Yearly Archive: 2009

You know how those little statements you write kind of come back to poke at your memory? Well that statement at the top was on a piece of paper sitting on my desk.

Easter week is not going to move. Just think what would have happened if Jesus had decided not to show up that weekend so long ago. Easter would have bene moved! What would it be called now? Strange things would be etched in peoples minds. Everything that led up to that fateful weekend [more]would be on some other date.

Worse yet, if He had run the other way, there might not have been an Easter. I'll leave that for you to compute in your mind. Would it have made a difference in your life? What if …?

By the way, my note had to do with rearranging some things here at home, and the fact that it would be better if we moved everything that week. Interesting how first glances don't always tell the full story. Not only that, they can make us think about things we keep pushing to the side for another day.

Peter is still like that fisherman he was before Jesus found him. Here is a man who thought a lot of himself, up until the time he heard the rooster crow. That was the lesson that he heard clearly. There was no mistaking that he was not the best thing since sliced bread.

Or a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich either.

Let me be clear – Peter was not about to mince words. His advice? "Humble yourself and He (God) will lift you up higher at the right time". In other words, don't hold out to get the recognition you (think) deserve. Back off, and God will see that you get your name in lights at just the right time.

That's a hard thing for us humans to do. We want people to khow what we have done, and how great we are. Maybe there is a lesson from "Mr. Hotstuff." At least, we know he got the point. Just in case you think you are "hot stuff", cool your jets. Let somebody else do the recognition thing. You don't need to toot your own horn.

That is what Peter seems to be saying as we get down to the end of First Peter. The word he uses in chapter 5, we say as elder. In the Greek, in which the letter was written, the word was presbuteros. Maybe you can see some similarities to the word Presbyterian, and why we refer to the government of some churches as "Presbyterian." A case of where the elders or presbyters have oversight of that particular local congregation.

Enough about history!

Peter's words here are for some of us and all of us – all at the same time. It's like a coach talking to a team before the game starts. The energy is directed to the starting lineup, but everyone there in the locker room knows that they could be called on to get in the "action." [more]

First he gives instructions to the elders about how they ought to act toward one another, and then toward others. It's interesting, that a man who was with Jesus during His ministry, and saw, heard and experienced so much first hand does not treat others that way – like he is way better than them. He says, don't treat the people you have care of like servants or that they are stupid or they are required to serve. Leaders (of the church) need to remember that people should come voluntarily – not because they are required to.

Another point he makes is that learers should be examples, rather than "lording it over" those they lead. To me, the key to these first five verses is in verse five where he says "cover yourselves with humility."

That big bad wolf, pride, which can get in the way of so much, needs to be put away. Peter remembers well how his pride got in the way of what Jesus wanted to show. Peter the arrogant, tough, big cheese heard Jesus words "Before the cock…" and laughed. Peter's pride pushed him over the brink, but later he remembered. I think that is what he remembers as he writes for all the world – "Remember always you are not as great as you think" (my translation).

That's my take on clothing yourself in humility. It is what needs to be around and over everything we do. Besides, if I am so great, why am I not…