1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. – 1 Peter 1:1–2
Call me old fashioned, but I love to check the mail. I know it seems like everything and everyone is moving to electronic and digital correspondence, but there is something about plucking good old-fashioned mail out of the box at the end of my driveway. I don’t always get to check the mail but, when I do, I’m always hopeful for a good mail day.
What makes for a good mail day, you ask? Well, a good mail day is one with only a little “junk”, fewer bills, and some form of personal correspondence that someone took the time to send. Have you ever stopped to consider the effort it takes to send a letter or card? The person took the time to sit down with pen and paper and wrote coherent and meaningful thoughts that they wanted to communicate to you. Then they folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it with their very own saliva! Come on, nothing says you care quite like a tongue licked stamp placed on a hand addressed envelope. Yep, nothing beats a good mail day.
Now let me ask, what was your best mail day? What’s the most amazing mail you ever received and who was it from? Was it from family, a friend, or someone famous? What was it like for you to tear open that envelope? Did your heart race a little? If it did, perhaps you could imagine what it was like for the early church to receive a letter from the Apostle Peter in the 1st century. For real, could you imagine opening a letter from the lead Apostle who was trained and commissioned by Jesus to spearhead the charge of preaching the gospel and building the church?
The reality is friends, you don’t have to imagine because this Sunday is going to be a “good mail day.” As we begin our study of 1 Peter, we are going to learn that the Apostle Peter wrote this letter to the church then and now. All the amazing truth in it is just as applicable now as it was then. The central message that God is “Forging” his church to be an adorning witness is a truth that will inspire us all the more.
So friends, would you join me in getting ready to check the mail? All you need to do is open your Bible to 1 Peter and start reading. I’d encourage you to read the whole thing if you can. And as you do ask yourself how might the Lord be looking to use this letter to Forge me through this series?
Love you Church,
Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor |