"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"

Ever heard that phrase before? Can you picture someone to whom it might apply? What is it that really makes someone attractive?

In verses 3-6, Peter isn't necessarily condemning dressing up or having nice hair. Instead, he's discussing where a person's beauty comes from. Beauty that only comes from the outside appearance is shallow. Beauty that comes from your spirit, your inner self, is true beauty. Look at verse 5 and 6 to see how to make your spirit, and thus your whole self, beautiful (there should be three parts to this beauty regimen).

Chapter 3

This week we read the third chapter in 1 Peter. He once again holds nothing back and starts us off with the sometimes sticky "husband and wife commandments." I know that a lot of my girlfriends out there have worked hard at the call to be submissive: struggling with it and defending God's purpose in it. The call to be submissive (to anyone, even our Heavenly Father) is never easily done, or easily understood by those outside of the relationship. So I was wondering if those that have some words of wisdom or advice about being submissive would share them here. At the same time, the husbands out there who are reading, maybe you could share what verse 7 means to you, and how you live it out. Thanks for your contributions, everyone. I'm really enjoying all that you have to say!

Doing Good

We saw last week that we are called to "be holy" (check out some of your definitions of what that means), and now this week we've read several instances where Peter talks about what we should do: "rid yourselves of...," "abstain from sinful desires," "Live such good lives," "doing good," and "if you suffer for doing good." Using specific verses from what we've read so far, can you sum up why we should do good, according to what Peter is saying?

Bonus Question: What's the difference between being holy and doing good? Is there one? (This is a good Friday post, since you can keep thinking about it over the weekend!)

What You Are Destined For

Since we're not afraid of tackling the hard stuff, why don't we just go ahead and tackle a theological argument that has divided many Christians throughout the centuries (since Peter has brought it up twice now): Predestination vs Free Will. Read again 1 Peter 1:1-2, and 2:7-8. What is he saying here? To stir the pot even more, read Paul's comment on this very issue in Romans 9:7-33 (notice he uses the same "stumbling stone" verse. Keep on reading, if you like).

Peter knew the concept of foreknowledge better than anyone. When he made what he thought was the most sacrificial statement of his faith, "I will lay down my life for you," Jesus told him that within 24 hours, Peter will disown him 3 times. But don't forget, eventually Peter did lay down his life (he died as a martyr). You see, Jesus never said he wouldn't. He did ask Peter if he really would lay down his life. The choice was up to Peter. The thing is, I believe Jesus wanted that kind of sacrificial faith from Peter. He just knew Peter's faith better than Peter did, and he knew that Peter wasn't quite at that level of sacrifice at that moment. And perhaps because God knew Peter's potential, He put events like this and others in Peter's life to build his faith until it became that sacrificial faith.

So this is how I try to understand it: "pre-destination" is God enabling those that He foresees will make the sacrifice and submit to Him. Our act of free will is key, but so is His enabling. We must believe. He enables us to believe. And He does because He knows our choice.

Simple, and yet, complex. That's God for you.

And feel free to disagree with me here, or add your own comments. Isn't it fun to dive deep into His Word?

A Precious Stone

Peter uses the metaphor of a stone to represent Jesus, which is a metaphor that God used way before Peter came around, and so Peter quotes for us the first instances of this "stone metaphor". In Isaiah 8:14, God says Jesus will be like a stone that causes men to stumble and fall. But later on, in Isaiah 28:16, God says Jesus will also be a precious stone that is completely trustworthy. And before God spoke to Isaiah, he spoke to the psalmist: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

I used to struggle with this idea that Jesus was destined to cause men to stumble. I'm sure some of you may have similar thoughts when thinking about friends and loved ones that do not believe, and therefore, cannot seen that Jesus is precious and trustworthy. It first sounds malicious and sneaky... why can't Jesus' preciousness be evident to all?

Your thoughts? (We're not holding anything back in this study, as you can see... when we hit the tough spots of scripture like this, we must pray for guidance and for God to reveal His wisdom to us... and He will.)

Spiritual Sacrifices

In verse 5 of chapter 2, Peter tells us that we are living stones (in reference to Christ, THE Living Stone) that are "being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." So my question is, what is a spiritual sacrifice? Have you made any lately?

A Resolute New Year

So I think I've figured out a system that will work here, and maybe it will fit in with your new year's resolutions (if one of them is to spend more dedicated time in the Bible, like one of mine is). We will continue reading about a chapter a week, but I will be posting (almost daily) a question from that chapter during the week, to get discussion and digestion going (we live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God, remember!). So, beginning this Monday, we'll start on the second chapter of 1 Peter. Until then, refresh your memory and read, or re-read, chapter one and take a look at the questions in the last post. I'd really like to hear your thoughts about the first chapter, particularly your "holy" definition and what Peter means by "prepare your minds for action."

I hope this fits into your life and schedule, because I am praying it will change all of us immensely!