Read 2 PETER 1:1–4

Our culture doesn’t value self-restraint. Advertising slogans urge us to buy products from cars to cosmetics “because you’re worth it.” We’re told to “follow your bliss,” “just do it,” “have it your way,” and “you do you.” The limits on our wanting, taking, and having seem to be melting away.

Peter also lived in a culture pervaded by these messages, and this letter was written to warn the church to resist the siren call of false teachers of pleasure. While following the form of letters in his day, Peter modifies the traditional wish for good health into a prayer for a different kind of abundance: “grace and peace be yours in abundance” (v. 2). Throughout this letter Peter will remind his readers that the abundance promised by the world can’t compare to the riches promised to us by God.

The world—particularly our modern consumer culture—constantly says that we need more, more, more. In contrast, Peter affirms that God has already supplied what we need for a godly life. Through Jesus, we have faith in the Lord and His righteousness (v. 1). We are able to know God and be in a relationship with Him! And we have His promises, rooted in His own goodness and His own glory.

Some have misconstrued the phrase at the end of verse 4, “participate in the divine nature,” to mean that we either are or will become god-like humans. But Peter is not suggesting that at all. Rather, he says that we’re declared righteous before God and can live in a way that pleases the Lord. In other words, God has made it possible for us to reorient our desires away from the temptations that would destroy us and instead share in His promises for our future with Him.

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Scripture is not calling us to a life of asceticism in which we renounce all joys and pleasures. God is calling us to recognize—and desire—all His good gifts, which far surpass the temporary pleasure of the stuff we want. To think more about desire and the life of faith, you can read the book Teach Us to Want by Jen Pollock Michel.

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Read 1 PETER 5:6–9

Kanika grew up in a devout Hindu home in Delhi, India. When she became a Christian at the age of 20, her daily life became filled with struggles: Kanika wanted to attend a Christian church, but her parents insisted that she join the family at the Hindu temple. When they found her Bible and prayer journal, they threw them out. She wants to marry a fellow believer, but her parents plan to arrange a marriage with another Hindu in their caste.

Like millions of Christians around the world, Kanika faces constant decisions about how to follow Jesus in a society and home that oppose her faith. Though not physically oppressed, the struggle of resisting her parents and friends day after day can be exhausting, and sometimes she thinks it would be easier to just give in.

Peter’s first readers of this letter knew exactly what Kanika is experiencing, and these verses were written to renew their focus on God and refresh their spirits for the ongoing spiritual battle. Humility in our relationships, as we’ve explored throughout this book of 1 Peter, ultimately derives from our humility before God. He is God, and we are not. He cares for us, and knows the end of our story. He is mighty to save us when we cannot save ourselves.

In contrast to our strong and loving God is the devil, who wants to destroy the lives and witness of believers (v.8). Peter notes that standing strong in the face of these attacks of spiritual warfare requires an active resistance; we cannot be passive in the face of our spiritual enemy. How do we resist the temptation to abandon faith? By keeping our perspective on God’s promise to deliver us in His time, and by embracing the fellowship of other Christians to encourage and sustain us.

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If you are blessed with loved ones who support your desire to live for Christ, commit to praying for your fellow Christians who face the temptation to abandon faith because of persecution. If you don’t have a Christian community to support you, look for small group or prayer partner to encourage you to stand strong for the Lord.

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Read 1 PETER 4:12–19

Tariku Fufa was thirteen years old when he decided to follow Jesus. Upon hearing the news, his father gave him an ultimatum: “Tariku, I give you a choice between Jesus and family.” When the boy remained firm in his commitment to Christ, his father beat him, cut his face with a knife, and threw him out into the streets of Begi, Ethiopia, to fend for himself. Without his medication, Tariku nearly died from an asthma attack, but felt God’s assurance that He had something else in store for this young man.

Believers in many parts of the world today know from painful experience what it means to suffer for the name of Christ. Our passage today contains two shocking messages about Christian suffering, specifically opposition from others because they know from our lives and our testimony that we are identified with Jesus.

