Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

1 Peter 4:1-11 NKJV

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. ³ For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

⁷ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In 1 Peter 4:1-11, the apostle Peter provides practical instructions for believers as they navigate life in a world marked by suffering and opposition. As believers, we approach this passage with a deep reverence for Scripture and a desire to understand and apply its teachings faithfully.

Peter begins by urging believers to arm themselves with the mindset of Christ, who suffered in the flesh but triumphed over sin. Just as Christ endured suffering for the sake of righteousness, so too are believers called to follow His example, embracing a willingness to suffer for the sake of the gospel.

Moreover, Peter emphasizes the importance of living with a mindset focused on holiness and self-control, rather than indulging in worldly desires and passions. Believers are called to be sober-minded and prayerful, recognizing the urgency of the times and the need for spiritual vigilance.

Peter also highlights the significance of love and hospitality within the Christian community. Believers are encouraged to extend love and hospitality to one another, using their gifts and resources to serve one another in humility and grace.

Furthermore, Peter exhorts believers to use their spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. Whether through speaking or serving, believers are called to exercise their gifts faithfully, recognizing that they are stewards of God’s grace.

In conclusion, these Bible verses serve as a timely reminder of the call to live lives marked by holiness, love, and service in the midst of a world marked by suffering and opposition. As believers, may we heed Peter’s exhortation and strive to follow the example of Christ, who suffered for us, leaving us an example to follow in His footsteps.

Let us pray: O Lord our God, order the course of this world in peace that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Peter 3:13-22 NKJV

¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹ by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹ There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

In today’s passage, the apostle Peter addresses believers facing various trials and challenges, offering encouragement and guidance rooted in the truth of God’s Word. As believers, we turn to this passage with a deep reverence for Scripture and a desire to understand and apply its teachings faithfully.

Peter begins by reassuring believers that, despite suffering for the sake of righteousness, they are blessed and should not fear their adversaries. Instead, they are encouraged to maintain a steadfast faith, trusting in God’s providential care and His ultimate victory over evil.

Peter then directs our attention to the example of Christ, who suffered unjustly but triumphed over sin and death through His resurrection. Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Christ accomplished redemption for all who believe in Him, granting them salvation and the promise of eternal life.

Moreover, Peter highlights the significance of baptism as a signifying cleansing and renewal, drawing parallels between the waters of the flood and the waters of baptism. Just as Noah and his family were saved through the waters of the flood, so too are believers saved through the waters of baptism, which symbolize their union with Christ in His death and resurrection.

As Confessional Lutherans, we affirm the sacrament of baptism as a means of grace, through which God bestows forgiveness of sins, new life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism serves as a tangible reminder of God’s saving work in Christ and His continual presence in the lives of believers.

In conclusion, today’s verses serve as a powerful reminder of the hope and assurance we have in Christ, even in the midst of trials and suffering. Thus, we cling to the promises of God’s Word, trusting in His unfailing love and resting secure in the victory won for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us pray: O Lord our God, order the course of this world in peace that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1 Peter 3:1-12 NKJV

3 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

⁷ Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

In 1 Peter 3:1-12, we find a rich tapestry of wisdom woven by the apostle Peter, offering guidance for living out our faith in the midst of various relationships and circumstances. As believers, we approach this passage with a deep reverence for Scripture and a commitment to understanding and applying its teachings faithfully.

Peter begins by addressing wives, encouraging them to demonstrate reverence and submission to their husbands, even those who may not believe. This call to submission is a recognition of God’s ordained order and a desire to honor Him in all relationships. Similarly, husbands are exhorted to honor their wives, showing understanding and care, recognizing them as fellow heirs of God’s grace.

In the broader context of relationships, Peter urges all believers to cultivate virtues such as unity, compassion, humility, and love. These qualities serve as the foundation for harmonious interactions within the Christian community and beyond. Peter reminds us that, as recipients of God’s mercy and grace, we are called to reflect His character in all our interactions.

Furthermore, Peter emphasizes the importance of maintaining a posture of righteousness and integrity, even in the face of adversity or persecution. Rather than retaliating or seeking vengeance, believers are called to respond with gentleness and respect, trusting in God’s justice and sovereignty.

