Greeting from Peter the apostle of Jesus Christ (sharing)

I’m writing this post few hours before i  replace my friend to preach this afternoon. I was having no idea to share since we have started doing exposition study on the epistles. We have finished discussing the book of Collosians and this afternoon go on to 1 Peter.

I didn't expect to share about greeting as the first part of every letter is greeting. You know, what does a greeting mean if it’s not just ‘hi’..?! However, the greeting in bible is totally different to ours. It has more than just a “hi”.

So here are what i learn from the greeting of apostle Peter to all believers in this world :

1.       The way Peter wrote his name “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”.  I remember Peter  from some stories in the gospel book. the first one is when Jesus asked His disciples about Himself and Peter was the only one who answered convincingly “you are Christ”. It shows how deep he knows Jesus. Jesus is Christ for Peter, and the another story is in the last supper when Jesus announced His suffering and Peter said ‘though everyone leaves you, i’ll stay’. It still shows how deep his faith to Jesus. However, the situation turns to be different when he denied Jesus 3 times. He become so down and might have been convicted that’s why he left his calling and went back to his old job ‘fisherman’. But his faith springs again when Jesus came to see him with other disciples at the sea of Tiberias. Peter was the one who plugged into the sea just to come approach the LORD that he ever ‘denied’. Peter shows the way we live as the elect who live in this cruel world. We are prone to wander. As peter ever did, we also do the thing in common. But we must not get stuck.. peter plugged into the water to come to Jesus. The same thing we hv to do is to leave our past and run to Jesus. The phrase “of Jesus christ” after Peter’s name wants to tell us that we need to live as a true Christian, bearing Christ’s mission to this world as we belong to Him. “of Jesus Christ”. The old life has passed by, the new life has begun.

2.       To whom the letter is addressed. Peter wrote this letter to the Pilgrim of the dispersion in pontus, galatia, cappadocia, asia and Bithinya. Peter called the church as pilgrims. Why? It must have a reason. The word pilgrim itself has meaning as sojourners or travelers, those who live as temporary residents. The spiritual meaning for us is that as christian we are actually the pilgrims. This world we live in is just a temporary home coz our real home is in heaven. It teaches us that we dont have to get our eyes on this world but see the things in heaven. Live as a heavenly citizenship. Our lives in the world is just to be the representative of Kingdom. Live as the children of God.

3.       We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God for obedience. We are elect meaning that we are the chosen. Moreover it’s written ‘we are elect according to the foreknowledge of god’, meaning that God doesn't choose us randomly but He has known and planned everything first. So our calling to be the chosen is not a coincidence yet something that has been planned carefully by God.

Actually there are still so many things from this simple greeting that can we learn but i just looked up on my clock and find that i’ve got to prepare myself for this afternoon fellowship. I don't wanna come late. As the kingdom representative i have to be a good example, including coming on time. Lol.

Ok, that’s all the sharing for today,, c u in the next sharing..

Stay blessed,

Haniva