First, we should not be surprised or find it strange that suffering befalls those who follow Jesus (v. 12). But in fact, many of us do assume that our Christian faith and good lives will make us popular and successful. As Peter has outlined throughout this letter, when we identify with Christ, our lives no longer align with the world’s values. And our Savior Himself suffered unjustly.

The second shocking message is that when we suffer, we should praise God (v. 16). It’s important to note that this is not Christian stoicism or fatalism. Just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane (and in keeping with the prayers in the Psalms), we can ask God to protect and deliver us. But our perspective on being persecuted because we follow Christ should be shaped by praise: gratitude that we have the privilege of being identified with Jesus, and thankfulness that our God will be faithful (vv. 16–19).

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Six years later, Tariku’s father asked his forgive- ness. Concluding that it was a miracle he was alive, Tariku’s siblings and many in his village accepted Christ. Today he ministers to Africans in 23 countries. Pray for persecuted believers around the world, for God’s protection and reasons to praise His name.

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Read 1 PETER 4:7–11

A report from the bank HSBC in April indicated that British people spend fewer hours deciding whether to buy a house than they do on planning the menu for a dinner party. The process of mulling an offer for a new home took on average 26 hours, whereas the decisions about what food to serve to guests took 31 hours.

When we hear the word hospitality, we might think of a home with interior design fit for a magazine spread, an exquisite dinner party with several courses, and a hostess who has memorized Emily Post’s book Etiquette. Is that the exhortation from Peter in today’s reading? There’s nothing wrong with a gracious hostess inviting people into her well-appointed home for a lovely meal—but Scripture is calling Christians to something even better.

Peter has just instructed his readers to remain firm in rejecting their former pagan lifestyle. Now he tells them what to embrace: instead of drunkenness, be sober in order to pray. Instead of retaliating when wronged, choose love and forgiveness. Instead of the selfish pursuit of pleasure, offer hospitality to others even when it’s inconvenient (vv. 7–9). These are important disciplines and practices of the Christian life; prayer, love, and hospitality distinguish believers from the cultural values around them.

The final verses in this passage remind us that all believers contribute to the strengthening and encouragement of the church through the use of our gifts. They are one means God uses to put His grace into practice in the community of faith (v. 10). Every gift should be used “with the strength God provides,” which blesses others and brings glory to God (v. 11). Though oppressed, marginalized, and mocked by the culture, the church has the limitless grace of God and the victory through Christ.

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How can you offer hospitality? The early church often offered travelers a safe place to stay; today missionaries often need a place to stay overnight. The early church needed people willing to host gatherings in their home; today small groups often need a place to meet. You could also share a meal with visitors, college students, or people in need.

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Read 1 PETER 4:1–6

Addiction to prescription opioid medications has devastated lives in many parts of the United States. One group of addicts struggling to stay clean shared their daily challenges: “I had to tell my son he can’t come to my house because he’s still using,” said one woman. “My friends don’t understand why I’d rather keep my job and my kids instead of hang out with them and get high,” said another. The group counselor gave this advice: “Don’t spend more than six seconds with someone—any longer you’ll start entertaining ideas.”

Many won’t understand or support the choice to turn away from destruction and toward life, as Peter’s readers knew all too well. They were mocked and derided for refusing to participate in the pursuit of pleasures (v. 4). Christians in the Roman Empire abstained from violent and erotic entertainments such as theater, chariot races, and gladiatorial contests. Along with debauchery that often accompanied pagan worship, these were culturally approved occasions for an absence of self-restraint and the unbridled consumption of sex.

Note how Peter encouraged us to stay strong in the face of cultural pressure and persecution. Focusing on Jesus— His humility, suffering, and victory—helps provide us with armor to resist these temptations (v. 1). Just as Jesus chose obedience to the Father even though it resulted in His physical suffering, so also our choice of faithfulness over sin might result in suffering.

