Abram's story is filled with ups and downs. Ten years since arriving in God's land - Abram and Sarai take charge and ignore God's Word. As a result, they make a mess of their lives - and Hagar’s. In the midst of the mess, God sees, hears, and comes to Hagar's aid. This display of God's character reminds us that God shows the same kind of faithfulness to us - even when we are faithless. He sees, hears, and comes to our aid. In response, we should trust Him by heeding His Word and talking to Him in prayer.
God works patiently with Abram to grow His faith. We find Abram in a place of fear and doubt - literally lying awake at night in his tent! God reminds Abram of His promises, and affirms His promises with monumental proof of His steadfast love and grace.
As we progress in the Christian life, God gives victories along the way. These victories can tempt us to adopt the same prideful thinking that surrounds us and that is ingrained in our own hearts. Abram experiences an amazing victory. Will he be pulled into prideful thinking?
Life can throw some complicated challenges at us. Sometimes these challenges even result in conflict! It can be difficult to know how to navigate such challenges. As we look at Abram's life in this passage, we'll see that steps of faith enable us to navigate challenges God's way. We can be selfless, generous, and led by the Lord through complicated situations.
We see from Abraham's example that we should walk by faith, even after we make a mess of things. God's promises are greater than our messes.
Abraham receives instructions from God, but he didn't have the whole picture - and there were some major hurdles for Abraham! Abraham's faith is an example to us of what it means to take steps of faith, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Peter concludes his letter by reminding the readers of the true grace of God - which he has explained throughout the letter in truths and commands. Here at the end he tells them to stand fast in that grace. As we conclude this letter we will reconsider the vast grace of God and what it means to stand fast in it as we face the hurts of life with living hope.
Peter acknowledges the enemy behind our suffering - Satan. He helps us to understand how to endure suffering victoriously. We find that it is not so much about our efforts, as it is our hope in the precious promises of God.
In this passage we see that God heals His flock through humility. Each of us must put on humility in order to fully experience God's help through our trials, for God gives grace to the humble.
Peter, an elder himself, makes it abundantly clear that God cares for hurting people through the local church, and specifically through elders who minister like Christ. Elders serve as shepherds and overseers under the authority of Christ - the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
Peter summarizes much of his teaching about suffering for being a Christian. This succinct verse provides memorable advice for those situations in which God may allow us to suffer - even when we did the right thing!
Suffering is a normal part of life on a fallen earth, yet it often surprises us. Peter reminds us, in 1 Peter 4:12-18, not to be surprised by it, but rather to rejoice in it and use it as an opportunity to glorify God!
In light of the fact that the end of this earthly life is near, Peter gives some timely instruction about how we should live. We find that the closeness of Jesus' return dictates the way we live from day to day, in light of His coming!
Here we learn why the mindset of Jesus Christ arms us - fully prepares us - to face the hurts of this life. As we adopt His thinking we find ourselves equipped to walk in the will of God - doing good - even if we have to suffer for it! To live as God's people in this world, we must arm ourselves with Jesus' mindset.
Christ walked in God's will and proved that God's will results in good. He suffered - the just for the unjust - and provided salvation and is exalted above every creature as a result! The pathway to glory involves suffering, and there is great hope for us as we follow in His steps.
From this passage we will consider the ways that hope helps us to do what is right, even when we suffer. Suffering is a reality of this life, but with a living hope in Christ we can continue to do what is right - we can honor the Lord Jesus Christ. As we do what's right, even when we suffer, we have the opportunity display our hope and bring praise to Christ.
This passage reminds us who we are called to be in our character, in our actions - returning blessing even when treated poorly, and that all of this is accomplished in and through us with God's help.
Peter continues to describe the way these sojourners - the people of God - should live in a hostile world. Here he addresses the home. He instructs both wives and husbands - and by extension all men and women - to 'follow in His steps' and display their hope in God, even when life hurts.
We see Jesus' example as the One who suffered for doing good, and took it patiently. We are to "follow in His steps" when we suffer for doing good.
Here we see God's grace to help us submit and endure suffering, even when we are treated wrongfully! God sees and gives grace - both now and in the future.