Faithful on Fridays Blog

Last week we learned that the Word of God is good news, evidently Peter needed to remind his readers that sin is not good news (2:1), therefore, we should be like newborns who are totally dependent on our mother’s nourishment (lower story). Like an infant crying to be fed we long for pure spiritual milk from His Word in order to grow and mature in our salvation (vs. 2): His rescue, deliverance, healing, and protection.

Peter showed His Jewish background again when he called Jesus the Living Stone and quoted the prophet Isaiah three times. Remember, he’s writing to his Jewish brethren who understood the significance of Old Testament references: inheritance, prophets, holiness, ransom, perfect lamb, priesthood, sacrifices, and now the stone. He also wants us, as non-Jews, to understand that the cornerstone, the rejected stone, and the stumbling stone was referring to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

When Peter stepped down as head pastor of the Jerusalem Church and James took over, we read something wonderful that he wrote:

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the Spirit that He has made to dwell in us”? James 4:5 ESV

As we yearn to know God He yearns for relationship with us through the indwelling Spirit and when we come to Him it’s like we’re building an upper story spiritual house of worship, becoming priests ourselves, and offering spiritual sacrifices. It’s no longer Jew and Gentile but we’re all a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own possession (vs. 9-11). When we share our story of His forgiveness and grace, deliverance from darkness to light, and proclaiming how excellent He is, we’re now called His people (Hosea 2:21-23).

Peter warned that there will always be a war inside our souls, the world drawing us one way and the Spirit in the opposite way; Paul phrased it like this:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17 ESV

I think Peter was one of those who earnestly expected the return of Christ in his lifetime: the day of visitation (vs. 12). Even though it didn’t happen then it reminds us to also have that excitement: Jesus is coming back.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.