The Sun, to remind us of The Son

Hi C_________,

You always touch me with your letters and your heart.

I think I know what you meant when you said:

"The thing that occurs to me is this: in His service there will always be trials, tribulations, sufferings. Am I always going to whine?! Or am I going to mature to the place that I can rejoice even in fellowship with His sufferings?"

We often have "great expectations" of ourselves. We'd sure like to think that we will eventually mature, finally grow up, and stop sinning (I have this same thing going on) -- but we have a sin nature -- and it is that sin nature that even asks that particular question. It is that little bit of pride in us that still clings to "us being the ones" who are "doing it."

John 6:28-29 ¶ Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

I am also reminded of a quote by Ravi Zacharias: Jesus Christ did not come to make the bad people good. He came to make the dead people live!

Joh 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

This makes me think of something the Lord revealed to me recently that I shared with my friends Steve and Linda. It is about why we have the sun in the sky.

The Lord recently changed my "picture" of Himself in my mind. I had often pictured the Universe (One+word) with all the vast numbers of stars and planets -- beyond what I could imagine -- with that black background and those many points of light -- and knew that He had created it and I was in awe of Him.

Then He added that "beyond the Universe is God" and where God is, there is only light. (God is light, and in Him is no darkness) So in the picture I imagined I could see the universe, then outside that, was light everywhere -- sort of like seeing the edge of heaven and the edge of the Universe next to each other. And this was amazing to me and I was grateful.

Then a few days after that this idea occurred (lol) to me: God gave us the sun in the sky for light and warmth and He planned it before the foundation of the world. He knew that we would sin, and that He would remove Himself from walking in Eden with us, but He did not want us to be without light and warmth, so he gave us the sun for the day time, and the moon at night to reflect that light as a reminder.

And now it has occured to me that the moon waxes and wanes just like the trials in our lives come and go. But if we keep our eyes on the light that has been shed upon us (Jesus) even in the dark of the moon, we will continue to remain in God's warmth.

Isn't God Good?!! He gave us the sun as a reminder of Himself even before He made the universe and before he walked in the garden and before we sinned and before He separated Himself from us -- so let us look, not at the sun, but at the gift God has given us: Himself

I love you C_____. God has good things in store for you and me. And the way is already prepared -- He thought of EVERYTHING beforehand! He knows the end from the beginning.

Job 35:6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?

1Jo 2:1-2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We just need to really take every little thing to Him in constant prayer. And then relax in knowing that He is in charge and He has made a place for us -- and He is our Provider. We have nothing to worry about because of His Divine Nature -- because of Who He Is: The Great I AM!!!! Ever Present. Ever Faithful. Ever Complete.

Php 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Grateful to be in Christ with you,
Marcia

1 Peter 2:17-25– Conscience Toward God

Lesson 10 -- Written by Marcia McCance

1. What it says:

17  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

19  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

20  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22  "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness––by whose stripes you were healed.

25  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

2 What it means:

17  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

What does it mean to “Honor all people?”

 Do you honor all people?  (If yes, how, -- if not, what correction do you desire to make?)

What does it mean to “Love the brotherhood” and how does this show up in your life?

What does it mean to “Fear God?”

“FEAR” GOD -- 5399. fobew phobeo fob-eh’-o; from 5401; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:—be (+sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

I am intrigued by the idea of “passively being alarmed.”  It makes me think , not hysterical and screaming, but watchful and alert.  We begin to pay strong attention and be careful and conscious of the consequences of our actions before God. This is also related to the words “awe” and “revere” or “respect.”  It means to “look up” to God with love and reverence. We are to “idolize” Him!

How is the “Fear of God” demonstrated in your life?

How would “honoring the King” differ from “honoring all people?”

18  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear,

WITH  ALL “FEAR” – 5401. fobov phobos fob’-os; from a primary febomai phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:— be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.

This is the root word of both “fears” that Peter speaks of. They are similar in meaning because they are the same word used in a slightly different way. What do you think might be the difference between the fear of God, and fearing your earthly “master” or boss, in Peter’s mind?

What does “submissive” mean?

What is the opposite or antonym of “submissive”?

When Peter tells us to be submissive what is he telling us NOT to be?

What does “the world” say about being” submissive” or “assertive”?  

Is Peter, in general, instructing men or women here?

not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

What would be the difference between being submissive to the gentle, and the harsh?

19  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

What does “commendable” mean?

What does “conscience” mean?

What  does “conscience toward God” mean?

What does “enduring grief” or “suffering wrongfully” mean?  

20  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently?

Good Question. Why is it not a “credit” to patiently take a beating for your faults?  

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Why would this be commendable before God?

21  For to this you were called,

What is it that we were called to?

