Reactions, Regret and Hope

1 Peter 1:13-23

As humans, we tend to react to things as they happen, with more raw emotion than thought.  Reading today’s passage, I was struck by verse 20, “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”  God doesn’t react in the moment - things have been planned since before time.  God has always known what he was/is going to do.

There is intention behind everything that comes from God and for us, being “holy in all we do” is a call to be intentional.  We need to think about it, plan for it.  If we leave our reactions up to mere chance, then we’re likely to find ourselves in some unholy places.

And just as being holy takes intention, to “set your hope on grace” also takes consideration.  Hope is based on planning ahead.  Hope itself means a desire for a certain thing to happen; wanting something to happen or be the case.

I’ve heard some people say hope is futile.  That it’s for fools and the weak.  I’m guessing they haven’t read Acts 2:23-28 from The Message, “this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all:

I saw God before me for all time.

    Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
    I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
    I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
    with your face shining sun-joy all around.

Pitching my tent in the land of hope makes it so much easier to resist conforming to evil desires, which implies impulsivity, the consequence of which is regret.  But with God there are no regrets and life with no regrets sounds pretty good.

On Assignment for Christ

1 Peter 1:1-2 (MSG) I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten.  God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

I would love to go to my mailbox and find a letter which contained a greeting like this one. What a positive and uplifting message in these two verses.  First, Peter identifies himself as "on assignment by Jesus." After pondering this word, my reaction is, "Well, yes, aren't we all?"  Growing up, one of my dream careers as an adult was to be a private detective, one with a huge assignment.  

Little did I know that was exactly what would happen. As Christians, we all have a very big assignment, one that requires close scrutiny. Cartoon detectives are pictured with a floppy hats perched on their heads and over-sized magnifying glasses in one hand.  These sleuths are looking for clues to help solve the current mystery and either save the innocent from destruction or teach a guilty party a lesson in life.

The tools a Follower of Jesus uses can be likened to a special zoom lens, for we are looking deep into other's hearts. We are searching for people to share our stories with, to tell about Jesus.  The truth has become our goal, following the bread crumb clues we are given hints to get us to a place where it becomes clear.  The Word of God takes time to grasp; the truth, which is found in the Word, requires investigation and prayer.

Our exploration doesn't stop there, for we will then spend the rest of our lives seeking out God and His will.  Do you have your assignment yet? 

  

1 Peter 1