Heirs, Trials and Loving One Another

Peter, he was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.  He wrote the first book of Peter to the Jewish Christians that had been scattered throughout the five Roman provinces during the Diaspora. 

The areas that he wrote to were Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.  These were the areas that Christianity had spread to after the beginning of the church.  In the first chapter of Peter, he explained to them that they were “elected”, meaning that they were “chosen” by God and that it wasn’t random.  He went on to tell them what it meant to be saved and to live as saved and that we have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4)  Did you hear that?  We have an inheritance.  What does it mean to be an heir?  An heir is defined as “a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death”.  We are an heir to heaven.  Heaven is for eternity.  Isn’t that wonderful news?!  Romans 8:17 says this: “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”  We are heirs with Christ.  When we accepted Christ into our lives, we became a joint heir, adopted into the family of God.  We cannot experience this inheritance unless we are born again.

Peter then goes on to discuss with them the purpose for trials in their lives.  I read this on a commentary (I cannot remember which one):  “Our faith isn’t tested because God doesn’t know how much or what kind of faith we have. It is tested because we often are ignorant of how much or what kind of faith we have.  God’s purpose in testing is to display the enduring quality of our faith.”  So, it isn’t a matter of God testing to see if we have faith or not.  It’s to point out to us that we do, indeed, have faith and how much we actually have of it.  What kind of faith do you have?  Are you struggling with trials?  He goes on to describe the process.  Like gold that is purified by fire, our faith is purified by trials.  Gold will one day perish, but our faith will not. 

Peter goes on to inform his readers about their conduct as one that is saved.  How do you act?  Do you act as if you are saved?  I admit, sometimes I am guilty of acting as if I’m not saved.  Don’t you?  We all sin.  Living the way God wants us to is sometimes hard.  He wants us to be sober, or rather, being able to look at life seriously.  He calls us to a life of holiness, giving up the lifestyle that we had before, the lifestyle of the world.  Life isn’t a party.  Do you realize that when we stand before Jesus upon His return, that the only way we’ll be able to stand in front of Him is because of His grace?   It isn’t because we’ve lived a sinless life after we became saved.  We must understand that God isn’t going to show partiality, He is going to judge our conduct.  Peter also tells us that we can call on God for help when we need it.  Verse 17 tells us, “and if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deed…”.    

Peter’s final thoughts in this chapter is this “love one another” (verse 22).  Reminds me of a bluegrass song.  Really?  Yes, really. 

“Cause we’re all bound together,

When you’re down,
I’ll help you brother,
Only love lasts forever,
So, let’s love one another”

Love One Another is by the Infamous Stringdusters.  It’s one of my favorites.  Make the choice to love one another. It’s a decision that we must actively make, a choice.  We are to love others daily with the same love that God loves us with.