Life isn’t fair, but God is still working with you

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

Peter is writing to scattered people who believe in Jesus but aren’t living their ideal life. I love that he gets to the heart of this tension between challenge in our circumstances and faith in something far better, even if hope is in something unseen that might feel far away.

While Peter spent time with Jesus, he knew that most of the world did not. I love that he recognises this – “though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”

Peter knew why Jesus’ followers were scattered because he had seen some of their suffering. Christians were being blamed and punished for lots of things going wrong in Roman society at the time. Some fled if they could, but all felt distant like “exiles” as they had not yet experienced the full coming of the kingdom Jesus had promised.

In response, I love that Peter started by reminding people of who they were since being born again, holy children of God, and stones being built by God into a spiritual house. Only from this base of knowing their identity could Christians live godly lives and choose to love and honour even the people who were causing their suffering. But because God gave them the strength to do this, God could be recognised and glorified.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God is a loving father and a great builder. Just as he built a society which would point the way to him in the Old Testament, he builds the church out of a people (us!) that he has called his own so that the rest of the world can recognise him today.

Everything God builds rests on Jesus. We would not be holy if we had not been purified by his sacrifice for us. We would not know that it was possible to love in response to suffering if we had not known Jesus’ example or been filled and empowered by his Spirit. Where hope was previously hidden, Jesus has revealed it, making the unseen God knowable.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

There are times when I push back against things I think are unfair with rudeness and a lack of love. I’m doing this in my own strength rather than with God’s blessing, and I need to follow Peter’s advice to “show proper respect to everyone” instead.

Who am I going to share this with?

Let’s see how this goes in practice! I’ll let you know…