(Pt 2)

 BRP 1 Peter 3:7

A lot of times we get frustrated that the Bible doesn’t word things or state things the way we want them to. So what! We have all our lives had things just out of reach, or seemingly not go to our best advantage. Yet, we must remember all the Biblical people of the past, they went through their own hardships and trials. I am sure that during the midst of struggles and storms of life they were flustered, or didn’t understand.

So, ladies yesterdays verses may have been unfair, even today you might not like what is said, but hang on and let’s see.

In this verse it is He is addressing Husbands

Be considerate 

Treat her with respect

As a weaker partner

As heirs with you in the gracious gift of life

So, that NOTHING hinders your prayers

Now lets take each of these and look at them (Bible and Websters)

Be considerate - what do you think considerate means? Thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others. This is not a request from God, but rather a command/covenant

Treat her with respect- again this is an important part of a husbands command/covenant between Him, the husband and the wife (a cord of 3 is not easily broken)

As a weaker partner- This does not give license to treat your wife as a subpar nor like a slug or underling. Ladies,  if you really think about it men were made and built differently than women. They cannot carry a baby to term, as not only do they not have the proper reproductive organs, but their bone structure is not conducive to carrying a child. God has perfectly created a space where He can knit a baby in the mother’s womb, where the hips and bones can adjust to such a miracle. That is often why women’s pain tolerance is greater. So, take heart that you were fearfully and wonderfully made, in the weaker status of humanoid’s. Men, were made with broader shoulders, backs and form as well as endurance. 

As heirs with you in the gracious gift of life- remember in their culture women were essentially property, they were actually bought with a dowry, often times without the wives consent to be a wife to that husband. So, in retrospect this is a bold statement, they are essentially joint heirs with their wife. Not superior as we think. 

So, that NOTHING hinders your prayers- If you don’t abide in the command/covenant you might miss out on blessings or God’s favor.

                                                        Brian and Christiy

(Pt1) Women submission

 BRP yesterday’s verses were 1 Pet 3:3-4 and today is 1 Pet 3:5-6

Wives their appearance and humbleness, submission, and like Sarah.

These verses are pretty self explanatory. Do not be gaudy, and don’t nag your spouse for things to make you look haughty. (Yes, I know women have careers now a days and you can buy your own things, but there is no need to overdo your look) In the words of a friend of mine “modest is hottest”- Marilyn Talley.

We should not let our outward beauty trump our inner beauty. Whether with crazy elaborate hair styles, makeup, or attire. We should let God radiate from within us, a gentle and quiet spirit- these are of great worth to God. This is the way of the Holy women of the past, submissive to their husbands. Just as Sarah did with Abraham. Do what is right, do not give way to fear.

Tune in to the next blog….. Don’t be to flustered till you see the next one.

God’s blessings

 I will do my BRP in a minute further down

        Have you ever had a moment where you hear someone’s story, or testimony and thought to yourself how are they able to receive God’s blessing or why does God answer their prayers and not my own? Well, first off the only person we should compare ourselves to is that of the Trinity, Jesus. Secondly, we can’t see the big picture of what God has in store for us. Yes, we know the end of the overall story, God wins. Have you ever realized what life would be like if Jesus had been the same way? Yes, Jesus asked questions of God the Father, because He had a relationship with Him and God is big enough to handle any question we might have. Jesus, also went about it in the proper way, through prayer. Everything Jesus did was to set an example for us. Well, today when I was listening to someone’s testimony about the healing of her son she said God chose to heal Him through prayer, He also may heal through modern medicine or He may heal through calling the person home.

      I went to do my BRP and was led to look at something else first that of Isaiah 53:5-6. I want to breakdown this scripture a bit and want to not just skim over it. (Go and read the verses now, I read the NIV and HCSB) Also, used Miriam Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus.

He was pierced for our transgressions (crime, offense, sin, violations, felony, trespass, wrongdoing, misdeed, error, breach, debt, lawbreaking, malefaction, and the list goes on)  Yowza that is a list! 

We often want to put thing in less than to greater than type of sin. Ex. In my eyes stealing a piece of candy, knowing it is wrong, is worse than murder. However, God has His standards, His plumb line, and all sin is equal. Anything that separates us from God is sin. So, when you see transgressions in this verse know that it in capsules all SIN. Yikes, so I am as evil as a murderer? Yes.

He was crushed (visualize this) for our iniquities (Corruption, evil, sinfulness, depravity, wickedness, vileness, ill, badness etc.) Yowza, again. 

Crushed- almost beyond recognition, I find myself so unworthy. Iniquities- to be described as any of these words might make you feel unworthy too. The price that God paid through Jesus, I find myself wanting, needing to be more like Christ. 

