I Peter 1:13 April 18, 2014

Greg Lund                      

I Peter 1:13               

April 18, 2014

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

GOOD FRIDAY 

Faith is often seen best in the rear view mirror.  Today is Good Friday.  On the day Jesus was nailed to the cross it looked like dark Friday, brutal Friday, hopeless Friday.  Now, looking back through the lens of Easter Morning, we dare to call that Friday “good.”  

Peter reminds the young Church that the prophets predicted the grace that would come through the suffering of the messiah (v. 10).  In the rear view mirror, texts like Isaiah 53 show that the rigged trial and execution of Good Friday are God’s victory, not a defeat.  Christ was bruised for our iniquity.  His wounds make us whole.  

Think back on hard times in your own past.  Recall how God provided, guided, and grew you through those dark days.  When we recognize God’s grace in rear view mirror, we can look down the road ahead with hope.  “Set your hope fully on the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  

The word Peter chose for “revelation” is apocalypse.  It means to take the lid off, and reveal what is inside.  If your friend is a wonderful cook, and you’re invited for dinner, you don’t need to see what’s inside the stew pot to know it will be good.  Your mouth waters even before the lid is removed.  Whatever our hidden future holds, we know what Christ did in the past, and so we know our future will be seasoned with grace.

Loving God, help us to see signs of Your grace in our past, both the joys and the hardships.  Teach us to hope in that same grace as we face the future and await Your return.  Amen.