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Category Archives: 1 Peter

1 Peter 1:17-20

28 Oct

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

1 Peter 1:17-20

Dear God, my first response to this passage from Peter was to say that I just don’t think about my eternal reward when I wake up in the morning or make my decisions about how to act or whether to worship you during the day. I just don’t think about it. Honestly, if I just lived and our souls died when we die I’d be okay with that.

But then I got to thinking about Peter’s audience. I got to thinking about the people around the world who currently suffer for you and your name. Their faith costs them pain and suffering. If that were my life, then, yes, I can see where I would need a reason to intentionally accept suffering in this present life. It’s very smug of me to say that I don’t need eternal glory or rewards to follow you because, honestly, following you in my present life not only doesn’t cost me anything but it also plays to my advantage to some extent. So in some ways, I get rewards now for living for you in my current culture.

Father, I am sorry I do not better appreciate the suffering of other Christians around the world. I don’t pray for them enough. I don’t pray for the people persecuting them at all. Perhaps it’s a lack of empathy. I had a friend tell me yesterday about a personal tragedy that I’ve experienced myself in the past. Tears came to my eyes as she told me about it. Why? Because I could empathize with her, at least to some extent. It took me back to the pain I felt, and I hope that just my ability to relate and offer heartfelt sympathy was at least a little bit of a comfort to her. So for my brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering or afraid for their lives because of their faith, I pray that they will have a great place in your kingdom. I will gladly serve them one day. I pray for their persecutors. Give them eyes to see. Stop them in their tracks. Bring them to repentance and a place where they will submit to you. Please reveal to me if there is anything I should be doing to glorify you in the lives of others today. Show me how to encourage. Show me how to love. Show me how to sympathize beyond my ability to relate.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 28, 2025 in 1 Peter

 

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1 Peter 1:17-19

24 Apr

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 

Dear God, when I just read this passage this morning, my mind instantly thought of the Twila Paris song “Lamb of God.” The chorus says, “Oh, Lamb of God. Sweet Lamb of God. I trust the holy Lamb of God. Wash me in his precious blood. My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.”

This is the verse of the day for Bible Gateway, and I assume they’ve put it here to coincide with Easter last weekend. It’s still remarkable. What you did. What you’re doing. Who you are vs. who I am. You are the Almighty God of the universe. I am 1/7-billionth of the earth’s human population (not to mention the rest of your earthly creation). And yet here you are, ransoming for me. Taking the blow of humanity’s sin, including mine, so I can sit here and pray to you this morning.

So yesterday, I talked about being more grateful for everything including my food and everything else. How did it turn out? Did it change me? Apparently not. I ended up praying before just one out of the four meals I’ve had since then. I was ashamed of myself after I finished my breakfast this morning and I remembered. I’m sorry for my sense of entitlement. Especially on a day when I was talking to someone else about the food insecurity for some in our community, and yet I am so ungrateful.

Father, I also take Jesus for granted. I take his difficult life, horrific death, and powerful resurrection for granted. I’ll do my best to be grateful. I am grateful in the limited way I can be given how great all of this is compared with what I can comprehend. Thank you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 24, 2025 in 1 Peter

 

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1 Peter 1:6-7

10 Jan

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:6-7

Dear God, it can be so hard to keep this world in perspective. Our current era in perspective with the rest of earth’s eras. My one little life in perspective with the lives of the other 8 billion of people on earth (which, by the way, has almost doubled in my lifetime—my life has only gotten smaller and smaller).

For Peter. He’s telling them about the world beyond this one, and trying to put this one in perspective. What we see is so, so small compared with the reality that awaits us. the struggles I have today will be long forgotten in that time to come. And in that time to come, I will get to see you as you are. The veil will be lifted from my eyes. I’ll see the powers and principalities and what you do with them.

So, Father, I am glad for the joy ahead. I’m also glad for the joy now. You are good and kind. You give me a much more comfortable life than I deserve. Thank you. Thank you for ministering to me this morning. Thank you for your Holy Spirit guiding, comforting, and teaching me. You know there are special needs for today. Please provide, guide, heal, and bless. Help me to be everything you need me to be for those around me.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 10, 2025 in 1 Peter

 

1 Peter 1:10-12

06 Jan

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

1 Peter 1:10-12

Dear God, if I’ve ever noticed these verses before I do not remember them. They are totally new to me now, but I love them. I love Peter’s description of the Old Testament Prophets’ confusion and lack of knowledge over the very prophecies Jesus was giving them. How or why would this Christ suffer? That didn’t make sense to them.

Then to say that they were told that the prophecies weren’t for them for for us. For me. What an interesting thing for them to experience. What a disappointing thing for them. What a sad thing for them.