The punishment that brought us peace (tranquility, rest)

It is mind blowing to think that Jesus had to endure all this in order for us to have peace. I again, do not feel worthy of such a high priced gift.

By His wounds we are healed (repaired, mended)

WOW! What an amazing, un-repayable gift. We are healed, from sins curse! Does that mean you will never have trials like cancer, No. However we know we won’t be alone here on Earth as we suffer. Even if we don’t receive healing in this mortal body, we know that God has a healed immortal body for us.

We have all like sheep gone astray (off the path, in error) turned to our own way.

I definitely am guilty of this.

The Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all (every single person’s sin was paid in full by Christ Jesus, even though some will refuse His gift)

    DO you see here why we should be ever grateful of the gifts God has for us? The great price that was paid for us?

This is why it has been so important for me to get my house (myself in order). Christ did not pay the costly wage of my sin so that I could just Willy-nilly live my life how I want, I must look at the plumb line that God has set before me, in every aspect of my life, starting with the inner me. So, I encourage you to do the same. Be a believer in Christ, not just by words but by doing his will.

BRP is 30th 1Peter 2: 24-25 and 31st 1Peter 3:1-2

    The verses at the end of chapter 2 tie in with the things I said above. “He Himself bore our sins, in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;  by His wounds we are healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

    The verses 3:1-2,

    We are to submit to Christ male and female; husbands and wives. We are to submit to God, a husband who is in right standing with God will be a devoted man who submits to God will and guides with a loving  hand. However, a woman should submit to God so that even if her husband is lost she will be a witness unto her husband. She can by her witness and submission win him over without  her words, but by her deeds and behavior.

    Submit to God! All else will fall in to place God is good.  

Do as I do (Jesus)

 BRP 1 Pet 2:22-23

22) He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. 23) When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate, when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. (NIV)

WOW, the perfect example of do as I do! I am not sure I would have been silent. Thus it reminds me of Peter, they came to take Jesus away and he was like “over my dead body”, (as he pulled out His sword) and chopped the soldiers ear off. Jesus, is like woah, woah, woah “this is not the way” (as He puts the soldiers ear miraculously back on). {This whole section is definitely paraphrased} 

We want to go in all guns blazing, even if we have never fired a gun before. See Peter is so relatable here. He sees the most unjust thing to ever happen on Earth, and wants to do something about it. He goes on to deny Christ 3 times publicly, and he is a common ordinary man- a husband and a fisherman. However, we know he was a fisherman first, then God called Him as a disciple and missionary. We can relate here in the south to fishing, I do catch and release mostly as I do not care for eating fish.  See there are points to grasp from ole Peter in correlation to this book and these particular verses, when he wrote this it was after the death/resurrection of Christ. Think of it too as he, Peter, severally messed up and this is what He gleaned/learned from it. He isn’t using hypothetical situations he is telling of what he experienced, the things he now knows he should have been doing all along. Doing as Christ did. You see the commonalities we have with Peter? He was a plain ole Joe, from the working class, he wanted to do what was right though he didn’t always go God’s route about it, he denied Christ as we do in one form or another- even more than once. But listen here! GOD IS NOT DONE WITH YOU YET!!!! You might rebel you might get frustrated and mad, YET, GOD IS NOT DONE WITH YOU YET! He meets us where we are, even if we make stupid choices, say stupid things (I should substitute ignorant with stupid as my nephew is having to work on not saying stupid). Regardless, of where you are- whether you feel unworthy -not good enough -or that you have slipped to far Just say to yourself or aloud GOD IS NOT DONE WITH ME YET!!! He doesn’t expect perfection He expects us to be willing, willing to change and grow, which means dear child, to be pruned and disciplined and and these come through pain and trials.

Stay ever close to God so that you to can be commended, you can stand strong in Him. Remember He is with you and working all things to His GLORY, for those that are called according to His purpose.

Privileged to suffer

 BRP 1Pet 2:21

       I do not know about  you, but I have rarely thought, said or prayed “Thank you God for my suffering.” Yet, here Peter we were called to suffer, Christ gave us His example of how to suffer and exalt God at the same time. The commentary in my (NIV- Study Bible- fully revised by Zondervan- 1984) states that we should count it a privilege. Yowza, a privilege ?!?!?! That seems a big ask, doesn’t it? He wants us to “patiently endure as it is a part of God’s plan, Christ suffered for us- thusly we should instead of seeing and feeling it as misery, count it privilege” (NIV)

     I think one time in my life did I ever during my misery, exalt God. I wouldn’t have even realized I had done it except someone commented on it. I was in the ER with kidney stones, the first time, I was miserable and in a lot of pain. She commented something along the lines of “how I kept God in my mind and singing to Him through my pain.” I knew that in that moment I was doing things the right way, but I didn’t realize, as I have had to rely on GOD’S strength to get me through a lot already. Now, I know I have made many poor choices and not exalted God in all things, yet I do know He has made beauty out of my many messes. I have had trials that were not a punishment, but a chance to rely on God and grow ever closer to Him. There have been trials that had me frustrated and mad at God, and you know what I found out, GOD IS BIG ENOUGH, He handled my failings, He met me when I was done being a brat thinking it wasn’t fair, He was able to take my burden and remove it when I was no longer able to carry it. You see that is one of the many reasons I love God the Father. He meets us where we are, when we cry out to Him, we might not see it during the storm/trial, although we can feel Him, when the storm is over and we reflect on it we can see how God’s hand guided and protected up through it.

