The Life and Times of Joe Suttle

There it was at the end of chapter 4. Something nipped at the edges of my brain. Those words about a "faithful creator" brought back memories to me. Somewhere there was something very similar.

A quick check in the concordance in the back of the Bible I was using did not turn up the thought that was just on the edge of my mind.

After all that Peter had to say here in verses 12-19, this was stuck in my craw.

Forget the "don't be ashamed if you suffer because you are a Christian."[more] I am thankful that that is not something I have to do right now in America, but what about Christians in Iran or China? Maybe some more prayers for them whould be in order. That's their life! Then, there was the "eye of the needle" in verse 18 (check it out!)

Did a search in my phone Bible for "deny Himself" and found the verse that just hung there. It was a perfect fit with what Peter was saying about a "faithful Creator." and people trusting their lives to Him – because He will do what is right. The words of Paul came ringing clear "He will remain faithful even when we are not, because He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim. 2:13)

Peter was saying in a different way what Paul had said. God loves us in spite of how bad or difficult or just plain ornery we are. He loves you and me because He said he would! No strings attached! Sure makes it hard for us to talk about loving people. We expect something in return – actually, it's more like we expect them to do something first, so we know that we can love them.

I'm glad He is not like us.

That was the first thing that popped into my mind while reading verse 12 in First Peter chapter 4. I could just imagine warning someone (usually a kid) who wants to swing from tree to tree. We would in our firmest voice say "watch where you are going, cause it's easy to swing into a tree." Then we let them go, and as they swing, from our vantage point, they are headed for disaster.

Worse, we know they will be injured. And so we yell across the great open space between us and hope they are prepared for the impending disaster.

Peter's warning to the early church is not something new. He was saying, "when the wrath of people comes down on you, you should not be surprised at how you are treated." It was kind of like a "get over it! You knew what you were getting into!"[more]

While Peter's actions when Jesus got captured, and then crucified might make us think Peter "wasn't a good listener," we find that to not be true. Peter listened well to Jesus, for his words here seem to be an echo of Matthew 10, verses 16 through 31. Jesus words were the same – "there will be people who don't like you because you love and serve Me."

What Jesus followers face today is no different than what believers faced centuries ago. Remember, that there are still places in the world where you can get killed for reading the Bible. You can be imprisoned and severely punished for giving someone a Bible or talking about Jesus. Have a church meeting, and get arrested, or worse, you and your family simply dissappear!

How's that for a way to live?

I have a neighbor who has a tree in their front yard. One branch on that tree has grown across the sidewalk. Mind you, this is no puny little weed, it is six inches in diameter. It is is at just the right height, and given the right moment, I could be struck anywhere from my chest to the top of my head. Many nights, when walking the dog in the rain, my head brushes that branch – simply because I am not watching where I walk (head down to keep the rain out of my face). Hopefully I'll not be walking backwards some night and end up on the ground. Just have to remember to watch out for that tree. It's not moving – I am, so I need to be on the lookout.

Standing up for what you believe can be costly, even here in America. How much of my life is on the line everyday because of what I believe? How much of my neck am I willing to "stick out" for the Gospel?

After the tongue-lashing from Peter, earlier in Chapter 4 (First Peter), he comes up with two words that had me scrambling for definitions – "glory" and "dominion."

In case you missed the sharp tongue, it was those same words that we get tired of hearing about how we believers should treat one another. Give it a break Peter! We know how we should treat others, and it does not always agree with what you (and Paul and Jesus said)!

Whoops! Did I say that? Isn't that how we sometimes live? After all, we are in the real world and know what those people are like.

At any rate, good old Peter said that we should keep "stoked up" (my words) in our love – our actions or how we treat one another. [more]Remember, this wasn't written to people who were not believers, so it has nothing to do with how we treat those who are not. This was strictly about how you and I should deal with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Now I know there will be lots of people who are going to tell me I am wrong, but you go back and start at the beginning of First Peter and tell me to whom the letter was written. It wasn't to the govenor or king. It wasn't to the soldiers of the Roman army. It wasn't to the drug dealers down on the corner!

Verses one and two of the first chapter clearly lay out that this letter was to believers who just happened to be scattered all over a large section of the "known world." So, this whole thing so far has been about how we should live.

Now he comes up with two words that don't easily translate. Glory and dominion are kind of tied together, even though very different. Glory is like being put in a spot light. We see pictures with the light radiating behind Christ's head, and that is one way of picturing it. My favorite image is of a darkened stage, with the music playing and one spot of light, into which a singer or dancer appeared on a lift (they rose up out of the floor). During the entire song, there are no other lights so that all eyes are on this one person. They get the applause and then the light goes out. They gloried or basked in the light and were honored for what they did. Had there been more lights, we, the onlookers would have been confused.

Glory singles out the one performing the act so that when we give glory we know to whom we give glory and honor.

Dominion was much easier to deal with – that's a kingdom. It sets boundaries about who is in charge of whatever. Doesn't matter what kind of reading you do, science fiction or historical documentary, the picture of a King and his Kingdom (or Queen and her ?? (good question)) is clear. That was all Peter was trying to get us to see. If Jesus is King of your life, He deserves that we/you let the whole world know to who's kingdom you belong. Wear your colors proudly. Even when people call you names and hurl evil upon you, give Him glory and dominion.

Let the whole world know!