“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,”

I had a Christian boss who was a doer. He was impulsive. When I was invited to be a Chaplain in his nursing homes, I thought it might be wise to think and pray concerning it for a few days. Later, he informed me if he could have found someone else, he would have hired that person on the spot. The audacity of thinking and praying for a few days was beyond his way of operating. By God’s grace I accepted the ministry and it was of God for those next four years. After he got to know me, he chided me by saying, “If God can create the world in 6 days he can tell you in 6 minutes if you should take the job or not. What were you waiting for?” My new boss had little time for waiting. He was a doer.

As I thought of Peter, I realized he was a doer. His impulsiveness sometime got him into trouble. God created him with the gifts and abilities that allowed him to be used in his unique and different ways. He learned to be a willing worker, after he chose to follow Jesus’ commands in his life. Knowing Christ completely changed him. He still had the same personality, and natural abilities, but, given to the Lord, he was used in addition to his natural gifts, His Spiritual gifts that allowed God to change the world through him. Peter was zealous in what he did.

Peter had zeal unlike most of his fellow apostles. He was the first and only one out of the boat on the Lake of Galilee. He was the first and only one to draw a sword to protect Jesus. He was the first one to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the Living God. He was the only one to swim to shore when he recognized it was Jesus speaking to them after His resurrection.  He was willing to be beaten and jailed for preaching the good news. 

When the Bible tells us that the Lord called Peter, he immediately forsook everything and followed Jesus. He was confident. You knew what he thought and why. At one point he promised faithfulness and next he denied knowing Jesus. He had zeal, but was weak. He would go to Jesus and say it straight. "Depart form me; for I am a sinful man." He could admit his sin instead of trying to cover it up like most folks do.

Think of Peter's life. He was called by Jesus, picked to be a spokesman. He was told that he would be a witness. Was it any wonder that Peter did not spend his time talking about himself?  Now in his letter, he reminds those suffering for their faith to stop thinking of themselves and remember what God did.  That's Peter's principle.

In 65 AD he was in Rome and heard many of the believers were suffering for their faith. He wrote them this letter. They were rejected by their families and had to leave their homes. Peter knew what that was like. Some people were hiding, literally for their lives, since they were being sought by people wanting to kill them because they were Christians.

Peter began to teach them about election, separation, foreknowledge of God, sanctification, salvation, the work of the Trinity, mercy of God, assurance of heaven, security of the believers, the second coming of Jesus, faith, and divine protection. His teachings has become the foundation of our faith and the solid doctrine that allows us to live faithful lives.

One of our best encouragers when we are going through tough times is someone who's been through it all and tells us how. Peter’s life became authoritative by the experiences he had with Jesus. He is helpful to Christians who are living under pressure. He has the right to speak to the persecuted church. We want to learn from him and the words given to him by the Holy Spirit.

Application:  What do you say to someone who is going through hard times? How do you encourage them?

Prayer:  Lord, as I meditate on this message, I am drawn to read with new fervor the Holy Spirit's Word to us in I and II Peter.   Today, I will meditate on the man who wrote these and all that he endrued for the Gospel.