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The Promise in Times of Pain

 This next Sunday I will speak at New Life Fellowship - my home church in Randolph.  I am teaching a couple of times a month while the Pastoral search continues.  I told my friends there that I'm going to teach through the book of 1st Peter for as long as I have the opportunity to do so.

The first part of Peter's letter is a grand doxology of Praise to God who has called us to himself, saved us by His grace through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and was resurrected from the grave, and who has given to us life.  We are "born again to a living hope," Peter writes in these first five verses. 

1 Peter 1:1-5
 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  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.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,  who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 It is rare for a writer to begin with a doxology, but that is exactly what Peter did, and it indeed, is the Gospel of "good news".  

Yet, Peter does not gloss over the painfulness of life, speaking immediately after this of the trials and tribulations - even suffering - that believers will experience.

1 Peter 1:6-7
 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

This is the Scripture from which I will teach this next week, and it is a privilege to do so.  In my readings, once again, the wisdom of the 19th century Pastor/Teacher C. H. Spurgeon comes ringing through the ages with words to muse on concerning this subject as he ponders the passage of in the book of Ruth -  Ruth 2:2, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain."

Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here is an abundance of precious promises, which meet your needs exactly. Take this one: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”1 Is that not helpful to you? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come, weaker than weakness itself—yet He will not break you, but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen you.

You are like the smoking wick: No light, no warmth, can come from you, but He will not extinguish you; He will blow with His sweet breath of mercy until He fans you into a flame. Would you glean another ear? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”2 What gentle words! Your heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore He speaks so softly to you. Will you not obey Him and come to Him even now? Take another ear of corn: “Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”3 How can you fear with such a wonderful assurance as this?

You may gather ten thousand golden ears such as this: “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist.”4 Or this: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”5 Or this: “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”6 Our Master’s field is very rich, as you can see. Plenty of promises lie before you, believer! Gather them up, make them your own, for Jesus wants you to have them. Do not be afraid; only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation, and feed on them with joy.

1) Isaiah 42:3

2) Matthew 11:28

3) Isaiah 41:14

4) Isaiah 44:22

5) Isaiah 1:18

6) Revelation 22:17

It is a reminder to us of the infinite wisdom and grace of our God, that IN ALL THINGS, including our own lives, he invites us to himself to find everything we need!




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