Peter's Song of Faith (a meditation on 1 Peter 1:3-9)

It's been a while since I've visited this page. Life's been full and I've been focusing on some big changes God is leading me through. But here we are, the week before staff conference, and the day before Heather and family arrive for a pre-conference visit. Friday we'll begin conference worship rehearsals and worship is on my mind. I want to set aside my recent task orientation and replace it with a running free, joyful upward perspective.

A while ago I wrote a meditation on Peter's perspective on the riches we have in Christ. Perhaps in whatever pre-conference urgencies you're facing, it will provide some welcome refreshment. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Elizabeth

If the Apostle Peter had been a lyricist, this passage would certainly have found its expression in a song. Overflowing with praise, it is a call to celebrate the wonder and the outcome of faith in Christ.

When I’ve studied this passage in the past, I’ve often zeroed in on the verses about enduring trials, finding comfort that there is both purpose and benefit to the struggles I face. But when I look deeper, I see that Peter’s mention of trials is a mere parenthesis in his celebration of faith.

What jewels of faith are disclosed here? What song does it sing to celebrate belief in the Saviour?

Peter begins by celebrating God’s free and marvellous gift of new birth. It’s a gift with two distinct dimensions, which together reveal its richness. The first is that we’re granted new birth into a living hope, a hope for today as we live out our life on earth. Peter’s wording reminds us that by God’s grace we’re granted fullness of life. Fullness that often evades us as we live out the ‘stuff of life’, but which is our birthright in Christ, ours to appropriate as we live in harmony with ourselves, our God and our world.

The second dimension of new birth is the eternal inheritance that awaits us in heaven. An inheritance so wonderful that it will surely surpass our wildest dreams. No matter how incomplete our picture of heaven, this promise instils hope and inspires the imagination. Peter doesn’t attempt to describe our inheritance but declares its certainty and incorruptibility. And he treasures its worth. The more we grasp of what awaits us--and the closer we get to claiming it as our own--the dearer this promise becomes. Peter’s message is one of hope for today and for eternity. Both are gifts of God’s mercy, given in tandem with placing our faith in him. Gifts of great value, and very much worth celebrating!

Our faith itself is also a celebration prompter, and Peter tucks in several more gems in that regard. Our faith is precious, of greater worth than gold. And our faith is enduring~once refined, it never perishes. Faith shields us with God’s power until the day of anticipation arrives. And faith will have a wonderful outcome on that day. Not only will it allow us to take hold of the gift that is being kept in heaven for us, but it will also bring praise, glory and honour to the Giver. When all of this is our present reality, our joy will overflow with the incomprehensibility of the riches that are ours!

In light of these treasures, what are the trials that we face? In Peter’s view, they are common to life, never catching him by surprise. Enduring them proves our faith genuine, bringing glory to our Saviour, and that is greater by far. His focus is upward, on Christ and his gifts, and that fills his heart with joy.

Wherever you are in your journey today, allow Peter’s song to encourage your heart to well up with this same joy. Let his perspective spur you on to celebrate even now as you grasp hold of the fulfilment that is intrinsic to your faith.