When The World Is Unhinged (Covid And The Christian) Series

There’s a lot going on in these first several verses, but Peter begins in the right place with his letter! Praise be to God! Before he even begins to address the hardships and trials that they are enduring, he starts with the greatest reminder of all times. Praise be to God!

Peter wanted to start this letter by simply making sure that everyone was on the same page and to make sure they were starting at the right place. It’s as if Peter is starting his letter by saying, “Hey I know there’s a lot going on in your lives right now. Times are tough for many of you, you’ve had to suffer, and many of you have lost a great deal. But before we get into that stuff, let’s start in the right place, let’s get focused on God and what he’s done for us and what he has in store for us! praise be to God.”

I don’t know how well you handle hard times, but I sometimes don’t always start in the right place. Sometimes at first, I only see the problem, the “immovable mountain” that’s in my path and I don’t go to God who can move those mountains.

Peter helps these persecuted Christians get focused on the right things by reminding them of what God has done for them! Peter starts off by getting these Christians on the right focus!

? Given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus…

? Eternal life…

? Filled with Inexpressible and glorious joy…

When days are dark and difficult, it’s easy to lose some perspective. I believe that the Coronavirus caused some Christians to lose a little bit of perspective. [expound]

? Given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus…

? Eternal life…

? Filled with Inexpressible and glorious joy…

1 Peter 1:6 (NIV)

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.

Rejoice about the “right” things and you’ll be able to endure anything!

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years eve night, Gloria sat in a dark room experiencing a time of torment and fear. She said, “I sat alone in the darkness thinking about the rebellious world and all of our problems - and about our baby yet unborn. Who in their right mind would bring a child into a world like this?”

She was at the height of her fear and then something happened. She said, “I can’t quite explain what happened in that next moment, but suddenly I felt released from it all. The panic that had begun to build inside was gently dispelled by a reassuring presence and a soft voice that kept saying, ‘Don’t forget the empty tomb, don’t forget the empty tomb.’ Then I knew I could have that baby and face the future with optimism and trust for I had been reminded that it was all worth it just because He lives.” And she wrote: “How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives....