I Peter V: Cause and Effect

II Peter V

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (II Peter 3:8 ESV)

Cause and Effect

God is not bound by time.  Because He is eternal.  But this does NOT mean that events proceed randomly in God’s eyes.  It does NOT mean that God’s words are meaningless as if He uttered them all at once, without order, or logic.  It does NOT mean that life is purposeless.

There is Cause and there is Effect.

And God is in the middle of both of them.

And our future in God’s Kingdom will continue to be like that.  Events will occur BECAUSE.  Things will happen BECAUSE.  God’s Will continues BECAUSE.

God is not bound by time, but He does not operate OUT of time.  He is more than time.  Beyond time. SUPER time.

And that God is the One who therefore can keep things in order!

II Peter IV: Time

II Peter IV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (II Peter 3:8 ESV)

Time

What do you do when you have a LOT of something?

Thirty some years ago, while remodeling an attic, I purchased a box of drywall screws. The box was approximately a ten inch cube.  In it were a LOT of drywall screws.

Since that time, I have done quite a few legitimate drywall screw projects.  i.e. drywall projects.

But because I have so many drywall screws, I use them for much more.  Temporary repair jobs involve duct tape and drywall screws.  Roughing in small construction projects involve nails and drywall screws.  Drywall screws are used to hang pictures, hold up wires, mark spots for later work, and connect two… well, almost anything that needs to be connected.

For me, one drywall screw is as a dozen… and a dozen are as one.

While time can be seen as our most precious commodity, God has infinite time.  He does not dole it out in careful bits and pieces.  But He gives us our entire lives of time to learn to know Him, to obey Him, and to love Him.

And we will have that same plethora of time, too.  When Christians open our eyes in heaven, I wonder how long it will take us to absorb the new fact that we have an infinity of time, instead of three score and ten.

But meanwhile… this idea reminds us that every second has a job.  We do not have that drywall screw box of time, yet.  Our time is limited.  Our time is finite.  Our time is measurable (if not by us).

So use time to serve Him.  Use those finite moments to know Him, to obey Him, to love Him.  Anything else is wasting time.

II Peter III: Uncomplicated

II Peter III

…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, II Pete

Uncomplicated

Doesn’t it sometimes seem that the wicked flourish and the righteous suffer?

It seems that way because life is complicated.

And while we observe many things, and know many things, we can not see the full tapestry of the universe, our present time, or our personal lives.

Everything is so intertwined, balanced, and imbalanced that we cannot comprehend it all.

And that might fill us… God’s people, too… with despair, frustration, and fear.

But God knows what He is doing.

He knows that His people are in His arms.  He knows that the path is clear to Him.  He knows that what is complicated to US, is child’s play to Him.

For Him, it is not complicated.

And so we can relax… because He loves His people.

I Peter II: Messengers

II Peter II

 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. II Peter 1:21

Messengers

Recently a friend took on a part time job as a messenger.  In person, he delivered messages from bosses, businesses, and customers to someone else.

His first day did not go well.

First, the message that he delivered was bad news.  And the recipient got mad at the messenger.  It did not devolve into fisticuffs, but it easily could have.

Then, the next message that he delivered was good romantic news.  And the recipient embraced the messenger with enthusiasm, almost including kisses on his face.

Both times, the recipient confused the message with the messenger.

God’s Word is a message from God to God’s people.

The messengers (authors of the Biblical books) were indeed important.  The printers (of the Bible) were indeed important.  The churches (often original recipients, but also apparently in a decisive roll) were indeed important.

But not really.

GOD is the author.

GOD the Father is the sovereign arranger of circumstances for HIS Words to be heard.

GOD the Son is the very message Itself!

GOD the Holy Spirit is the assistant in making the Word change our hearts, minds, and strength.

God’s Word is literally God’s Word.

II Peter I: Diligence

II Peter I

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. II Peter 1:10

Diligence

One of my favorite birthday presents was a toy sailing ship, given to me by my grandfather.  He was an engineer, and had designed, upgraded, and improved the pinnace.  And it actually floated!  It actually let the wind blow it around!  The rudder was attached to the sails, and when I set it up correctly, it would do loops, diagonals, and even a small amount of tacking into the wind.

I learned a lot about sailing from that boat.

And I took careful care of it.

I cleaned it.  I did not leave it out in the weather.  I avoided rocky shoals.  I never let it run aground.  It never left my sight.