But though we might suffer, we know to whom we ultimately must give an account for our choices (v. 5). Though ostracism, persecution, and ridicule are difficult, it will be worth it when we stand before God, the Judge of all. Even those who have already died and appeared to get away with lives filled with lust and idolatry will not escape the judgment of God.

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Has the Holy Spirit convicted you about something that you need to give up? Make a list of what you’ll need to turn away from: Are there places to avoid? People to see less often? Items to get rid of? Also make a list of what you’ll need to turn toward: Are there people who can help encourage you? Can you replace destructive habits with life-giving ones?

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Read 1 PETER 3:1–7

Contestants from Venezuela have won more international beauty pageants than those from any other country. And beauty pageants have become a big business: some pay more than half their monthly salaries to send their daughters to one of the numerous beauty academies. As one young woman said, “Every girl here dreams of being a ‘Miss.’ . . . When you live in a country where a beautiful woman has greater career prospects than someone with a strong work ethic and first-class education, you are forced into the mindset that there is nothing more important than beauty.”

Peter’s words in today’s reading offer freedom and consolation to all who feel trapped by cultural notions of value and worth. But wait, we might say. How can there be freedom in this exhortation to submit?

Unlike any of the Greek or Roman household codes, Scripture addresses wives directly, affirming their dignity. But Peter does not instruct Christian wives to ignore or undermine their unbelieving husbands. Instead, Peter calls for a humility that follows the example of Christ to inform domestic relationships. Wives were free to choose submission, rather than forced to follow a cultural mandate, as a way to make their Christian faith attractive to their husbands. Peter also notes that the worth and value of wives—and truly, all of us—is found in God, not in the cultural burdens of outward perfection.

Finally, Peter addresses husbands, who held the power and authority in Roman culture. They too are called to humility: they should not abuse their power, but rather treat their wives with respect and kindness (v. 7). Though according to the household codes they had all the privilege, in God’s sight their wives were also heirs of the eternal inheritance (see 1:4).

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Beauty, fame, wealth, power, fashion—these oppress us if we use them to measure our worth. How much better to have the beauty of godly character that will never fade (v. 4), an inheritance in heaven that will never spoil (1:4), and the power of God that guarantees our salvation (1:5). Find freedom from the world’s burdens in Jesus (2:21).

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Read 1 PETER 2:18–25

Many Greek and Roman philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, and Seneca, composed household codes. These codes included instructions for proper family relationships between spouses, parents and children, and slaves. They assumed that the family unit was the sphere in which people fulfilled their social and political duties, with the roles divinely fixed by the gods.

In our reading today, Peter expands on the exhortation that began in verse 13. At first glance, 1 Peter 2:18–3:7 appears to resemble traditional household codes, like Plutarch’s Advice to the Bride and Groom or Seneca’s Moral Epistles, both of which were written in about the same time period as this letter. Peter’s initial readers almost certainly would have been familiar with these codes. But notice how Peter applies the reality of Christian identity in a way that shifts the foundation for these relationships.

First, Peter addresses slaves (and later, wives) directly, something no Greek philosopher does (v. 18). Unlike the culture, God views slaves as full and equal persons. In fact, slaves are described as “called”—their identity in Christ was the same as other believers (v. 21). Second, the motivation for their behavior was reverence for God, not the power of their masters. Peter doesn’t directly attack the social practice of having household slaves, but he shifts the locus of authority for a Christian slave from the master to God.

Finally, the example for how to live when oppressed under an unjust social and political order is Jesus Himself (v. 21). Isaiah 53 reminds us of the humiliation suffered by the perfect Savior and reinforces the truth that our identity is intertwined with His. Even people marginalized by our cultural notions of worth can place their trust in Jesus and find their true identity in Him.

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Peter doesn’t pretend that we will always be treated fairly. Instead, he directs our focus to Jesus, who also suffered. If you are suffering with an irrational boss or a difficult neighbor or an unfair teacher, ask the Lord to renew your confidence in your identity in Christ. We can demonstrate salvation living when we follow His example.