Ultimately, Peter directs our focus to the pursuit of peace and the avoidance of evil, recognizing that God’s eyes are upon the righteous and His ears attentive to their prayers. As believers, we are reminded of our identity as children of God, called to live lives that bear witness to His truth and grace.

In conclusion, today’s verses serve as a reminder of our responsibility to honor God in all our relationships, to embody virtues that reflect His character, and to trust in His providential care.

Let us pray: O Lord our God, order the course of this world in peace that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 138:1-8 NKJV

A Psalm of David.

138 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
² I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
³ In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
⁵ Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
⁶ Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
⁸ The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

According to Martin Luther’s interpretation in his “Summaries of the Psalms” (1531), Psalm 138 is a beautiful expression of gratitude and trust in God’s faithfulness amidst various challenges and adversities. As believers, we find deep resonance in the psalmist’s acknowledgment of God’s deliverance from enemies and his longing for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom.

The psalm begins with a declaration of wholehearted praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. We are reminded of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness, which sustain us through every trial and tribulation. Just as the psalmist rejoices in God’s steadfast love, we too can find comfort in knowing that God is always near, ready to rescue us from the grasp of our enemies and lift us from the depths of despair.

Luther highlights the psalmist’s desire for Christ’s kingdom to come, where kings and rulers would submit to His word and worship Him in truth. This longing echoes our own prayers for the advancement of God’s kingdom here on earth, where His righteousness reigns supreme and His name is exalted above all others.

Moreover, Luther emphasizes the contrast between Christ’s exalted throne and His compassionate regard for the lowly and downtrodden. In Christ, we find a sovereign ruler who not only sits enthroned in majesty but also extends His mercy to those who are broken and contrite in spirit. It is through His saving grace that sinners find redemption and the afflicted find solace.

As we meditate on Psalm 138, let us echo the psalmist’s prayer that God would continue the work He has begun in establishing His kingdom. May we trust in His unfailing promises and look forward with hope to the fulfillment of His purposes in eternity. Let us pray: O Lord our God, order the course of this world in peace that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 136:16-26 NKJV

¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁷ To Him who struck down great kings,
For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁸ And slew famous kings,
For His mercy endures forever—
¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites,
For His mercy endures forever;
²⁰ And Og king of Bashan,
For His mercy endures forever—
²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
For His mercy endures forever;
²² A heritage to Israel His servant,
For His mercy endures forever.

²³ Who remembered us in our lowly state,
For His mercy endures forever;
²⁴ And rescued us from our enemies,
For His mercy endures forever;
²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
For His mercy endures forever.

²⁶ Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

Again the Psalmist cries, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” In the first half of the Psalm, he highlighted the Lord’s goodness and dependable love in His acts of creating the universe and redeeming Israel from slavery in Egypt. Now he turns to more examples of the Lord’s faithfulness to Israel and to all men.

The Lord showed His goodness to Israel in preserving them throughout their wilderness wanderings. His faithful love for them is all the more remarkable for all their grumbling and complaining along the way, and for their initial refusal to enter the Promised Land. But the Lord continued to feed them bread from heaven for forty years, and He even kept their clothing from wearing out. Surely He is good, and His mercy endures forever!

The Lord showed His goodness to Israel in granting them one victory after another over the peoples who opposed them as they entered the land of Canaan, until they received the promised inheritance.

Finally, the Psalmist reminds us that the Lord’s goodness extends to all living creatures on earth in providing food for all, for the sun does not shine, the ground does not yield its crops, and the seed does not grow except by the will of God, who still sustains all the mechanisms He placed into the creation, so that this world, even in its cursed status, may continue to be inhabited until Christ’s return for judgment, giving us time to hear the Gospel, repent, and believe in Christ Jesus during this time of grace.

Christians are the beneficiaries of all this goodness, because not only do we rely on the Lord for our food, but we also recognize with humility that, through faith in the Christ promised to Israel, we have been brought into the Old Testament people of Israel, so that all the good the Lord did for them was also done for us.

Let us pray: O Lord, we give thanks to You, for You are good, and Your mercy endures forever! Amen.

1 Peter 2:13-25 NKJV

¹³ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— ¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²² “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Building on his words in the earlier part of this chapter, where he highlighted the noble status of all Christians as kings and priests in the service of God, St. Peter teaches us how such exalted citizens of heaven are to live here on earth: in humble submission to earthly authorities.