When I sat down here this morning, I was really feeling sorry for myself. In fact, I sat down and tried to think of a passage that would make me feel better, but nothing came to mind. So I went to my standard way of doing by going to Bible Gateway and looking to see their verse of the day. Interestingly, the verse was verse 13, the one right after these three verses. But it starts with the word “so,” and whenever I see that I always go back to look for the context of the “so.” So, I looked back and the preceding verses, and I found this wonderful encouragement through the ignorance and lack of participation in the good things of your plan by the very prophets who were so close to you they spoke your words to the people. Isaiah. Jeremiah. Micah. I could list them all. My point is, although they were prophets, they were not given full understanding. And many of them suffered for your message. So who am I to think I deserve any better.

Father, thank you for these prophets of old. I know they are enjoying their eternity with you right now. I know they love and worship you in this moment. And they are in the midst of your complete joy. I too will one day experience your joy in the afterlife. But in this moment, there are so many things for which I can be and should be grateful. You have given me so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for answering my heartfelt prayers yesterday. I have more prayers to offer you. You know what they are. I pray them in the silence of my heart right now. I give it all to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 6, 2025 in 1 Peter

 

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1 Peter 5:5-11

31 Oct

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5:5-11

Dear God, I’m certainly not an elder in the church, as Peter addressed in verses 1-4. I am under the authority of the elders. These verses are for me. So here is a bullet-point list of what Peter is calling me to:

  • Accept authority over me in the areas of church and work
  • Be humble in appearance and posture
  • Humble myself under your power and authority in my life
  • Bring my worries and cares to you
  • Stand firm against Satan
  • Be strong in my faith
  • Be encouraged that I am not alone as a believer in this world
  • Look forward to the day when the New Earth will be come and I will be perfected in you

Father, I suppose that starts with today. Help me to accept the authorities you put over me. Help me to be a good and wise authority over others. When it’s time to worry or solve a problem, help me to remember to bring it to you in prayer. And lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from Satan. Help me to consider my life worth nothing to me. I believe. Help my unbelief. And help me to not only be encouraged by other believers, but to also be a source of encouragement to them as well. I do look forward to a day when I will get to be with you, but that moment has not come. In this moment, I am glad to finish the race and complete the task you have given to me. The task of testifying to your grace.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 31, 2024 in 1 Peter

 

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1 Peter 3:8-9

13 Sep

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9

Dear God, my wife and I were talking over breakfast this morning about some hurts in our lives and how we have responded to them. How we have healed and are still healing from them. Part of it is what Peter is talking about here. Not just forgiveness, but sympathizing with the person who hurt me. Loving them. Being tenderhearted towards them. Being humble myself. Don’t retaliate in action or in words, but care for them instead. Bless them instead.

And it’s not only for their sake. It’s for my sake too. It’s for my wife’s sake. We need to do these things so we can be healthy. Some of the most unhappy people I know are those who do not follow what Peter is teaching here. What Jesus taught Peter. That’s one reason I don’t understand the image a lot of people have of the Jesus of Revelation coming to just lay waste to people. As if you’ve been holding back your anger all this time and just stuffing it down. As if you’re waiting to explode on us. No, that’s not you. The blood on Jesus in Revelation is his own blood. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That includes Revelation. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. That includes Genesis to Revelation. You long for us. And if you are calling us to treat those who are bad to us in this way, how much more do you do that yourself?

Father, thank you for the freedom to turn loose of my hate. Thank you that you have given me so much love that I don’t feel like I have to conserve my own love for myself, but I can share it with others. Yes, sometimes I fail. Sometimes I return an insult with an insult. Sometimes I return mockery with mockery. I’m sorry for those times. I’m grateful those times are fewer and fewer in my life. But continue to purify my heart. I offer it and all of my rights to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 13, 2024 in 1 Peter

 

1 Peter 1:17-20

24 Apr

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

1 Peter 1:17-20

Dear God, verse 17 kind of reminds me of my prayer yesterday about hypocrisy. “[You] will judge or reward [us] according to what [we] do. So [we] must live in fear of [you] during [our] time here as ‘temporary residents.’” So I can’t just take this admonition by Peter to do good while I am here as a temporary resident, but I need to layer it with selfless earnestness.

But that’s not really what’s on my heart this morning. I had a long, sometimes hard conversation with a family member yesterday. I tried to show love, but I’m not sure I did. I tried to help them see the perspective of others, including myself, but I’m not sure I did. I tried to do some good, but I’m not sure I did. I can say without reservation I was honest and transparent. But I don’t know if any good will come of it or not.

Father, I guess my prayer this morning is that I will be as genuine as I can be in my love for you and the things that I do. Help me to be the man you need me to be in all situations. I pray that you will take any good that was done yesterday and use it to grow into something beautiful. And anything that was not good, I pray that you will throw it on the fire and let it burn like chaff. And as I go into four different important meetings today, help me to glorify you in all of it. Help me to decrease as you increase. Help me to be part of your will being done and your kingdom coming into earth as it is in heaven.

