Thursday, March 10, 2022

Great Way to Start the Day!

My AM Bible time was in 1 Peter 5. I was a bit surprised that all of the imperatives are in the aorist tense. The focus is not on how you are to do these things but that you are to do them. The aorist imperative emphasizes the lexical meaning: Feed! Submit! etc. 

There seems to be a series of 4 "words" to various groups in the church. Here's "word" #1. It has tremendous significance for anyone who serves as pastor/elder:

Now I have a word for you elders. I, too, am an elder. With my very own eyes I've seen Christ die on the cross and I will share his glory and his honor when he returns. 

Fellow elders, feed the flock of God. Take care of it willingly and not grudgingly, not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. Don't be tyrants but lead them by your good example. And when the Senior Pastor comes back, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.

Then there's a word for younger people, for those under attack by Satan, and for all believers. My favorite verse is v. 7:

Let him have all of your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you.

The Lord's return is near. That is clear. Each day is therefore extremely valuable. We can't squander our hours. Peter says we should live wisely, in humility, drawing our strength from the Lord's protection and presence. This chapter has much to say about how we fill our minds and spend our days. As head of the church (its Senior Pastor), Jesus Christ has called us to join him in glory after suffering as he did:

After you have suffered for a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will come back and pick you up and set you firmly in place and make you stronger than ever. To him be all power over all things, forever and ever. Amen.

Great way to start the day for sure!