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Read 1 PETER 2:13–17

In 1908, John T. Dower was working as a secretary for the Y.M.C.A. in Worcester, Mass., when he learned that his uncle had died in Australia—and he was heir to a $10 million fortune. Dower reportedly agreed to travel to Australia to handle his uncle’s postmortem interests, but he said that whether or not he received the $10 million, he intended to keep working at his job in the local Y.M.C.A. branch.

At this point in 1 Peter, the letter has stressed our identity as the people of God, using words such as chosen, holy, and special. We have an eternal inheritance guaranteed by God Himself (1:4). So we might be surprised when our reading opens with the exhortation, “Submit yourselves . . . to every human authority” (v. 13).

Peter has outlined our identity, and now he turns to the practical implications for how we live in the world. As we’ll see throughout the next few chapters, our status as God’s special possession does not exempt us from humility in human relationships. New Testament scholar Karen Jobes argues that the word good that occurs three times in verses 12 through 15 indicates a quality beyond the expected norm. In other words, obeying the law is expected for all people—but Christians should go beyond this to contribute good for the community. Christians not only submit by recognizing the appropriate human governing authorities, they also serve even “the pagans” and “foolish people” by participating in good initiatives that bless all (vv. 12, 15).

The purpose of this service is not to bring attention to our own humility or goodness but to bring glory to God. We submit “for the Lord’s sake”; we do good for others because “it is God’s will” (vv. 13, 15). Ultimately we are able to serve others because we recognize that our true Master is God (v. 16).

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For centuries, Christians have followed this instruction through initiatives that served communities, including building hospitals, staffing food banks, lobbying for prison reform, and volunteering in schools. How can you demonstrate humility by serving others? Look for opportunities sponsored by your church or other Christian groups.

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Read 1 PETER 2:4–8

Cosmologist (and atheist) Lawrence Krauss wrote, “Every atom in your body came from a star that exploded. . . . So, forget Jesus. The stars died so that you could be here today.” We shouldn’t be surprised when the world rejects Jesus, for whatever reason. After all, He was “despised and rejected” (Isa. 53:3), or as our passage today puts it, “the stone the builders rejected” (v. 7).

The structure of these verses reveals some important truths about Jesus and our identity as those who trust in Him. Jesus is the living Stone, and we are “like living stones” (v. 5). Believers are a spiritual house, and Jesus is the cornerstone of the house. Those who trust Jesus will “never be put to shame,” and believers view Jesus with honor and not shame (vv. 6–7; see Isa. 28:16). And rejecting the message of Jesus is the same as rejecting Jesus Himself, and leads to the same destiny (v. 8;

Ps. 118:22).

Peter adapts quotations from the Old Testament and uses the metaphor of stones used to build a house in order to underscore that our identity is bound together with the person and work of Christ. We are able to experience new life because He is alive. We are able to please God because Jesus pleased God (v. 5). And we should not be surprised when our attempts to share the gospel are rebuffed or we encounter opposition as Christians, for Christ Himself was rejected.

Notice that Peter uses the word precious three times in these verses to describe Jesus. He is precious to God, the precious cornerstone, and precious to believers. We have the privilege of knowing and trusting in the Savior of great worth, and our salvation is a treasure—as Peter said earlier, “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1:4).

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Is Jesus precious to you? Can you identify ways that your life reveals that He is your treasure? You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith provides insightful perspective for believers who want to grow in their desire for God. One important way is participating with other “living stones” in worship and service in your local church.

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Read 1 PETER 2:1–3

Babies love to put everything in their mouths—toys, books, even their own feet! As they are just becoming aware of their senses, babies use their sense of taste to explore the world around them. In addition, a baby’s mouth has more nerve endings per square inch than any other body part, so mouthing objects is the best way for a baby to discover how things feel. This normal developmental milestone usually ends by age three.