I pray this through Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 24, 2024 in 1 Peter

 

Lent Day 45

29 Mar

Dear God, I want to say thank you for my wife. She’s amazing. She left just a little bit of you everywhere she went yesterday. A local business lost the husband of the couple that owns it (I mentioned this yesterday), and she was able to send their manager whom she knows well a column she wrote about that man almost nine years ago. He told her how much it blessed him and everyone he shared it with at the business. She mentored a fifth-grader grader at the local elementary school. She lead singing at our church last night for the Last Supper service (some call it Maundy Thursday, but Catholics don’t for some reason). She went to the funeral of a friend’s mother and got to love on that friend. She even went out of her way to give me a lovely compliment. Thank you for her and for living so beautifully through her.

Here are the verses Good Friday from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 22, 95
  • PM Psalms: 40, 54
  • Genesis 22:1-14
  • John 13:36-38, 19:38-42
  • 1 Peter 1:10-20

Psalms 22, 95 – The tone of these two psalms is so different. It’s interesting that they are paired together this morning. Psalm 22 expresses so much pain while Psalm 95 calls us to worship. It made me wonder about what was going through Jesus this morning nearly 2,000 years ago. If he had written a psalm that morning (it’s not like he could have, but if he had), what would he have said. What words would have described what was in his heart? Maybe this same type of mixture–anguish and worship.

Psalms 40, 54 – Thinking of Jesus’s betrayal from Judas, but also the men who purported to be your representatives through the temple, Psalm 54 is set up with, ” A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” Then David says in the psalm, “Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life–men without regard for God.” Oh, how sad this betrayal must have been for him. Abandoned. Alone–even from you. Alone maybe for the first time in his existence–on earth or before earth. Oh, my Jesus. Thank you.

Genesis 22:1-14 – I’ve never liked this story as a comparison with what you did with Jesus, giving us your only son, because I don’t think your instructions to Abraham about Isaac have anything to do with what you did with Jesus, EXCEPT, this morning I noticed that maybe the ram with his horns stuck in the thicket is the Jesus figure here. Maybe Isaac is my sin, and I am sentenced. In verse 22:8, Abraham says, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then in verse 14, Abraham calls that place, “The LORD Will Provide.” Yes, you did provide, Father.

John 13:36-38, 19:38-42 – You are in a place where I cannot yet go, but you have left your Holy Spirit here with me to walk with me, comfort me, teach me, guide me. Thank you. As for Nicodemus helping Joseph care for Jesus’s body, I still think it is one of the most beautiful acts of love and self-sacrifice I’ve ever seen.

1 Peter 1:10-20 – I’ll confess I’m not really feeling this passage this morning. It doesn’t seem to fit as much with where my head is right now. I’ll just say that I love that Peter was who he was, experience what he experienced, made the mistakes me made, learned the lessons he learned, repented of his mistakes and sins, and lived an amazing bold life for you. What a great example!

Father, I offer this day to you. Thank you for the Friday that was so good for me and so tragic for you. I am yours.

I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, my Lord, and with your Holy Spirit who resides in me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 29, 2024 in 1 Peter, Galatians, John, Lent 2024, Psalms

 

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1 Peter 3:13-22

14 Nov

13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

1 Peter 3:13-22

Dear God, verse 16 is really interesting to me right now: 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. I know there are some things that I do the frustrate some people–good people. I know they disagree with some of the stances I have taken on politically charges issues in our community. I’m sorry for that, and I’m sorry that they haven’t very often wanted to engage in dialogue with me about our differences. Honestly, maybe I haven’t pursued dialogue with them either. But I’ve done my best to keep myself pure in this. To keep my motivations pure before you. No hidden agendas, but just trying to follow a set of values I believe you are building in me. So my conscience, I believe, is clear. And I think my reputation is too. I just hope it is for your glory. I hope people might be drawn to develop a discipling relationship with you after seeing you in me. Of course, I fail all of the time. I hope that even my failures might be used as an opportunity to relate to others and show them your forgiveness of me. If you can love Jacob, David, Peter, and even lowly ol’ me, then you can love them too.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, cleanse me with your water. Cleanse my spirit. Leave me with a clean conscience that is only cleansed through the power of your perfect life on earth, the sacrifice of death, and then the resurrection. Resurrect my soul again today. Help me to rest in you.

I pray all of this through that same power Jesus portrayed 2,000 years ago,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2023 in 1 Peter

 

1 Peter 3:13-18

14 Nov

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:13-18

Dear God, I was listening to the Bible in a Year Podcast from Ascension Press this morning and Fr. Mike was talking about the passage in Luke 12:49-53 where Jesus talked about coming to set the world on fire and he would end up separating father from son and mother from daughter. It’s a tough thing to hear. It’s a tough thing that I’ve experienced. It’s a heaviness I carry with me every moment.

So what am I to do? Love you with all my heart, mind, and strength, and love my neighbors like myself. Follow Peter’s instructions here. Live a life buried in yours and let the chips fall where they may. But do it humbly. Do it compassionately. Do it lovingly.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, my God—three in one—I pray that you help me be exactly who you need me to be today. Whisper in my ear.

I pray all of this in your name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2022 in 1 Peter

 
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