This sounds strange to unbelieving ears. Those who have a high and noble status shouldn’t have to submit to anyone! They should demand that others submit to them instead! Those who are free men should not allow themselves to be enslaved by anyone, but should have the freedom to do as they please!

But this is not the Christian way, because it isn’t the way of Christ. Instead, the Lord Jesus, being God over all, submitted to the ordinances of men and willingly suffered for doing good, setting a pattern for Christians to follow. He was free to do as He pleased, and yet He used that freedom, not to indulge in selfish pleasures or to pursue self-centered goals. No, He used His freedom to do good and to serve.

What reason does Peter give for urging us to submit to earthly authorities? Peter alludes to the divine institution of these authorities and their divinely given purpose, namely, “for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” But beyond this, Peter expresses the purpose of our submission and good works: “that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” If Christians are to represent Christ rightly before the world, then we must behave as He did in the world. Any criticism of Jesus, “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,” was clearly not founded in facts, and the foolishness of those who slandered Him was obvious. So, too, let no one be able to justly accuse us of wrongdoing, thus enabling them to blaspheme the name of our God, whose name we bear. Rather, let us even be ready to suffer for doing good, that we may truly walk in the footsteps of our Lord. Let us pray: Father in heaven, guard us from abusing our freedom as Your children, that we may always bring honor to Your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

1 Peter 2:1-12 NKJV

2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

⁸ and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, ¹² having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Today’s reading begins with another encouragement from the apostle to lay aside the things that are contrary to our confession: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, speaking evil. Since we have been born of the Word of God, he would have us act like newborns, who crave their mother’s milk. But a spiritual birth requires spiritual milk. That milk that sustains us and enables us to grow and mature is the pure teaching of God’s Word.

Peter goes on to provide us with some of that very milk. He points to Christ, who is like a living stone—the prophesied stone that would cause many to stumble. His message of the utter inability of men to save ourselves is loathsome to many. His message of being the only Way to the Father is offensive. His teaching that we must reach glory through the cross, just as He first suffered before being glorified, is abhorrent to those who are perishing. They stumble over it and fall.

But Peter is writing to Christians, to those who have come to Christ in humble faith. To us, Christ is like a precious gemstone. More than that, we acknowledge Him as the cornerstone of God’s holy temple, of which we are a part, like living stones built into the walls of God’s house. God has enabled us, as living stones in His temple, to serve as priests, that is, to speak His praises to others, and to offer Him the spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving and good works, which are acceptable to Him through Jesus. He piles on the noble descriptors with which God has graced us Christians: Chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, His own special people.

If God has so exalted us and sanctified us, then it is surely fitting that we should abstain from fleshly lusts and behave like saints in the world, letting our light so shine before men that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven!  Let us pray: Gracious Father, we thank and praise You for drawing us to Your Son and for raising us up through Him to royal and priestly status in Your house. Help us to serve You faithfully, that we may declare Your praises both with our mouths and with our lives. Amen.

1 Peter 1:13-25 NKJV

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Peter encourages Christians to rest our hopes and our hearts on the heavenly inheritance that we will receive when Jesus returns for judgment. His words echo the words of Paul to the Colossians, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2).

Meanwhile, as you set your heart on things above, take care how you walk here below. The unbelievers of the world walk according to the desires of the flesh, as those who don’t know God, as those who have no one to please but themselves. But Christians do know God as our dearly loved Father. So we seek to be obedient children and to please Him in everything we think, say, and do. We are to be holy, as He is holy, as those who are rehearsing for life in heaven, not as those who are rehearsing for an eternity with the devil.

If you call on the Father, if you know He judges, then live with a healthy fear of disobeying Him. He is a loving Father, but He is not a pushover who winks and smiles as we rebel against Him or as we mistreat our neighbor. And if sin ever begins to seem appealing to you again, recall the price the Lord Jesus paid to rescue you from those sins, His own holy, precious blood.

Peter refers to Jesus here as a lamb “without spot or blemish,” identifying Him both as the One to whom the Passover rituals had been pointing and as the Suffering Servant from Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 53. If we wish for His blood to shield us from the destroying angel, then let us take refuge in Him by faith. And, having been shielded, let us dwell within the Lamb’s house as holy people, not as those who perish outside the house.

