Okay! I really cheated for this one! But there was just too much good stuff!4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”t
Jesus was rejected by people! But he knew...they were "mere" people!! They were only humans. He was mistreated...but he knew! I'm sure he wasn't even worried about the pain that whe was enduring (though it was brutal and yes hurtful) but his focus was on the actual separation from the Father that he was going to face! His focus was on the spiritual things which ironically are so much more real than what we physically experience here on this earth! Where is our focus! And it's just awesome to see that though Jesus was denied and rejected by the Creator's creation....He was exalted by the CREATOR! That is just so crazy to think about...and so beautiful!
18 You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect.t Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
Here we see an example of how Jesus lived out what was said in the first few verses and how we can live that same example in similar situations. We need to do what is good and right even when we are mistreated by our bosses and our masters and our leaders...This is so hard...but as Luke 6 talks about loving your enemy, we need to love those who mistreat us.
2-3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
ReplyDeleteThis comparison is incredible. If I eat a really good piece of cheesecake, I will naturally long to have a second piece. Peter is saying something similar about our pursuit of God. That if we have experienced salvation through Jesus Christ, we will long for the things of God. That longing is a result of salvation. Do you and I long for the things of God?
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
ReplyDeleteI feel like so often i let myself relax from be disciplined for God will, and in the back of my head i use the fact that i'm a Christian as an excuse. Not always but sometimes. Well her he is telling me not to do that. It was very evident when i was reading, this verse really hit me. It says the we are Free from sin, but do not use that to justify sinning. It also says,in this one verse it says all this, that we are servants of God. And we are to be obedient to Him.
[11] Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. [12] Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the Day of visitation.
ReplyDeleteThis verse reminds me that I am no longer a citizen of this world and should not seek earthly pleasures which fade, but rather heavenly pleasures in Christ which are eternal. To me this is a reminder of the battle I am in each day and one of my biggest weapons is to love others, which will soften my own heart and turn me away from sin.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His light;
ReplyDeleteI really like this verse. God LOVES us and pursues us and makes us holy. Verse 9 clearly states this, as does the rest of the Scriptures. But, why does would God do this?
"so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His light;"
Boom. It's all for God's glory. The movie is about God, not about us! (a la Crazy Love)
17 "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, feat God, honor the king"
ReplyDeleteI picked this verse because when I read it I really just wish our brotherhood would listen to it. I feel like there are so many times when we don't respect each other or potential members. We forget that we are all children of God and brothers in Christ and we should respect each other as so. I love all of you, but one thing to remember is that we all need to love each other, thus glorifying God.