Here is some of the things I went through whether by choice or a God given trial:

Mental abuse

Sexual abuse, as a child by adult(s) -around people others knew were abusers.

Torture- as a child by peers

Spanked- for telling the truth

Several auto accidents, never my fault

Fear of STD/AIDS (I didn’t end up having either, but scary still)

Rebellion- ran way from home, drugs- marijana, drinking hard liquor, wine coolers all underage drinking. Smoking underage, sexually promiscuous underage- I felt it was all I was good for, adultery, 

Miscarriages 

Lack of motherhood 

Loss of potential adopted children, 3 days before I could legally fight for them.

House broken into

Loss of my dogs, one got out when the house was broke into, he got run over. Another 2 dog were ran over at different times several years apart. Another died from some strange mass in the back of her throat.  

Divorce

betrayal- my best friend dating my recent ex. I dated a guy who an acquaintance had dated.

Friends and family killed before their time- in my way of thinking 

And more but that is all I will put for now, the point is this, stuff happens. Our question is will we foolishly rely on our self  or will we trust God. Regardless of the storm, we have to choose who we will serve, who we will rely on. Only Trust Him only trust HIM!

Close and commendable

 BRP 1 Pet. 2: 19-20

Have your ever prayed for patience? God has a way of helping us to learn patience, through trials that require us to do just that…have patience. Often we will feel it is a daunting task that we regret praying for. Not because we don’t want to honor God with our learning of patience, but because it can be extremely difficult to grow closer to God in this way. He wants our trust, wants us to depend upon Him. Yet we are weak and unable to do a lot on our own.

In these verses He wants to remind us to ever be close to Him. That way we can stand strong during the trials, tribulations in this world, as well as learn to cling to Him during those times. The reason why God wants us to rely on Him, is because we can do a lot of things in our own strengths just as the lost do. Yet, when we cling to and exalt our Savior through the trials beyond our human strength, He gets the glory and we are commended by Him and our relationship is closer to Him. Even in our punishments of life we still can cling to Him, (I think of my dad saying, “This is going to hurt me more than you.”) He knows what is best for us and what will shape us into His image. He never said that molding us would be easy, but He did say He was with us though. So, when it is time for you to receive your “spiritual spankings,” for your wrong doings cling to Him. When you are in a season getting beat, whether literally or by the storms of life, know that God is with You. That is why we are to pray without ceasing, to have time with Him daily, and spend time in the Holy Word of God. Allow Him an active place in your life.

Remember that of Job. If you haven’t read his story or haven’t in a while go and read it. Then, think back to what I just said.

God, loves you and longs for the relationship with you that brings Him honor and glory.

 BRP 1 Peter 2: 18

This verse as an American is troubling to me, it says that slaves should submit with fear to their masters, not just the good masters but to cruel masters too.

I have seen documentaries and heard tales from people that were African American slaves. Some have stated how the “white masters” would quote and with misrepresentation use the Bible’s verses dealing with slavery. The African Americans were severely mistreated, beaten, raped, torn from their families and who knows what all other kinds of humiliation and troubles they dealt with. We know from History class they were murdered, had their homes, and churches burned. Even after slavery was abolished they still dealt with a lot, and were not treated as equals to the whites. There are some places still that are very cruel to minorities.

Can you imagine having to submit and standby and/or serving a master that had murdered your child or spouse? I can’t! I have had a couple of unfair bosses in my day, but none compare with what these slaves dealt with. When we read the word of God there is a reason for all words spoken or given. Even if the words we read are hard to swallow, it is our duty to understand the reasoning, the context and outcome. You see when we face trials and have to submit we are in good company as the Lord, Jesus submitted to the authorities of the day, which in the end made for His death upon the cruel cross. Now, He submitted even though He could have called legions of angels to His rescue, or had God take it all away and curse us all to Hell. Yet, he humbled Himself as a servant, His captors and killers didn’t know the end of the story and how God would ultimately WIN. We know the rest of the story, death did not keep Jesus, He conquered death and came alive again. We never know either how God will use our trials to bring Him honor and glory. So, whatever you are facing remember God is with you in all things.