It was far from the most expensive toy I ever had.

But it was precious because it was GIVEN to me.  And the gift involved toil and sweat.  The gift involved the sacrifice of time.  The gift showed my grandfather’s love.

And so I never coasted in it’s care and upkeep.  Not because I was scared I would lose it.  But because I understood the nature of a gift.

Whatever you might think of Biblical terms like “calling” and “election,” neither of these ideas means  that Christians coast, either. 

God’s GIFT of salvation drives us to take care.  To be purposefully His.  To be lovingly His.  To not take His gift for granted.

We are diligent.

I Peter XI: God's Side

I Peter XI

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:5 ESV)

God’s Side

We had one of those kids in middle school.  A super athlete, with amazing skills in every sport.  Whenever we chose teams for games during recess, he was ALWAYS chosen first.

We were excited to end up on his team… or to have one of us end up on HIS team. As one of the “late chosen”, I always felt more pride in his game-accomplishments than in my own.

Moreso with God.  When we are on HIS time, He is the team member that is fantastic.

And that enables us to feel excited, and to be in awe of what He does.  But it also makes us gladly humble towards others.

We are all in the same boat… or the same spot on the roster. 

We are on HIS team, and it is a great place to be.

I Peter IX: Free

I Peter IX

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (I Peter 2:16 ESV)

Free

One of the aspect of our rebellion against God is found in our understanding of freedom.

No human has full absolute freedom, in the sense that we are free from authority, oversite, or limitations.  We think we have that kind of freedom.  We think that kind of freedom is desirable.  We think that kind of freedom is obtainable.

But that is not freedom.

Freedom is ours when we acknowledge, accept, and enjoy the reality of God’s real authority.  He IS the creator.  He IS the upholder.  He IS the powerful force of the universe.  He IS the definer, the decider, the provider, the planner, the lover, the redeemer, and the All in All.

We choose freedom when we choose to align ourselves with Him. 

In the same way that a sailboat is free, while the rock in the river is not.

In the same way that a cat is free with it climbs, but not when it swims.

In the same way that an economy is free when society follows established rules, but not in a rebellion.

In the same way that a heart is free when it loves, but not when it despises.

In Christ, we are able to be free!  Because in Christ, we are God’s slaves.

HIS way is grand.  HIS way is peace.  HIS way is love.  And that is freedom.

I Peter VIII: SImple

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation (I Peter 2:2 ESV)

Simple

I had a conversation this morning about cars.  While fancy things like back-up cameras, super predictive and reactive automatic transmissions, separate temperature controls for every seat, and mobile hotspots, GPS, and location broadcasters are all exciting and attractive, sometimes I am not so sure.

Usually, the fancy things break.

Usually, the fancy things need adjustments.

Usually, the fancy things end up being replaced by fancier things.

Usually, the fancy things are expensive.

I miss my first vehicle.  Manual transmission.  Manual windows. Triangle windows for air circulation.  Maps in my glovebox.

It did what it was supposed to do.  It was inexpensive.  I could make most repairs on my own.

And it was my first car, so I adored it!  I was excited every time I started it! I wanted to show it off, even to folk who might not be as impressed as I was.

Salvation is like that.  Just give me Jesus.

I Peter VII: Peculiar

I Peter VII

 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15,16 ESV)

Peculiar

If you desire to be popular, it will be difficult to be holy.

If you desire to fit in, it will be difficult to be holy.

If you desire to be in the majority, it will be difficult to be holy.

If you desire to be just like everyone else, it will be difficult to be holy.

If you desire to not stand out, it will be difficult to be holy.

Being holy, as Jesus was holy, means being motivated by God’s Word, instead of by facebook headlines. 

Being holy, as Jesus was holy, means loving God’s commands, instead of loving human laws.

Being holy, as Jesus was holy, means ignoring public opinion, instead of being like everyone else.

Peculiar, in God’s eyes… is a good thing. 

I Peter VI: The Cross

I Peter VI

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (I Peter 1:2 ESV)

The Cross

SO many battles were fought in the Middle East at a location known as Harmegeddon.  I found nine major fights that took place there over many centuries.  

But maybe not because of some symbolic or spiritual quality of Harmegeddon.

Rather, in the days when armies moved across land, you could not move a large army through the Fertile Crescent without passing through the valley, crossroads, intersection, and river bed of Harmegeddon

Everything leads there.  It was the only way to get THERE from here. 

