my way of thinking. Follow the rulebook!
But no… divorce yourself from the evil desires because you are grateful for the mercy shown you. You are grateful for the grace given you. And that comes in handy, because any gift given you can also be given to someone else. If your sister gives you money, you can give that money away… If God gave you grace, you can give grace… have you ever thought about that?
v12: “…live honorable lives…” why? Because we are suppose to be the goodie-goodie Christians? No, because if they see our good works, the will have a reason to glorify God (not glorify us!)
v13: “In order to honor the Lord, you must respect and defer to the authority of every human institution…”
IN ORDER TO HONOR THE LORD! For however short, or however long… God placed them there for a purpose.
Although I cannot even start to comprehend God’s plan, I started seeing the pattern… not because of rules, but because of grace and mercy.
1 Peter 2:16
“As God’s loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Recognize the value of every person…”
…and there it is: I am drenched in mercy so please recognize that God, my Father is walking with another as well…
What will they say? Even the Christian judged me? Or only the Christian loved me… (v12)
Above me, next to me, or below me:
Recognize the value of every person – see them through the eyes of Jesus. Step back and repent of those evil thoughts and desires that started filling your mind. Put down the rock and live a life in reverence to God.
