JUNE 21, 2014 - DAY 11 (Radiant!)

Tonight's hour was spent re-reading all of 1 Peter. I decided to read it all together and out loud. I noticed a few things about the letter:

1) The book is very positive. Even though Peter writes about trials people face and the persecution they face, he points them to Jesus and essentially says "it's all good!" In light of eternity..it's all good! Maybe it's hard now, but when you're dead and with Jesus, it's all good!

2) Everything is about Jesus. We should act a certain way because Jesus acted a certain way. We face hard times? Focus on Jesus! We are submissive because Jesus was submissive. Everything in this book points to Jesus. So good.

3) Peter mentions three times in 5 chapters that we are to be self-controlled. I always think self-control is an interesting choice of word for a Christian because we need God's help always. But it's SELF control. Not God control. God doesn't want to control us. 

Other things I noticed in the letter include words to describe the character of followers of Christ. In chapter 3, Peter says wives are to be gentle and have a gentle spirit. I want to posses these things! I want to be these things.

Verse 12 in chapter 3 says "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." I also want to be righteous. 

Another verse that was eye opening to me was 5:5 - "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

So when thinking about these verses I wondered if and when I would know if I was considered righteous. Aren't all Christians considered righteous because of Jesus? Then I thought about King David. Why was he considered a man after God's own heart? Am I a woman after God's own heart? I don't think so. But I think I'm getting there. 

Another blogger gives his reasons why he thinks David was a man after God's own heart. Here are the reasons he lists:

1) David had absolute faith in God.
2) David absolutely loved God’s law.
3) David was truly thankful.
4) David was truly repentant. 

Found from: http://www.gotquestions.org/man-after-God-heart.html

Based on THIS man's definition...I am NOT a woman after God's heart. But like I said, I'm getting there. 

After I dwelled on this, I asked God to reveal a word to me or anythign he wanted to say. Immediately God gave me the word radiant. I don't know if that means he thinks I'm radiant or whether he wants me to be. I'll take it as he thinks I'm radiant ;) That is actually how I took it until I questioned the fact that maybe he did indeed mean he wants me to be. I looked up the definition of radiant and I LOVE it:

sending out light; shining or glowing brightly.

I love love love this definition! Is this how God sees me? Radiant? Gosh I hope so. If not, I definitely want to strive toward it. Sending out light (JESUS!!), shining, glowing brightly!! We are called to be lights of the world. Oh man, I don't want to disappoint God. I definitely will strive toward being radiant and if God already thinks I am...wow. This makes me only want to know him more and be more like him.

You are good God!

Thus concludes 1 Peter! Perhaps I shall move onto 2 Peter tomorrow!