I would not buy a house there…

The Cross of Christ Jesus is like that.  It is not just an event in history, it is a necessary event.  It is not just a spiritual idea, it is the way of forgiveness and redemption.  It is not just a place that gives us Good Friday, it is the place that gives us EVERY day.

The way to grace is through the blood of Christ shed on the cross.  The way to peace is through the blood of Christ shed on the cross.

It is the only way to get THERE from here.

I Peter V: An Outlandish Concept

I Peter V

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (I Peter 1:2 ESV)

Outlandish Concept

Peter’s statement here is wildly unusual.

Humans (as well as dogs and kittens) think we are the boss.

We choose to do things because it suits us to choose to do them.

We fight for my rights, we work towards my needs, we follow my dreams, we travel my path, we figure out my plans, we make my bucket list, we do a lot of me stuff.

But surprisingly, Peter writes that all of this life stuff, for believers in Jesus, gets to be done for obedience to Jesus Christ.

This is actually a good thing… because my rights, my needs, my dreams, my path, my plans, and my bucket list are aimed at something frail, temporary, untested, and not that pretty.

But doing everything for Jesus… while it seems un-enlightened, impractical, old-fashioned and unpopular… is actually the only way to find grace and peace.

I Peter IV: Sanctification

I Peter IV

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (I Peter 1:2 ESV)

Sanctification is the theological word that refers to how Christians become more like Christ, and less like the way we used to be.

We become more obedient because of this sanctification.

We become more loving because of this sanctification.

We become more holy because of this sanctification.

We become better, and stronger, and wiser, and betterer, and strongerer, and wiserer because of this sanctification.

And in the end, and along the way, this sanctification is what God uses to multiply grace and peace in our lives.

Sanctification happens because of grace, and sanctification is the conduit of MORE grace.

Sanctification happens because of peace, and sanctification is the conduit of MORE peace.

I Peter III: Tomorrow

I Peter III

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (I Peter 1:2 ESV)

Meteorologists do not have foreknowledge.

Insurance Actuary Tables do not have foreknowledge.

Political Election Analysts do not have foreknowledge.

Gambling casinos do not have foreknowledge.

Stockbrokers do not have foreknowledge.

But God does.  In fact, God alone does.

And His foreknowledge of every historical event, every personal event, every thought, every word, and every deed are what guarantees that His people will have grace and peace multiplied.

We receive His grace because of His foreknowledge of all things.

We can have peace because of His foreknowledge of all things.

So we can trust that Grace and Peace are coming.

I Peter II: Goodbye

I Peter II

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. ( Peter 1:2 ESV)

Goodbye

We say goodbye without thinking about what it really means.  More than just an empty word uttered at departure, it literally is a mashing together of the phrase, “God be with ye.”  And even that was not originally meant in the hopeful-wishful statement it sounds like. It was a statement of fact, that modern English would render: God IS with you.

In the same way, Peter is not closing the greeting part of his letter with an empty meaningless phrase.  Grace and Peace are not just nice concepts. 

Grace is the foundation of every Christian’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

Peace is the result of every Christian’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Peter wants us to have MORE Grace.  More unconditional love from God.  More forgiveness.  More mercy.  More confidence in prayer.  More change because of Christ’s work.

Peter wants us to have MORE Peace.  More freedom from worry. More trust in His hands.  More understanding of His plans.  More security for tomorrow and for eternity.

That kind of thing should grabs our attention.

I Peter I: The Script

I Peter I

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion… (I Peter 1:1 ESV)

The Script

Good or bad, our lives do not happen to us randomly, or for no reason.

We can not always know why events occur, encounters happen, conversations take place, or circumstances transpire.  And that is often frustrating, confusing, or painful.

Bur God knows.

Peter writes to a group of Christians who had experienced a traumatic relocation.  They had been forced to move hundreds of miles from their precious homes, had been physically persecuted, and we scattered far from their communities, families, and friends.

And they were wondering why.

Peter does not give them the kind of answer they probably wanted.  He merely adds an adjective to their designation of ‘exile.’

He says they were elect.  Selected.  Chosen. 

By God.

And while their place in the historical scheme of things, the salvific scheme of things, or even the personal scheme of things is not made clear to them, that word could have been comforting.

God was at work… and God had chosen them to have a part in it.

