Good morning, today is Thursday, May 21, 2020. My name is Keith and welcome to the Worship Daily from Green Acres Baptist Church in Athens, GA.

Well, we have finished reading the book of First Peter together, and, before we move to Second Peter next week, I wanted to sort of move back out to a big picture view of First and Second Peter both. Dr. Sebastian Kim actually has given a very short introduction to these two books. This is some of what he has to say.

These epistles were read primarily by churches in the providences in Asia Minor

The first book is about Christ as the firm foundation, the living stone rejected by the Jews, but chosen by God and precious to Him. It also encourages us to be like that living stone — to be a holy priesthood. The big idea is that our faith is based on Christ as the living stone. Christ provides us a solid rock on which to build our lives.

It is also encouraging us to build up our identity as a chosen people, royal priesthood, and a holy nation. And I actually think Peter is doing something very subtle in how he communicates this. Peter uses all sorts of images and symbols from the Jewish tradition to help us understand that we, whether we are Jew or Gentile, are actually those who will cary this story forward. It is in Christ that all of Israel’s story finds its climax and meaning, and it is in our following him that we continue that same story that God has been writing since creation.

Third, it gives us a vision for living for others and contributing to our neighbor’s and society’s good. There has been so much of this sprinkled throughout the first book, but especially toward the end when Peter challenges the reader to live with a dramatic type of love and humbleness aimed at our neighbor. To prefer others is at the heart of what it means to have new life!

So, the books of First and Second Peter encourages us to build our lives on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, cultivate an identity of the people of Jesus, and shows us to be the people of Jesus means living for others — giving our lives for others just like Jesus did for us.

As far as this being devotional, I would like to actually go back and read the beatitudes that Jesus gave as the introduction to his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Remember, Peter is filtering everything he has learned from his Bible, our Old Testament, through these teachings of Jesus in Peter’s instructions to us in his own letters. So, just like everything Jesus says, these words find new life each time we re-read them and re-think about them through a new leans.

Matthew 5:1-12

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.