Virtues For The Last Days

VIRTUES FOR THE LAST DAYS (1 PETER 1)

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There is a story about a pastor who was building a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine. As he pounded away, he saw that a little boy was watching him. The youngster didn't say a word, so the pastor kept on working, thinking the lad would just leave. But he didn't.

Finally the pastor asked, "Well, son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?" "No," he replied, "I'm just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."

At least three congregations in our church is currently preaching through 1 Peter, including site church in Ma On Shan, Build Green and one adult worship, none of which is in English. It started with the former president of Alliance Bible Seminary Rev. Leung Ka Lun’s wonderful exposition online. 1 Peter is a brilliant letter and a magnificent message extolling encouragement and endurance in troubled times. The Teacher's Commentary noted that “no fewer than seven different Greek words for suffering (1:6 grief, 1:7 refined by fire, 3:13 harm, 3:14 suffer, 4:12 painful trial, 4:13 sufferings, 5:9 sufferings/afflictions) in this letter suggest the intensity of the persecution. Like James in his epistle (James 1:1), Peter the apostle wrote to the exiles (v 1), also called pilgrims (Heb 11:13) and strangers (1 Peter 1:1) elsewhere, referring to the diaspora residing in five of Asia Minor's Roman provinces, in northern Turkey today. The recipients were Christians in the diaspora of Asia Minor.

What preparations are you making for the last days? How are you organzing yourself for the persecution ahead? Why is our readiness not merely a physical matter but more importantly, a spiritual, emotional and psychological battle as well?

Be Steadfast in Suffering

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

A man goes to his pastor and tells him how much he needs more patience and asks that the pastor pray for him in this matter. The pastor agrees and suggests they have prayer right there. The man prayed, “Dear Lord, we know you want the very best for us. If it is necessary for my friend here, would you please bring challenges, hardships and difficulties into my brother's life that will help him grow more patient"?

As the pastor prays for the man to have more trials and struggles, the man stops his pastor right in the middle of the prayer and said, “Wait a minute, pastor, that’s not what I asked for.”

“Sure it is,” his pastor replied, “The way to patience is through just such trials. Paul himself told us in Romans 5:3 that tribulation worketh patience.”