God was at work… and God’s work in both good times and bad is done by His beloved.

God was at work… and God chooses ultimately good things for His people.

God was at work… and God loves those He choses.

And Christians today are just as elect, just as selected, just as chosen.

And that means we are loved.

James VIII: Meddling

James VIII

…let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:20 ESV)

Many of us like to fix what is broken.  Whether it is correcting poor grammar, fine tuning an engine, or resolving broken relationships, when we encounter something that is ‘not right,’ we use prayer, words, and actions to make things better.

But only God… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… can fix broken things caused by sin.

We cannot bring new habits into a family member’s life.  We cannot sanctify a miss-directed neighbor.  We cannot convince, cajole, force, or legislate righteousness into those around us.

But God… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… covers over a multitude of sins through His salvific work.

I wonder if James is ironically under-exaggerating in his statement.  Because bringing ALL of us sinners back from our wanderings will cover EVERY sin!

The gospel is the answer to what is broken.

Reconciliation with God is the answer to what is broken.

Salvation is the answer to what is broken.

And unlike the efforts I often make… showing Jesus to folk is not meddling.

James VII: The Easy Route

James VII

…is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. (James 5:13 ESV)

The Easy Route

We make things so complicated.  Because some things ARE complicated! Many years ago I trained for a yacht race in Australia.  I might have wanted to jump in the vessel, and start sailing, but many necessary steps were a part of leaving harbor under sail.

Brain surgery is like…. well, brain surgery. We can’t pick up a butter knife and perform such medical procedures.

Learning a new language, despite the hopes offered by new Apps, is a mind-bending exercise of learning vocabulary, grammar, and foreign concepts.

And suffering… we act like suffering is a complicated problem, too.

But James says… when we suffer:  Pray.

Because our suffering is always complicated, the best solution is to talk with the Most Complicated Person in the Universe, God Himself.

Because our suffering is always immense, the best solution is to talk with the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, All-knowing God.

Because our suffering is always personal, the best solution is to talk to the One who loves unconditionally, completely, and salvifically.

Suffering?  Pray.

James VI: If

James VI

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15 ESV)

If

We act like fortune tellers, sometimes.  We predict we will arrive at our destination at a particular time.  We predict our paycheck will be a certain amount.  We predict students will learn at a certain pace.  We predict political results, economic patterns, and the weather.

And such predictions are usually iffy.

But God’s people know something very grand.

Tomorrow depends on the will of the God who loves His people.

A grand thing, because His tomorrows are always the best.

A grand thing, because He is more reliable than a car’s engine, a payroll accountant, or a child’s mind.

A grand thing, because He has all knowledge, beyond political analysts, economic data, and temperature gradients.

The Will of God makes all His ‘if’s reliable.  Because of God.

The Will of God makes all our ‘if’s hopeful.  Because of God.

The Will of God makes all ‘if’s peaceful. Because of God.

Better Friday

1. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

2. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). 

3. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

4. “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!”  (John 19:26-27). 

5. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46) 

Good Thursday: Underdog

Good Thursday

Underdog

My favorite cartoon was Underdog.  I am not sure why.  But one thing I remember most was the end of many episodes.  Underdog would be in trouble, some bad guy about to kill Polly Purebred, or some other dastardly victory. 

And the announcer’s voice would always say, “Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT…. UNDERDOG show.”  The dramatic music would start and I would urgently wish it were tomorrow.

Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT show.

That is a lot like Maundy Thursday.  Things were looking grim.  The crowds were not quite as enthusiastic.  Leadership, both state and the temple, were planning Christ’s death.  The new kingdom was being trodden underfoot instead of being at hand.

It looked like this was the end… but Jesus had told them all not to miss the NEXT part.

Because He was coming back from death.  It wasn’t the end, or anything like it.  Hope hadn’t fled, it had just become something better.  The things that seemed wrong, were so very, very right.

But this isn’t just something that happened 2000 years ago for our intellectual consideration.  It is something to which we can hitch our wagons.  Something we can relish.  Something we need.

We often feel like “this is the end.”  Financially, politically, emotionally, we are often as trapped as Underdog or as despairing as the disciples.  The Resurrection tells us, “Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT part!”

Each apparent end is a beginning.  Each apparent failure is a fresh start.  Each valley’s low point is the start of the next slope up.

But it only gets better with the Christ.  Without Him it really IS the end.