Devotion • November 27
Today’s Scripture Reading
1 Peter 1:1–12
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith — being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look! (NRSV)
Reflection
From spring 2012 to 2013, I traveled to more than fourteen different places across the country to meet face-to-face with folks preparing to dig into the General Epistles with the help of the Presbyterian Women Horizons Bible Study I authored, Dispatches to God’s Household: The General Epistles.
Extensive travel added so much to my curiosity about what the early church evangelists underwent as they spread the good news throughout Asia Minor. When they began their travels to distant lands to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with strangers, were they nervous about the “cold call,” dropping in on homes and villages unexpected? Or was the urgency of their message sufficiently powerful to overshadow any jittery feelings? Did they anticipate any of the fears, joys, concerns, and questions that affected each of the communities, and did they feel confident that they could address them? Based on the affectionate and affirming tone communicated throughout 1 Peter, we see that the messages and the messengers were received warmly.
One of the sustaining graces of belonging to the family of faith is its extraordinary power to unite God’s children across so many differences and despite so many obstacles. As the early evangelists yearned to join believers in person, they maintained relationships still by virtue of written communication and, essentially, poured their hearts out on their pages. We, so far removed from our early church ancestors in Asia Minor by distances of time and space, are grafted into relationship with them as we read and receive this letter today.
Prayer
O Holy One, give us ears to hear, eyes to see, minds to discern, and hearts to welcome the good news shared by our ancestors as we, too, delight in our status as children of God. Amen.
Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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