Think of the word “humble” or “humility”… Does this “ring a bell” in your mind, like it did in mine?  (See Philippians 2:4-8)

because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,

Christ did what for us?                                      and left us a what?

What are we supposed to do with an “example”

that you should follow His steps:

Ah!  This is the purpose of His “example” – we are to follow His steps.  We go left, when he goes left, we go right when He goes right. We place our feet where His feet have been – like following in the snow – we duplicate what He did. We practice writing the alphabet in exactly the same way He did, letter by letter.

22  "Who committed no sin,

Jesus did not sin. He never disobeyed God – which is what sin is: disobeying God. We are to obey God, being Holy, for He is Holy.

Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

He only spoke the truth – we are to speak the truth – meaning the truth of God – not our opinions.

23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return;

What does “reviled” mean?

Did Jesus return evil for evil?

So when we are reviled, what are we to do?

when He suffered, He did not threaten,

What does “suffered” mean?

What does “threaten” mean?

but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

What did Jesus do in reaction to those accusing Him?

What does “committed” mean in this context?

What would “committed to Him who judges righteously,” look like in our lives?   

24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,

Jesus took it personally. He, Himself, personally, bore our sins – suffered for us – He experienced the punishment for sin in our place – His very own body on the cross.  Death -- that He suffered for us! What shall we say of this?

that we,

Wow. It was done for us. THAT WE….

having died to sins,

Think about that!  “That we” – Peter plainly says that when Jesus died, it was for us.  When He died for us, then, we also died.

might live for righteousness

And this was the purpose -- and the result. That we – might live for righteousness!

What is the Biblical definition of “righteousness”?

––by whose stripes you were healed.

What are “stripes”?

What were we healed of?

25  For you were like sheep going astray,

What were we like?

What does “astray” mean?

but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Fill in the blank: “but have now                                              to the Shepherd

What else is the Shepherd called?

Makes me think of that song from long ago: “Someone to watch over me” -- Jesus watches over my very soul!  Praise the Lord!

3. What it means to me:

(Believe, Trust, Conform)  Personal space for you to write in:

 ­Read again: 1 Peter 2:17-25, at the top of this study – and in another translation.

Definitions and Synonyms:

1.      Assertive – self-confident, self-assured, confident, firm, forceful, forward, pushy, aggressive

2.      Astray – 4105 planaw  planao plan-ah’-o  -- AV-deceive 24, err 6, go astray 5, seduce 2, wander 1, be out of the way 1; 39  -- 1) to cause to stray, lead aside from the right way  -- 1a) to go astray, wander, roam about --  2) metaph. --  2a) to lead away from the truth, (seduce) to lead into error, to deceive  -- 2b) to be led into error -- 2c) to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin  -- 2d) to sever or fall away from the truth  -- 2d1) of heretics  -- 2e) to be led away into error and sin

3.      Commendable – the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace --  praiseworthy, admirable, worthy, creditable, laudable, estimable, Antonym: lamentable

4.      Committed – give oneself over to God’s power and use – for God to keep, use, take care of, manage.

5.      Conscience-- 4893 suneidhsiv  suneidesis soon-i’-day-sis – co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness:— conscience.  -- 1) the consciousness of anything  -- 2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other  -- 2a) the conscience

6.      Example --  5261 upogrammov  hupogrammos hoop-og-ram-mos’ –  from a compound of 5259 and 1125;  -- AV-example 1; 1  -- 1) a writing copy, including all the letters of the alphabet, given to beginners as an aid in learning to draw them  -- 2) an example set before one

7.      Healed – 2390 iaomai   iaomai   ee-ah’-om-ahee  -- AV-heal 26, make whole 2; 28  -- 1) to cure, heal  -- 2) to make whole  -- 2a) to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one’s) salvation

8.      Honor – respect, admiration, credit, reputation, tribute, revere, reverence, venerate,

9.      Reviled -- to speak ill of, insult, abuse, condemn, despise, berate, disparage, Antonym: praise

10.  Righteousness – 1343 dikaiosunh  dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay  -- AV-righteousness 92; 92  -- 1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God -- 1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God -- 1b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting -- 2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due –Synonyms: virtue, morality, justice, decency, uprightness, rectitude, honesty; Antonym: wickedness

11.  Salvation – deliverance, rescue, recovery, escape, saved

12.  Stripes – a bruise, wale, wound that trickles with blood

13.  Submissive – A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". -- obedient, passive, compliant, acquiescent, subservient, docile, meek, dutiful – Antonym: assertive

14.  Suffer – undergo, experience, bear, endure, go through, put up with

15.  Threaten – menace, intimidate, bully, pressure, warn, terrorize; Antonym: protect

16.  Wrongfully – unjustly, undeserved, without fault