Love and Suffering. Suffering and Love. Those words jump out as we read this chapter.
Since Jesus suffered, and we have received the benefit of His suffering we are set free from sin. Jesus’ suffering happened because He loves us. Receiving that love reorients the priorities of our lives.
At one point our priority was selfishness and pleasure. Our focus was on ourselves. This is our natural state when we are born and separated from God. Our love focuses on ourselves. It’s almost as if we think, “How could there be anyone more important than me?” So we worship ourselves and indulge in anything that will make us feel “good,” no matter how fleeting the feeling is.
When we resist that in-born impulse people around us notice. They don’t understand it. They mock us for that choice. Again we see that we live in a world in conflict – spiritual conflict. But the battle has been won in Jesus’ death and resurrection so Peter encourages us to focus – not on earthly things, but on Jesus.
Focusing on Jesus and His love for us – receiving that love from Him – is what makes it possible for us to self-controlled and sober-minded. Focusing on Jesus and receiving His love for us is also what makes us able to release that love to others.
What does releasing Jesus love to others look like? Well, it could be time spent, encouraging words, caring and more. Peter directs us to look at our gifts. What are you good at? As we use our talents for other in selfless service, we are pouring out Jesus’ love on them. Certainly we want to share God’s Word with people because, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” but service and that outpouring of love speak volumes as well.
We are also warned to not be surprised when we suffer. The devil, the world and our sinful nature (our inner traitor) wants our focus to be on self-indulgence. There is a battle going on in our world, and we are on one side of this battle: Jesus’ because He died for us and rose again. He poured our His love on us and we have received it. People are saved when we release this love, and salvation from sin and death are what this conflict is all about!
When suffering comes as a result of living our faith we can rejoice. Suffering for our failures and sin brings sorrow into our lives, but suffering for Jesus is a testimony of what God has done in us. Remember that Jesus suffered because of His love for us.
These trials, and knowing that judgment begins with the house of God are not intended to bring us fear. We entrust our souls into Jesus’ nail pierced hands. If He loved us enough to do that, certainly he will see us through! No, the suffering of life focuses us. It focuses us on Jesus, God’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s presence so that we will not be afraid, and it reminds us that the time is short. We were not made for this world. Neither were our friends and neighbors. But there is only one way to get to where we belong – in God’s presence – and that is Jesus. Lovingly, humbly share that message.
Since Jesus suffered, and we have received the benefit of His suffering we are set free from sin. Jesus’ suffering happened because He loves us. Receiving that love reorients the priorities of our lives.
At one point our priority was selfishness and pleasure. Our focus was on ourselves. This is our natural state when we are born and separated from God. Our love focuses on ourselves. It’s almost as if we think, “How could there be anyone more important than me?” So we worship ourselves and indulge in anything that will make us feel “good,” no matter how fleeting the feeling is.
When we resist that in-born impulse people around us notice. They don’t understand it. They mock us for that choice. Again we see that we live in a world in conflict – spiritual conflict. But the battle has been won in Jesus’ death and resurrection so Peter encourages us to focus – not on earthly things, but on Jesus.
Focusing on Jesus and His love for us – receiving that love from Him – is what makes it possible for us to self-controlled and sober-minded. Focusing on Jesus and receiving His love for us is also what makes us able to release that love to others.
What does releasing Jesus love to others look like? Well, it could be time spent, encouraging words, caring and more. Peter directs us to look at our gifts. What are you good at? As we use our talents for other in selfless service, we are pouring out Jesus’ love on them. Certainly we want to share God’s Word with people because, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” but service and that outpouring of love speak volumes as well.
We are also warned to not be surprised when we suffer. The devil, the world and our sinful nature (our inner traitor) wants our focus to be on self-indulgence. There is a battle going on in our world, and we are on one side of this battle: Jesus’ because He died for us and rose again. He poured our His love on us and we have received it. People are saved when we release this love, and salvation from sin and death are what this conflict is all about!
When suffering comes as a result of living our faith we can rejoice. Suffering for our failures and sin brings sorrow into our lives, but suffering for Jesus is a testimony of what God has done in us. Remember that Jesus suffered because of His love for us.
These trials, and knowing that judgment begins with the house of God are not intended to bring us fear. We entrust our souls into Jesus’ nail pierced hands. If He loved us enough to do that, certainly he will see us through! No, the suffering of life focuses us. It focuses us on Jesus, God’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s presence so that we will not be afraid, and it reminds us that the time is short. We were not made for this world. Neither were our friends and neighbors. But there is only one way to get to where we belong – in God’s presence – and that is Jesus. Lovingly, humbly share that message.
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