4. Clinging to Christ
19 March 2006
We have here a certain promise. We read that the hand of God is mighty and that He will exalt us. We have the assurance that God cares for us. We are not alone and God does care, regardless of what the godless claim.
But note that the circumstances in which this promise is given: “casting all your anxieties on him,” it says. The apostle Peter is assuming the presence of anxiety. It does not matter whether he was refering to a particular situation since we can be sure that the admonition is general. In all circumstances, we can lay our care and anxieties on Him who is faithful.
The danger of not doing so is clear: the devil is “seeking someone to devour” (v. 8). In other words, not trusting in God will make one vulnerable to the devil. The idea of agnosticism, sitting on the fence about whether or not God exists, is something God does not approve of. He has given us a clear command: believe or perish, and He has given us the tools to discern Him (both general revelation, i.e. nature, and special revelation, i.e. the Bible). All those sitting on the fence are sitting there with their eyes closed and their fingers in their ears. And the devil has already shackled them. All who stray from God end up in darkness where the devil will bind them too.
So God’s promise requires of us trust and maturity of faith. It is in difficulties that it is sometimes hardest to trust God and yet we have God’s sure promise that “he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1Co 10:13). Difficulties will come but we need not despair: God is with us.
Those who persevere and rely on this promise will grow in faith in the midst of difficulties. There will be a time of suffering after which God “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (v. 10). These sufferings can be brief or take a lifetime. The Christians to whom Peter wrote endured persecution under Nero and other wicked emperors, and we are to be ready for persecution, too. But there is a crown for all who cling to Christ, realizing and ever remembering that He reached down and lifted them out of the swamp of sin. He loved us first. Now let us love Him.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under
the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting
all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be
watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds
of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen,
and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11, ESV)
We have here a certain promise. We read that the hand of God is mighty and that He will exalt us. We have the assurance that God cares for us. We are not alone and God does care, regardless of what the godless claim.
But note that the circumstances in which this promise is given: “casting all your anxieties on him,” it says. The apostle Peter is assuming the presence of anxiety. It does not matter whether he was refering to a particular situation since we can be sure that the admonition is general. In all circumstances, we can lay our care and anxieties on Him who is faithful.
The danger of not doing so is clear: the devil is “seeking someone to devour” (v. 8). In other words, not trusting in God will make one vulnerable to the devil. The idea of agnosticism, sitting on the fence about whether or not God exists, is something God does not approve of. He has given us a clear command: believe or perish, and He has given us the tools to discern Him (both general revelation, i.e. nature, and special revelation, i.e. the Bible). All those sitting on the fence are sitting there with their eyes closed and their fingers in their ears. And the devil has already shackled them. All who stray from God end up in darkness where the devil will bind them too.
So God’s promise requires of us trust and maturity of faith. It is in difficulties that it is sometimes hardest to trust God and yet we have God’s sure promise that “he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1Co 10:13). Difficulties will come but we need not despair: God is with us.
Those who persevere and rely on this promise will grow in faith in the midst of difficulties. There will be a time of suffering after which God “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (v. 10). These sufferings can be brief or take a lifetime. The Christians to whom Peter wrote endured persecution under Nero and other wicked emperors, and we are to be ready for persecution, too. But there is a crown for all who cling to Christ, realizing and ever remembering that He reached down and lifted them out of the swamp of sin. He loved us first. Now let us love Him.
posted by Unknown at 5:22 PM
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