Following from the previous two days of readings, today we continue with Peter’s first letter. Previously, Peter had challenged believers to experience the joy of such a great faith. His admonishment was to be attentive to the faith received that is more precious than gold. Be attentive to the on-going conversion and live a life for the greater glory of God rooted in that faith. Peter wants to appreciate that this gift of faith is more precious than gold and must be kept safe, even in times of tribulations and troubles. They need to understand that (a) what they possess, the faithful of the Old Testament could only long for and (b) the coming of the Messiah was among the “things into which angels longed to look.” The sense is not one of idle curiosity but of a longing to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. Great as the angles are, it was not to them or for them that the fulfillment came. Instead, the day of salvation dawned on these Christians in a way not even revealed to the angels.

In today’s passage, Peter continues the admonishment and encouragement: it is not enough simply to have converted; so great a faith requires a special response. So converts are urged to live a life worthy of their faith: “Live soberly … like obedient children, do not act in compliance with desires … ” (1:13–14). Peter also reminds the converts that as great as was their conversion, they must persevere; so “set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v. 13).

Delivered by God from the futile ways of their ancestors, they are expected to be out of step with their former pagan culture; so they are exhorted: “Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning” (v. 17). Purchased by the priceless blood of Christ, they are to live like that, spotless and unblemished. In this way the author acknowledges their experience and addresses them with a word of encouragement, reminding them of their grace-filled past, and with a word of exhortation, calling them to responsibility.

Peter acknowledges that via their conversion, they may have suffered the loss of kin, neighbors and friends.

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.” (Mark 10:29–30)

But with that loss there is a gain. Christians gain a new family by their conversion, new brothers and sisters, and the church becomes a new family in which genuine love is shown

Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8–9).

And so their conversion is celebrated as a new birth into a new family, and it entails a new way of living.

Finally, the author touches on a sensitive point: If Christianity is so new, might it be just a fad? Might God be fickle? Is this for real? Peter points them to the words of Isaiah:

A voice says, “Cry out!” I answer, “What shall I cry out?”  “All mankind is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it … Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8)

The passage contrasts human frailty and mortality with the word of the Lord which “endures forever.” Hence, their faith, as ancient as the prophets, will endure forever, for God is forever faithful.

Image credit: Pexels | CC-0