Scripture uses the metaphor of taste often to describe our experience of God. The psalmist says, “Taste and see that LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8), and “How sweet are your words to my taste” (Ps. 119:103). The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to eat the scroll of the Lord (Ezek. 3:3), an image repeated in Revelation 10:10. And the book of Hebrews also describes tasting the goodness of God (Heb. 6:4–5). Taste indicates an intimate experience beyond the senses of seeing or hearing.

Peter says that we have had that kind of experience with God’s goodness! We can attest, in a deep and powerful way, that His love and salvation transform and sustain us. These first verses of chapter 2 are connected to Peter’s exhortation in the previous chapter about how we relate to God and others. God’s goodness to us should motivate us to reject habits and practices that destroy community. This list—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander— describes the deadly poison that can infect relationships when we are seeking our own status and advantage (v. 1).

Instead, we should imbibe “pure spiritual milk” (v. 2). The contrast here is between purity and deceit and between nourishment and destruction. We have already tasted God’s goodness, and now we should continue to drink from His wells of truth so that we can thrive in community and grow in grace.

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Sins like envy and deceit can creep into our lives quietly. We resent the gifts or success of others; we try to present ourselves as better than we are. Proper humility is key: we must remember that our salvation depends on God’s goodness to us, not on our own status. Ask God to root out these sins and give you a renewed taste for His good gifts.

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Read 1 PETER 1:22–25

One joy in the autumn season in many parts of the United States is seeing the changing colors of the leaves. Cars filled with “leaf peepers” drive through New England or along the Blue Ridge Parkway, hoping to catch the peak moment of a landscape awash in red, orange, and golden leaves.

The most beautiful panorama of leaves won’t last, however. Eventually the leaves will fall, winter will come, and the colors shift to a muted palette of gray and white. Most things in life change: children grow, relationships ebb and flow, seasons pass, loved ones die. But the promises and Word of our God do not wither or fade or change (vv. 24–25). The absolute trustworthiness of God should shape our relationships.

We’ve already explored the Father- child relationship that we enjoy with God. But our salvation also affects our relationships with each other. As we grow in holiness and obedience, we also grow in our ability to love others (v. 22; see 1 John 3:11). This love results from our new birth, our new hope, and our new identity in Jesus. There’s a sense here of God’s love pouring into our lives, transforming us, and then overflowing into the way that we live in love with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The command to love each other also requires our humility and grace. We can’t obey this command because we are perfect but because God is perfect. We don’t obey this command because other people are reliable but because God is reliable. We can love others, even when they fail or disappoint us, because the foundation of this love is the gospel—God’s expression of love for us (v. 25). His love and His promise will never fail or fade; gloriously, they endure forever.

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Appreciating God’s creation can be a helpful way to focus our attention and worship toward Him. When you notice the changing colors as the season changes from autumn to winter, praise Him for His unchanging Word. If you plant bulbs this fall, thank Him that your new birth in Jesus is from imperishable seed that is guaranteed to blossom for an eternity.

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Read 1 PETER 1:17–21

The first formal celebrations and services to honor fathers were held in 1908, 1910, and 1912 in various places in the United States. But Father’s Day, held on the third Sunday of June, did not become an official national holiday until 1972. Congress had resisted earlier efforts, with some claiming it would make the celebration of fatherhood too commercialized.

Most people agree that celebrating the role of fathers is a good thing. But it’s also true that many people experience painful relationships with deeply imperfect human fathers. Thankfully, each of us is offered the opportunity to know the perfect heavenly Father, described in these verses.

Peter has used the word Father three times in this chapter to describe God, and each instance reveals another facet. In verse 2, God the Father is described as part of the Trinity, along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In verse 3, God is described as the Father of Jesus Christ, and in verse 17 He is identified as our Father. It’s important to see that God is not an abstraction or a distant Being—He is continually in relationship with Jesus and now also with us.

This perfect Father is not capricious or vicious (v. 17). As foreigners in this world, we too easily focus on those with earthly power, but we should instead remember that our reverence and awe is due to God. He is the one we are called to imitate, and He is the only one who knows all things and can judge perfectly in all situations (see Deut. 10:17; Gal. 2:6).

