1 Peter 1:2 says…
“ …You are not FORGOTTEN, for you have been CHOSEN and DESTINED by Father God…”
I saw a meme this morning about Oprah’s advice for living with constant joy and peace: step 1, start with a billion dollars in your bank account. 😉
“… celebrate with praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
Peter writes to a group of persecuted Christians. Followers of the way proclaimed by Jesus, and confirmed by the apostles. But they were having a bad day.
Nero falsely blamed the christians for the fires in Rome, and they were literally cast out to the outer provinces. Without stature, without a say in their lives, with less rights than slaves… and it was still just the beginning of about 300 years of persecution.
But Peter had it right in the first sentence. “you have been scattered like seed”
The tough times they were facing, and when I say tough, I mean it in the sense that your father or wife or brother might not come home tonight because he was burned at a stake to make light for the emperor’s parties, kind of tough times.
But through it, young “Christianity” flourished. The seeds grew into bushes, that grew into trees, under which the community surrounding them came to rest, came to eat, came to be healed and cared for… they served a community that didn’t want them, that literally hated and spit on them. With nothing but the cloaks on their back, which they would give away if asked for because that is what Jesus told them to do, and they would gladly do it out of gratitude.
So… I think about this…
How many times have I told a person “Sorry, I can’t help you? ” or “I don’t have anything to help you with”
Or “I am the wrong person to ask…”
You have been chosen
You have been destined
“The Holy Spirit has set you apart to be God’s Holy Ones, obedient followers of Jesus Christ”
I am here, right here, right now to be the answer to a prayer, spoken or unspoken… to a believer or non-believer. And if I am not sure if this is part of “my calling”, I should practice on this person so long until I am sure…
“So prepare you hearts and minds for action!” – 1Peter 1:13
