As one who enjoys working on word puzzles – choosing from all the words known to man, and then arranging those words in the simplest and clearest way possible to convey a significant thought – I equally enjoy solving the puzzles that others before me have worked out. After several readings of Peter’s first letter to ‘God’s elect’, I believe the significant thought he was trying to convey was the faithful aspect of our Creator.
As a people belonging to Him, He calls us out of what is like a womb of darkness into His wonderful light. ‘In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.’ ‘We are like new born babies and like them we need to crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it we might grow up in our salvation.’
We were like sheep going astray, but we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. We who have been called out have spent enough time in the past doing what the world chooses to do – living in lust, drunkenness and all kinds of craziness; and maybe our old friends will think it strange when we do not plunge with them into the same flood of wasteful and improper behavior which is indifferent to moral restraints. Our friends may heap abuse on us now for not joining with them; but know this, one day they will stand before a judge and abuse will be heaped on them.
If you think it’s hard facing a judge today, think of that day. Think of today as a little trial run. If you think your judge today is unfair, imagine how unfair it’s going to seem to your friends when God says, I’m sorry; but you never turned from your wicked ways. I called you but you would not come. I gave you many chances but you would not listen.
But you have listened. You have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Know that you are shielded by His power, ‘though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine.’ Once your faith is proved – once you know, in spite of the trials you are in, that your Creator is in deed faithful – you will be able to help others whose faith is still being proved.
‘Don’t be surprised (or discouraged) at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.’ Understand you are ‘participating in the sufferings of Christ. When you suffer, it is according to God’s will. He wants you to learn that He, as your faithful Creator, can sustain you and bring you through whatever you are facing. You should commit yourself to Him and continue to do good.’
Don’t waste your energy thinking the judge did not treat you fairly, or that God has abandoned you, or that He can’t help you. Nothing can happen to you that He does not first allow. Nothing can happen to you that He cannot handle. Consider what he accomplished in creation. Consider the impossible situations He helped His people through. Consider that He raised Jesus from being dead to life.
Now . . . do you think your situation has finally backed Him into a corner? Is God finally stumped; not knowing what to do? Saturate yourselves with the stories in this book and you will learn that He is not. Don’t reduce God to what your puny mind can think. Don’t limit His ability to what you can understand. He is our faithful Creator and we would do well to commit ourselves to Him. Commit yourself to Him and let Him show you what He can do.
Peter ends his letter with these fitting comments, ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith – faith in the fact that God is your faithful creator. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’
He is in deed our faithful Creator. He is very able to not only forgive us of our sins, but to see us through the messes that our sins have gotten us into. But He doesn’t stop there. After we have suffered a little while, He will restore us.
Do you remember the story of the prodigal son? When he returned, all he asked for was to be forgiven and made a servant. What did his father do? He threw him a feast. God wants to throw you a feast.
Hunger and Thirst 
very nice Mike and very encouraging! God is so faithful!
I used to make all my writing as generic as possible. Lately though my writing has been geared to one group – the guys I talk to each Tuesday night. So as you read, just bear that in mind. I really appreciate you stopping by.
by the way, way too cool on the photo’s. I tried to comment there but it wouldn’t let me for some reason.
I often hear believers say, “This time, I don’t think I’m going to make it through my problems. I’m finished.”
I always say the same thing: “So, you have finally reached that one problem that God is not big enough to handle, right?”
Generally, the believers instantly get upset with me for one of two reasons: (1) They realize the truth of my statement. (2) Or they think I’m not feeling sorry enough for them.
They would be correct either way because I believe until we breathe our last breath, our God is able to do abundantly beyond what we could ever think or imagine…if we only ask and believe.
“our God is able to do abundantly beyond what we could ever think or imagine…if we only ask and believe.”
I am finding that to be true more and more. Sometimes I have to talk it over with Him at least a couple of times 🙂 but when I ask, He does answer.
As soon as I walked away from the computer I thought of how much I enjoy your comments; so I am back in edit mode to add that. I really do.
What a great message for your guys . . .and for us. I was encouraged by the “once your faith is proved . . .you will be able to help others.” 🙂 Which is exactly what you are doing. Thank you, Mike!
God bless you and yours!
I start my evenings with the guys asking them what they struggle with the most. It makes for some good discussion and gives me something specific to talk to. But usually before we end, one or two of my stories will seem fitting to read. I read this one last Tuesday. I could tell they were encouraged.
How’s Aubrey? I still pray for her from time to time. I can’t feel good about not doing so. I have to believe it is for a reason.
I am so blessed by your sharing what is going on and how God is working with the guys. You make it all so real for them. So thankful that He has you doing this. That joy of knowing you are doing what you should be doing. 🙂
Thank you for continuing to pray for Miss Aubrey. She continues to have seizures. On the 4th medicine that I give her just for when she has these “breakthrough” seizures, the seizures are stopped, and she just has a few days of feeling the affects of the seizure and the side affects of that particular medicine. Don’t have it all figured out, Mike. But still feel God’s protection and help even though she is still having seizures. She fell during one 2 weeks ago, in our little bathroom. Lots of hard edges to get hurt on, but she remains completely unbruised or injured from the falls. Over and over. She happened to have another big seizure again last week, but she was on the floor coloring and so wasn’t hurt by falling down.
I tried something this last time. I posted on facebook about her having seizures for the second week in a row, and said we’d be so thankful for any prayers. Many did pray. And then I went back to praise God for listening to prayer and answering it, hoping to encourage others and lift His name. I didn’t want to sound whiny . . .just looking for ways to praise Him, give Him glory and encourage others.
I’ll get to your comment on what I posted today, but want to thank you here too, for your prayer and for listening to Him on our behalf. What I posted is more for an in general kind of reader . . ..for people going through hard things and not seeing quite what they hoped for. Sorry if it made you think that I was at the end of my rope! haha! I’m not. Can’t explain that other than that I feel Him here with us, feel His presence, see Him continue to keep and cover us. Maybe if I dwelt on the circumstances, I would get down. But He has me so wrapped up in Him, that there isn’t time to look at them in a way that would depress me, but only in a way that says He is taking care of us.
Oops . .. long comment! Longer than my posts. 🙂
God bless you, Mike . . .so thankful for you!
Wow! You really broke out of your little box there. 🙂 Liked every bit of it. I am encouraged by it. I really do feel compelled to not quit praying. I am not discouraged that the evidence is faint, rather encouraged to believe ground is being gained. I will step it up though.
Liked your post.