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29 April 2008
Word on the Web
1 Peter 1 v 10-12
The prophets searched carefully and tried to learn about this salvation. They prophesied about the grace that was coming to you. The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, telling in advance about the sufferings of Christ and about the glory that would follow those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them, when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time. It was shown them that their service was not for themselves but for you, when they told about the truths you have now heard. Those who preached the Good News to you told you those things with the help of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven - things into which angels desire to look.
To be a Christian at the time Peter wrote this letter was not an easy option. The Emperor Nero had spent years rounding up Christians, imprisoning them, burning them and feeding them to lions for public entertainment. Christians lived in fear.
For most of us we do not have to fear persecution, but we all have periods of our life when our circumstances will cause us to suffer either physically or from fear.
When Jesus was crucified, Peter was so fearful, he denied knowing Jesus. However by the time he wrote this letter, he saw the events of the crucifixion in a different light. He uses words such as "glory", "Good News" and "grace" to describe the cross. The resurrection must have changed his ideas. And as he studied the Old Testament, Peter discovered the prophets had foretold the events of Jesus' suffering. Also the Holy Spirit had helped him to discover its true meaning. So he tells his readers that despite their sufferings they are privileged to know things that even "angels desire to know". When our life is tough we too have the Bible, and God has given us the Holy Spirit to make sense of our "sufferings".
Lord thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit and the Bible. Help us understand your word and your plans better today. Amen
Written by David Wells
Word on the Web
1 Peter 1 v 10-12
The prophets searched carefully and tried to learn about this salvation. They prophesied about the grace that was coming to you. The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, telling in advance about the sufferings of Christ and about the glory that would follow those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them, when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time. It was shown them that their service was not for themselves but for you, when they told about the truths you have now heard. Those who preached the Good News to you told you those things with the help of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven - things into which angels desire to look.
To be a Christian at the time Peter wrote this letter was not an easy option. The Emperor Nero had spent years rounding up Christians, imprisoning them, burning them and feeding them to lions for public entertainment. Christians lived in fear.
For most of us we do not have to fear persecution, but we all have periods of our life when our circumstances will cause us to suffer either physically or from fear.
When Jesus was crucified, Peter was so fearful, he denied knowing Jesus. However by the time he wrote this letter, he saw the events of the crucifixion in a different light. He uses words such as "glory", "Good News" and "grace" to describe the cross. The resurrection must have changed his ideas. And as he studied the Old Testament, Peter discovered the prophets had foretold the events of Jesus' suffering. Also the Holy Spirit had helped him to discover its true meaning. So he tells his readers that despite their sufferings they are privileged to know things that even "angels desire to know". When our life is tough we too have the Bible, and God has given us the Holy Spirit to make sense of our "sufferings".
Lord thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit and the Bible. Help us understand your word and your plans better today. Amen
Written by David Wells
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