TEXT:
‘Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious’ (1 Peter 2:7).
The Apostle Peter had started working life as a rugged fisherman, so it’s perhaps surprising he used words like “precious” in his epistles. Today’s Teaching studies them to see what we can learn.
In J R Tolkien’s book, “The Lord of the Rings”, Smigel called the ring, “My precious”. He couldn’t bear to live without it and did everything possible to get it back. In the end he perished, falling down into the raging fire trying to retrieve his precious ring. Surely this incident confirms the words of Jesus, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Matthew 6:21).
Who or what is precious to you? Are you doing what Jesus encourages everyone to do and store up treasure in heaven?
1. Precious Faith – ‘Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to you which have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (2 Peter 1:1 GNV).
‘That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 1:7).
How foolish to just seek the gold of this world but neglect that which is of greater value – faith! Gold is almost indestructible, yet it will be destroyed one day, when God creates a new heaven and earth. Faith lives on, ‘Having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come’ (1 Timothy 4:8).
People can feel secure because of their “gold” wealth and even pity Christians who choose to give rather than accumulate, but in the end precious faith will prove to be of greater worth. When people say, “I wish I had your faith”, the truth is they can! Usually the problem is, they do not really want it.
2. Precious Blood – ‘Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot’ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
In less than two months we will be celebrating Christmas, Christ’s birth, but the real purpose for His coming was Easter, when He shed His precious blood. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (See John 1:29). He was the sinless One dying for the sinful. Have you ever said, “Thank you” to Jesus for doing that for you?
All the Old Testament sacrifices were a type of the Lamb of God who was to come. Those sacrifices allowed God to cover sin but Jesus made it possible for God to remove sin and replace it with the gift of righteousness. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). What an amazing exchange, all made possible because of the precious blood!
3. Precious Promises – ‘And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires’ (2 Peter 1:4 NLT).
Paul spoke about the promise and Peter wrote about the promises. Both were right. There is the promise of eternal life, but there are many promises we can claim because of our rights and privileges in Christ, before we leave this life.
The Bible is full of them and this is why it is so important to realise what they are. How terrible to go through life troubled when there is the promise of God’s peace. ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27).
Every promise God has made, He has every intention of honouring!
4. Precious Lifestyle – ‘Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God’ (1 Peter 3:3-4).
The world is obsessed with the outward appearance. Millions of selfies are taken every day, but photos can only show what’s on the outside, never the inner thoughts, feelings and intents of the heart. The fashion industry actively promotes the latest clothing and cosmetics but the danger is, we take care of the outer and neglect the inner. God is not against clothing and jewellery. He just wants us to concentrate more on “niceness” inwardly.
God made it clear to Samuel that when He chooses someone He takes into consideration what they are really like on the inside. ‘For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7).
Many have jumped into a relationship, attracted by outward beauty, only to discover too late, an “ugly” disposition is on the inside. Christianity is living out the new life that’s within.
Finally, our text states, ‘To you who believe, He is precious.’ My question is, “How precious is Jesus to you?”
Recent Comments