A Call to Holiness

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Peter 2 (click the link)


THE CHAPTER AT A GLANCE:
Peter is writing this letter to the Christians in Asia Minor during the reign of Nero—a time of great persecution for believers.  Peter uses this letter to advocate holy living in the face of a pagan culture.  Chapter two has specific examples of a call to holiness, as well as several other themes that Peter writes about throughout the letter.

He exhorts Christians to live holy lives in the midst of the evils they were experiencing (v.1-5, 9-12).  No matter how tempting it was Christians were not expected to return evil for evil—that was a worldly response to persecution.  Christians (them, you, me) are part of a “holy priesthood built to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.”  We have a responsibility (and the great privilege) of leading lives set apart to God.  And holy living should be our goal not only because God commands it, but because it befits our true identity.  In Christ we are no longer citizens of the sinful world but the “people of God” (v.10).  Peter also explains that holy living is evangelistic.  It is a “holy nation” and “special people” who are able to “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light” (v.9).  It is our “honorable conduct” and “good works” that cause evildoers to glorify God (v.12).  

Peter assured Christians in Asia Minor that no matter how much suffering they experienced, it was not deserved, but merely a part of their service to God and the Kingdom (v.20).  There is great value when we honor God with our actions when we are unfairly condemned by others, and endurance and perseverance in the face of suffering pleases God.  

So, Peter encourages Christians to submit themselves to others for the sake of the gospel, and for the sake of their interpersonal relationships (v.13-19).  Peter forcefully commands Christians to submit to “every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (v.13).  This phrase seems to extend past merely civil authorities to encompass all of the rules that Christians encounter.  Again, submission is a simple matter of obligation as a Christian, but it should come from our love for, and identity in, Christ.  Everyone is created in His image, but some have authority over others and Peter stressed that God established those orders so we, therefore, should treat everyone with love and respect.

Peter closes chapter two by driving home the truth of the gospel—Jesus endured the cross to save us from our bondage to sin (v.21-24).  Christ’s example—His sinless life, quiet endurance of suffering, and commitment to truth and righteousness—should be our model in all difficulties in this life.


A COUPLE OF KEY VERSES AND SOME PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Let me jump back to verse 13 for a moment.  “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake…”  Remember that this phrase is talking about our submission to all rules in place over us.  I was home one summer from college and went to church with my parents and one Sunday the pastor was preaching on this topic of Christians submitting to worldly authority.  He said something that has stayed with me for the past 12 years now—“Did you know that you can worship God with your right foot?”  I have to admit that I had no idea where he was going with that.  Care to guess?  Yep… speed limits!  Let me assure you that I am a very safe driver.  But I have a tendency to like driving fast.  Each and every time that I have been pulled over for speeding (and we won’t mention a number), I immediately think, “Ugh, I wasn’t worshipping God with my foot!”  These days I try to worship God with my right thumb—by setting my cruise control!  But it’s the simplest of things like obeying a speed limit that show our submission to the rules which Peter calls for in chapter two.

Now let’s jump to the last verse.  “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (v.25).  This is the only place where these titles, Shepherd (Pastor) and Overseer (Elder), are used in the singular.  Christ is the only one qualified to be the singular Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.  It’s why throughout the rest of the New Testament the church and its congregation are described as having more than one leader.  Christ alone tenderly and wisely provides for all of our needs.  I want to take just a second to look at what it means to be a shepherd, and to recommend a book that I love.  Margaret Feinberg wrote a book a few years ago called Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey. I want to quote about three passages from her introduction and the chapter on shepherding.  

“When Scripture comes alive in our hearts, it doesn’t inform us as much as transform us.  As I read I’m discovering that faith isn’t about becoming good—it’s about becoming godly characters in a greater Story.  Somehow, words on a flat page become the passageway to living encounters with ancient saints and sinners, and with a God who was, and is, and ever will be…  What does it mean to know Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God when the only places I’ve encountered sheep are petting zoos and Greek restaurants?  How do we learn to wait for the harvest when we live in a culture of easy access?  How can I understand the promise of a land overflowing with milk and honey when the only honey I buy comes is a bear-shaped bottle at my local grocery store?  Can I grasp the urgency of Jesus’ invitation to abide in the vine when I shop for grapes at Costco?…  Sheep and people share more in common than I ever dreamed.  As we walked, Lynne described each sheep with the same tender attention to detail as a mother.  Where I saw a flock of similar sheep, Lynne saw individuals with unique characteristics and quirks.  Her affection reminded me of the psalmist who describes every person as being known intimately by God (Psalm 139:13-16).  Just as Lynne had a tender history with each of her sheep, each of us has a personal history with the Shepherd.”   

I could quote her whole book.  It’s a very easy read (about 200 pages—mostly just stories), but the time spent with the people Margaret sought out provides awesome insight to the Lord and His love for us.  As I read and re-read the chapter on shepherding I think back to when I was young.  My grandpa used to have sheep on our ranch.  Every now and then something would happen during the birthing season and we would wind up having to raise a lamb.  Each day, at least three times a day, I’d take a bottle out to the orphaned lamb.  I’d feed it, and pet it, and play with it, and it didn’t take long before the lamb would come running to me as soon as I called out on my way to the pen.  I was a little shepherd to those lambs.  As the lambs would grow and we knew they were going to survive we would eventually take them and put them back with the flock in the pasture.  Guess what?  After a short time away from me, they forgot me.  It didn’t matter that I was out in the field calling to them.  And I couldn’t pick them out.  Those lambs were just another sheep, and I was just someone noisily disrupting their meal.  Having a small taste of that rural life with those sheep makes me appreciate so much more the love of our Shepherd—who knows me intimately and calls me by name.  How often am I like a sheep who has gone astray?  How rejoicing am I when I return to my Shepherd and Overseer of my soul?  

 

 

WHO AM I?

I’m Jennifer Babb, and I’ve been blessed to be part of 5 generations twice!  All firstborn women of the family!  The picture on the right is me, my mom, my grandma Joy, my great-grandma Dollie, and my great-great-grandma Rutter.  The picture on the left is my little Ellie, me, my mom, my grandma Joy, and my great-grandma Dollie.  Can you tell I favor my dad!!  Haha.  Those Rutter genes were strong until I came along.  My grandma Dollie passed away a few years ago, but I was so glad for Ellie to get to know her.  We always say that my grandma Joy has to make it until Ellie has a daughter so we can continue the 5 generation tradition.  That’s my hope.  I guess we’ll see…