Something to think about as you start a new week

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: … who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:20b-21, 23

Peter gives 4 points about patience.

Endure unjust suffering with patience.
This is counterintuitive.
Lashing out, responding in kind,
Replaced with quiet strength and confidence

It is commendable before God.
This is counteractive.
What natural men disdain
Leads to favor with God Almighty.

It is our calling.
This is counterbalancing.
Whatever suffering we face as believers
Meets with the force of the call to take up a cross daily.

It is Christlike
This is countercultural.
When pushed to assert, to push back, we don’t,
Trusting God to make it right.

Peter’s principle: All of us suffer.
Followers of Christ endure unjust suffering with patience the way Christ did.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Peter lists 4 distinctives that set believers apart.

A chosen race
Selected.
Sealed.
Part of a race, a generation through the second birth

A royal priesthood
Intercessors
Ordained servants
But part of the royal family as well.

A holy nation
Citizens
Subjects of the King of kings.
A part of an everlasting kingdom.

A people for His own possession
Unique
Distinct
Set apart for God.

Peter’s principles:
We are a special people, set apart because of who we are.
But we are also distinct because of the responsibilities we’re given.

Proclaim His excellencies
We know them better than anyone.

Namely –
Once we were not a people
Now we’re God’s people.

Once we were outside His mercy
But now we’ve received it.

No one else can tell that story.
No one else can carry that message.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 1 Peter 1:13-15

Peter lists 4 principles governing our conduct.

Prepare your minds for action.
Discipline your thinking.
Sharpen your focus.
Satan will attack you.
But your hope is in the coming of Christ.

Keep sober in spirit.
Be mature and steadfast.
Exercise self-discipline.
The world will allure you,
But this is not your home.

Fix your hope on Jesus.
Live with confidence.
Watch with expectation.
Discouragement will rear its head.
But you know what lies ahead.

Be holy.
Set yourself apart.
Conform to Christ’s example.
Society will pressure you.
But you have been called by a holy God.

Peter’s principles.
Our hope in Jesus separates us from the rest of the world.
Our conduct must reflect that separation.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4

Peter names 4 things we need to know about our inheritance.

It is incorruptible.
It cannot decay, tarnish, or rust.
It cannot pass away or being changed in any way.
It cannot be diminished or damaged

It is undefiled.
It is pure and holy.
It is unpolluted and untouched.
It is flawless and perfect.

It does not fade away.
It will not expire.
It cannot be used up.
It will not be forgotten or become irrelevant.

It is reserved in heaven for you.
It is guarded and protected in the safest of places.
It is held until the appropriate time.
It is yours and yours alone.

Peter’s principles:
Our inheritance is the hope we have in Christ.
It is how and why we rejoice in hard times.