In His Service

                                               Like-mindedness in These Last Days 1 Peter 3:8-12 It is interesting to look at the like-mindedness in our world today. There are those who desire to see mass change in society and are willing to do anything to see it come to pass. There are those who desire to see the traditions of the past upheld, and there are those who are bent on rebellion against all authority. But Christ’s mind-set is of an entirely different nature than the human nature displayed on social media and broadcasted on the internet and secular and corporate television.  Peter, seeing the decay of sin upon the culture and people of his day, spoke and was led by the Holy Spirit to write these words to the Christians spread out over Asia-minor. Let’s look at the words from scripture, Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympath...

                                               The Same Goes For the Both of You 1 Peter 3:1-7 If the Apostle Peter was alive today, He would be eaten alive by social media and 21st century culture. But  the truth he wrote was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and is good teaching for today’s Christians . Peter’s teaching was revolutionary on men and women. So before I get eaten alive, let the Holy Spirit speak to the issue of man and woman, husband and wife. We are to submit, serve, and honor each other. In context to Peter’s exhortation on the attitudes in gender and marriage, Peter had a wife, a mother-in-law and a possible child (the latter is not spoken of in scripture). He knew that Jesus had great respect for women, and He had stayed at Peter’s home numerous times. (Mk.1:29-30, 2:1-12) With this background, let’s look at the text, “...

  Submit, Serve, and Honor 1 Peter 2:18-25       As I continue in the study of 1 Peter, these verses on slavery seemed to be glossed over, but everyone today is a servant to something. Jesus and Paul made these statements:   “ No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matt. 6:24 “The one to whom you offer yourself—he will take you and be your master, and you will be his slav e. ” Rom. 6:16 TLB Peter continues in his admonitions to submit, serve, and honor those who are in authority. It was brought now to the basest level in society: servants and slaves. Peter knew to whom he served and to whom he was a slave. In admonishing the exiled believers, who were scattered among many countries and cities of Asia minor, they too were likely to be slaves or servants to someone. Let’s look at the text, “You who are servants, be...

                                                                             Honor Authorities  1 Peter 2:11-17 If there is one urging that is difficult to do, it is submitting to ungodly authority. Today, our world seems to be run by autocratic authoritarians. In many countries there is violence and civil strife against anyone who goes against the ruler’s demands and laws. Throughout history there has been autocratic authority of one kind or another: kings, emperors, sultans, imans, presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and premiers. Peter lived under the auspices of four Roman emperors from Tiberius to Nero, and various perfects (governors) and kings. The Jews in Peter's time were always divided and fighting over Jesus Christ, and it was the mindse...