Yes, since you have already obeyed, continue to obey. You have loved the brothers, that is, your fellow Christians, since you have all been born of the same seed of God’s Word. Now continue to love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Let us pray: Father, we praise You for the precious blood of Jesus, shed for us on the cross. Grant us Your Spirit, that we may grow in holiness and good works. Amen.

1 Peter 1:1-12 NKJV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

St. Peter’s first epistle is addressed to the “elect pilgrims” of the Diaspora, that is, to the Jewish Christians scattered across Asia Minor. But the Gentile Christians are also included, as pilgrims scattered across the world until we reach our heavenly homeland. He describes our election in Trinitarian terms: It was (1) according to God the Father’s foreknowledge, (2) in connection with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, (3) for the obedience of faith, by which the blood of God’s Son is spiritually sprinkled on our hearts, setting us apart for God.

The opening verses of this epistle praise the Father of Jesus for adopting us as His children, too, through faith in Jesus, and for giving us the sure hope of eternal life by raising Jesus from the dead. Just as God had prepared a temporary earthly inheritance for Old Testament Israel in the Promised Land of Canaan, so He has prepared an everlasting heavenly inheritance for New Testament Israel, where we do well to turn our thoughts when the griefs of this life begin to overwhelm us.

And there will be griefs, as Peter freely admits. But they will only last for “a little while,” as our Father in heaven causes us to pass through various trials on our way to our inheritance. Peter explains the purpose of these trials: to test the genuineness of our faith, just as fire is for testing and revealing the genuineness of the gold in a sample of ore. The gold is not injured by the fire. Only the impurities are burned away. Meanwhile, the gold is molded into the shape desired by the Craftsman, resulting in a precious work of art which God Himself will praise in the end.

We must take the beneficial purpose of this testing by faith, of course. We can’t see it now. But that’s nothing new for the Christian. We’ve never seen Jesus, either, and yet, by God’s grace, we believe in Him and rejoice in Him. So let us rejoice also in our trials, knowing that we will see Jesus soon, and knowing also that the same prophets who wrote about Jesus’ death and resurrection have also written about us, “upon whom the ends of the ages have come!” (1 Cor. 10:11). Let us pray: Father in heaven, we bless You for making us Your children. Help us as we journey through earthly trials to our homeland with You in heaven. Amen.

James 5:12-20 NKJV

¹² But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

James issues some final encouragements and instructions to the scattered tribes of Israel. The first two we readily understand and imitate. “If anyone is suffering, let him pray. If anyone is cheerful, let him sing psalms.” What about the instruction for the sick to call the elders of the church, that they may anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord for their healing? Is this a practice we should imitate?

We’re reminded here to read Scripture in context. James was not writing directly to Christians in the 21^st century. He, like all the epistle writers of the New Testament, was writing to specific groups of Christians at that time. And at that time, the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were still present in the Church, including the gift of miraculous healings. Just as the twelve apostles anointed the sick with oil and healed them after receiving from Jesus the special command and power to do so (cf. Mark 6:7-13), so it seems that the elders, that is, the ministers of the Christian churches at the time of James, at least in some places, possessed the same miraculous gift.

The signs and gifts in the first century Church were for confirming the Gospel being spread by the apostles. After their Gospel was confirmed, it didn’t need to go on being confirmed for the next 2,000 years, so we don’t send for our pastors for the healing of the body. But we should still send for them, in our time of sickness, for the Word of God and for their prayers!

Yes, we should all pray for one another, and we should be confident that those prayers do not fall on deaf ears. James assures us that the prayers of the righteous, that is, the prayers of Christians, who are righteous by faith in Christ Jesus, and who are praying for righteous things, are “powerful and effective” (NIV).

If we love one another, as Jesus commanded us Christians to do, then we will always be looking for ways to help one another, whether it’s through prayer, encouragement, confessing our wrongs, or patiently seeking to lead the erring back to the truth.

Let us pray: Father in heaven, we pray for our fellow Christians throughout the world. Bless and keep them. Strengthen their faith. And grant them perpetual peace. Amen.