Submit to the Father (1Peter : 5)

1 Peter 5 : 1 - 4

Peter writes to the leaders and reminds them to lead by example and to shepherd the flock.
To shepherd a flock this shows you must shepherd self first.
In our Fathers kingdom we are all disciples but we are disciples that grow to disciple others. 
Let us all grow to be good disciples of our selves and those we walk with and live amongst.

1 Peter 5 : 5 - 13

Submitting to those in authority overs us and to one another we are reminded to live in humility. My teenage niece is an example of submission but not in humility.
As we learn to love one another as we are called to, we are to learn to submit to one another wisely.
Above all our Father is the one we submit to first.
When we are submitted to the Father we resist the devil for the devil is always contrary to the will of the Father. 
Always remember fellow Christ-Follower only our Lord has the power and dominion over the devil. Stick with Him and you can partake in that victory.

Glorify the Lord (1 Peter 4)

1 Peter 4 : 1 - 6

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

This journey is about pursuit of our Lord and to learn to imitate Him. We look more into who the Word says we are and how to live. If we focus on who we were (verses 3-5) then we become too critical and feel superior to those who have not yet given their lives to follow our Lord.
In verse 6 Peter that our conduct will be judged by the world standards but we are to live according to the will of our Father by His Spirit.

1 Peter 4 : 7 - 11

Live prayerfully and lovingly. 
Depend on our Father.
Whatever gifting or talent you have exercise to the Fathers glory.
Always remember glorifying our Lord always glorifies our Father.

1 Peter 4 : 12 - 19

We are reminded to rejoice in suffering and trials. This makes us partakers with our Lord in His suffering on our behalf.
In chapter 3 we talked about living and reacting differently.
Rejoicing in suffering is of those actions, it makes no sense but as we get to know the Word we learn it glorifies our Father. Indeed what is foolish to man is wisdom to the Father. 

Called to Blessing(1Peter:3)

1 Peter 3: 1 - 7

Our conduct as Christ-followers is an example to those around us, especially those who are not yet following our Lord. Our conduct can lead them to also see the goodness of our Lord. In this portion of scripture Peter writes to husbands and wives. but this principle applies to all those around us who we have some kind of influence on. Even those in authority over us, parents, employers, leaders in our community, our consistent ways in living to honour our Lord makes them interested in who He is.

1 Peter 3: 8 - 17

our Lord is the example of behaviour and reaction in this world. In this portion Peter quotes the following portion from the Old Testament. The continuity of the Word, is amazing being practical and applicable to life. Our Father and His ways never changes and our Lord came to show us the Father and His way of living.

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

From verse 13-17 Peter writes about suffering; our Lord's suffering and ours for His sake. We are called to be a blessing in all life's challenges and circumstances. And we are blessed when choose to follow our Lord's ways. He ends this portion with the following, it is better, if it is the will of the Father, to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3 : 18 - 22

Our Lord who was just suffered for the unjust.
His sacrifice brings us to our Father, when we respond and turn to follow Him and His ways.

Choose to be chosen (1Peter2:11-25)

1 Peter 2: 11 - 25

We started this book and were reminded of the glorious inheritance we have because of our Lord. This chapter reminds that we have been chosen to be our Father's ambassador, His own special people, a chosen generation, for His glory. Chose because we chose our Lord.

In this portion of scripture we are taught how to behave, how we should conduct ourselves as a chosen people in the world we live in.

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Those in power over us are addressed.

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Those in whose employ we are under are addressed. Our Father knows the challenge of work, but we are called to honor our employers. But we are also reminded not to provoke for both sides can be in error.

20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God

We are then reminded of our Lord enduring all without blame for us. In the context of the two chapters we have read so far. We are recipients of much, upgraded but in response to all those around us that have not yet chosen the path we have chosen, let us not forget we are all we are and have all we have because of our Lord. We are called to represent the Father and to share the gospel of His Son. The world is not godly, our leaders and employers maybe unfair but our example is holy God who lived amongst sinners, submitted to authority and suffered died without sin on our behalf.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [c]

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[d] of your souls.

Choose to be chosen (1Peter2:1-10)

1 Peter 2 : 1-3

If indeed you have tasted the Father's grace.
Peter mocks us, for if we indeed had tasted the Father's grace, he says we would have no malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or evil speaking. A revelation of the Father always brings transformation, self-reflection and self-denial, and commitment to honour the Father.

1 Peter 2 : 4-5

Our Lord was chosen by the Father, our Lord is precious to the Father. The most amazing part is that the Father extends that same value to us because we have chosen to be Christ-Followers and gospel carriers. 
Our Father chooses to build us up (empower and cultivate us) into a spiritual house.
Our Father chooses to build us up to be a holy priesthood (ambassadors of His Kingdom);
this the Father did through our Lord's sacrifice. Whatever we might have decided to offer the Father, be it our lives, talents, gifts, money etc, none of it would have been acceptable without our Lord's sacrifice.

1 Peter 2 : 6-8

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”[a]

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,[b]

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”[c]

8 and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”[d]

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

1 Peter 2 : 9-10

Through our Lord we have been elevated to be a chosen generation, a holy nation, our Father's own special people. A people chosen to proclaim our Father's praise, for our Father called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We are now a people of the Father in who we have found mercy and grace.

 As I continue to read over and over it is incredible how much the Father has chosen to bestow on us and continues to choose to pour of Himself because we have chosen to respond to our Lord. It is glorious to be a chosen one, not because you met a criteria but because you just responded to the Father's call of love by sending His Son.

Glorious Inheritance (1Peter1:13 - 25)

1 Peter 1: 13 - 19

Our Lord revealed is the grace of our Father to us.
As the Fathers begotten children what does the Father want from us. The Father wants us to trust Him.
That we would put our trust in the grace that He has given us.
That we would live lusts of the past and pursue godliness for He is a holy Lord.
Remember when studied the books by Timothy in 1 Tim 6 we learnt that pursuit of godliness is the devoted pursuit of devotion to the Father in all aspects of our lives. 
That we would seek to be live in obedience to the Father in all aspects of our lives.

Our Father asks that we would conduct our lives on this earth seeking tohonour Him.
Peter uses the words "stay on this earth in fear"; stay aware and conscious of who your Father is and respectful to who He is and what He stands for. Never forgetting we have been redeemed and are now His begotten.

1 Peter 1 : 20 - 21

20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1 : 22 -  25

Obedience to the truth by the Spirit. 
The Word purifies our souls.
We are encouraged to love one another with pure hearts; without jealousy, envy, grudges or grudgingly.
Peter then goes on to remind us that we are born again of incorruptible seed that is the Word of our Father and it endures forever.

Glorious Inheritance (1Peter1:1 - 12)

Its good to remind ourselves in His Word who we are. I thought we would do a study on the books by Peter. He was a passionate and excitable man, but he denied his Lord. From his life he is a man who understood grace, restoration, and empowerment. 

He teaches us that we may understand the privilege we have in salvation. That we may recognise the blessing it is, that our Father elected us. That we may live in humility and committed to serving our Father. He teaches us about enduring in suffering as we journey to be united ultimately with our Father.

1 Peter 1 : 1 - 9

We are children of an abundantly merciful Father.
We are children begotten by the death of our Lord.
In our Lord we have an incorruptible inheritance.
We are kept by the power of our Father through faith.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls

1 Peter 1:10-12

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us[a] they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

What an inheritance proclaimed through time.