This perfect Father also has power over all things, including death (v. 21). In His love, He has redeemed us through the sacrifice of Jesus. And because He has raised Jesus from the dead, we have the confidence that He will also deliver us.

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What an amazing thing to be chosen and loved by this perfect Father! Why not have a “Father’s Day” celebration to praise Him? He doesn’t want a tie or a barbecue set—just our faith, love, reverence, obedience, and praise. You could devote a few minutes today to praising your Father, or plan a gathering of praise with family and friends.

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Read 1 PETER 1:13–16

When Kate Middleton was preparing to marry Prince William, heir to the British throne, she reportedly had to undergo what the press dubbed “princess training.” She was instructed on how to greet royalty and other dignitaries, to put on and remove her coat, and to conduct formal banquets. She would be royalty and was expected to act in a way that reflected her new identity.

Peter has begun this letter by describ- ing the way that salvation forms our new identity. We are now followers of Christ, not this world, and although we experience suffering and trials, we know that God has promised us an eternal inheritance. With the reality of our new life established, Peter offers us “Christian training.”

Our verses today address the way our perspective and our relationship have changed through Jesus. First, rather than be distracted by uncontrolled passions of the world, we have an eternal perspective of hope (v. 13). We are no longer limited to thinking that this life is all there is, so we’d better eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we’ll die. Instead, we can exercise self- control as we anticipate the return of Christ (see Gal. 5:22–23).

Second, we are the children of God. He loves us and claims us. He has called us (v. 15). Our growth in holiness does not come out of our own efforts to impress others or to prove that we’re good enough for God to love us. He has already shown His love for us through Jesus, and we become more like Him when we focus on who He is and what He has done and will do. Our holiness results from our relationship to God as His beloved children who are sanctified by the Spirit (vv. 2, 16).

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Peter’s first readers lived under a regime that actively persecuted Christians; our culture prioritizes personal passions over self-control and holiness. Prayerfully consider if there’s an area of life where you need more restraint. How can focusing on the return of Jesus and your identity as a child of God help you grow in holiness?

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Read 1 PETER 1:6–9

The 2016 Summer Olympics were held in Brazil this year, the culmination of years of training and dedication for thousands of athletes. Psychologists have studied how athletes stay motivated to endure rigorous preparation for months and years before the pinnacle of competition. For many, when faced with yet another day of swimming laps or doing speed drills or perfecting their form, it helps to remember the goal: representing their country and winning a medal.

Our reading today is the second section of Peter’s opening doxology in verses 3 to 12, which is one long sentence in the Greek text. As we saw yesterday, God’s work through Jesus has provided us with a living hope and promised inheritance. But like an intricate symphony weaving together major and minor keys, Peter acknowledges that his readers, these foreigners and strangers, are also suffering and grieving due to “all kinds of trials” (v. 6).

Scripture never ignores the reality of our suffering. Peter does not instruct his readers to “just look on the bright side.” But God’s Word does give us perspective in our suffering. Enduring these trials strengthens our faith. Persevering through times of suffering deepens our joy. We are able to face these challenges, day in and day out, because we focus on God’s promise to save us—and we believe that our God always keeps His promises.

Notice how many times the words rejoice or joy appear in these verses. Scripture often juxtaposes suffering and joy (see Ps. 30:5; 1 Thess. 1:6). This seems contrary to our assumptions— we’re happy when things are going well, right? This spiritual mystery should encourage us when we go through challenging times: God uses suffering to bless us with joy, a joy that allows us to praise Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him.

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God doesn’t promise us nirvana or prosperity or freedom from pain. But He does promise that suffering and trials can never take away our eternal salvation or His love for us. If you’re in the middle of a difficult slog, ask the Lord to fill you with the “joy of your salvation,” to keep your focus on your eternal inheritance in Jesus (Ps. 51:12).

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