Today's Lectionary TextRead slowly and prayerfully. What words or phrases stand out for you?
I Peter 1:10-25Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look! Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. For “All flesh is like grass That word is the good news that was announced to you.  Today's Devotional
What are you going to take with you from I Peter to encourage you in the difficult times—times when you feel your flame start to flicker?
I Peter 4 and 5 are full of practical advice, but I would sum it up in one sentence: “Do not lord it over those in your charge but be examples to the flock.” It is easy for us pastors to preach and teach, but hard to be examples. The bible says, “Live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God” (I Peter 4:2). It can mean avoiding sins of flesh (I Peter 4:3-7). It can also mean, however, “loving one another constantly” (I Peter 4:8-11). Both ways of being examples include enduring sufferings with complete trust in God’s faithfulness while continuing to do good (I Peter 4:12-19). The fruits would be humility (I Peter 5:6) and freedom from anxiety (I Peter 5:7). Humble yourself, then people will despise you! Humble yourself anyway. Love enemies, then they will destroy you! Love them anyway. If we can do this with complete trust in God’s faithfulness, we can keep our fire burning and spread the sparks everywhere we go! Prayer for ReflectionHoly Spirit, we pray for our spiritual leaders who ae exhausted and for new spiritual leaders (lay and clergy) who are called to help start more fires. Amen.
“Excerpted from the book “Catch Fire in 50 Days: Joining the Movement of God’s Mission in the World” by Blake Busick and Christie Latona.” |
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