Spirituality and Faith – Awaken to rejoice
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Spirituality and Faith
Dr. Jeff Fuller
Awaken to rejoice
As I was studying the epistle of I Peter, I found it to be such an incredible work of Peter as he writes:
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and ⌊for⌋ sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” – I Peter 1:1-3 (HCSB)
Here the translators give us the greeting and the subject of this writer. Peter identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. We remember him as the one who followed Christ as a disciple, selected from his primary occupation as a fisherman, and placed in the inner circle of disciples-one of three who had full access to Christ and spent time with him in various places where the other disciples were not invited.
As a subject for his epistle, Peter speaks of hope, but not just any kind of hope.
He is writing to those who are scattered. This is the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, springing up in many different places, comprised of individuals who make up the church body, which is the Body of Christ. The visible body of Christ in a world which is extremely different to those who call themselves Christians and quite indifferent to the message of Christ.
He says:
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.” – I Peter 4:12-13 (HCSB)
There is that word REJOICE again. A word which means: “to give joy to, gladden;” “to feel joy or great delight.”
No one likes to hurt.
No likes to struggle.
No one likes to sorrow.
Nope, we do not plan on it, we do not like to plunge into it, and surely we do not like to participate in it.
Hurts, struggles, sorrow are not something we desire to spend a great deal of time with because these bring storms into our lives.
Take for a minute to think on a hurricane. We have seen the damage such a storm can do. We have seen how individuals have suffered, enduring heartbreaking loss of life and property. Yet, Peter says, “Rejoice.” Really?
We see Daniel in the lion’s den. We see the three Hebrew children in the fire. We see Hosea in a difficult relationship. According to Peter these are to rejoice.
Job said:
“Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.” Job 23:10 (HCSB)
Gold has to be refined, diamonds are cut, and grapes are crushed. We receive a great deal of beauty and good from the finished product. The same is true with us. Therefore, we are to wake up and see the work of God in our hurts, struggles, and our sorrow. Rejoice!
“My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.” Job 23:11-12 (HCSB)
Rejoice because we have hope!
Pray with me: “God make me Your vessel, make me whatever you desire. I give me all to You so You may create beauty within me to show Your redemption to a word in need.”
Until next time…
Dr. Fuller is pastor of Rockford Baptist Church. You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at rbccoosa@gmail.com.