Devotion - Monday, April 23

I received enough positive responses to last week's attempts to lead us through I Peter, that I thought I would continue today, with the final reading from this short pastoral epistle.

Since we missed Friday and Saturday, let me comment briefly on the material in those appointed readings.

One of the things we missed is Peter's statement of the role of baptism.  Peter likens it to the waters of the flood.  Those waters cleansed God's people for a new beginning.  In the water's of baptism, a new beginning is set before us.  Martin Luther instructed his students to remember their baptism at the start of every day and as often as they were face with temptations.  

Peter also wrote about suffering.  Noting that "The end of all things is near," he encouraged those who suffered for doing the right thing.  Suffering which comes for wrong doing does not purge us - but suffering as a result of our faithful to Christ aligns us with the Messiah whom we follow.

In the fifth and final chapter, Peter begins by encouraging the young to respect their elders.  I like that part; thinking of the years I have on so many of you.  But then I remember how important it is for me to continually hear the advise of my elders, of those who have instructed me, those whose witness continues to guide my thoughts and my words.  

Do you tire of hearing me say, "My professor said...," or "My campus Pastor told us..," or "Martin Luther taught..."?  I do so as a way of acknowledging that practically anything I have to say (and in particular anything good I have to say) is something that a mentor has first taught me.  

I don't want you to leave the conversation thinking "Chris Heavner knew this or that."  Rather, it is my hope, you would depart with the realization that I stand in a long line of those who have passed on to you what has first been given.  And I hope you leave realizing that you are the next link in that chain and it now becomes your task to pass on to the next person.

Peter closes his book by acknowledging the hardships being faced by his readers.  While it would be wrong to assume that none of us suffer for our faith, we tend not to do so at the hands of the authority structures.  Our suffering is a  more a result of social and peer circles.  Never-the-less, it is important that we do remain firm, that we do not keep silent or become silent as a result of what the world expects from us.

Peter wrote to a church that lacked many of the faith statements and traditions which guide our life in the modern church.  Yet, he writes to us, of the way we are to live our lives and follow Christ.  We will not, together, continue into II Peter, but I encourage you to read it yourself.  And, as you do so, feel free to send me questions about interpretations of verses or chapters.  God guide you in your reading.