Swept Away by Grace—A Study in I Peter 2 (Part 11)— For the Joy that is set Before Us
Chosen, redeemed and left on this pilgrimage journey here on earth that we might be transformed into the image of Christ as we are being prepared to fully enjoy Christ as our greatest treasure. We are commissioned to live our lives in such a manner that others will see us and desire Christ. We were not left here to go after and seek our own self-fulfilling desires. Has this not been the message that Peter is writing? Because of the magnitude of Grace we have been given, our hearts should be overflowing with Christ and a desire to please Him. We have been given the opportunity of an eternal relationship as Child of the creator and joint-heir with Christ of all things. As we near the end of Chapter 2 we see that Peter is urging us to live outwardly the life we have been so graciously given through humility, love and even enduring ridicule, rejection and suffering so that we might be like Christ.
So, what are we to do when storm clouds surround us and we feel oppressed? We are to look to Christ as our example for He is our light to show us the way out of darkness. As we cling to Him we recognize that He is truly our Joy in the midst of diverse tribulations. (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3) That is why we can rejoice, knowing we are His dearly beloved.
Look what Peter wrote.
I Peter 2: 21 to 25(MSG) “This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.”
So let us look at the example of Christ that should help us to understand this a little further. Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV) “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
What was the joy set before Christ? It wasn’t heaven, he had that without coming to earth. It wasn’t Glory, he had that. Communion with the Father?—he also had that. So, what was the joy? The joy that allowed Him to endure the cross was to look through the corridors of time and to see my joy fulfilled in Him and my heart filled with His love. So what is my joy in the midst of trials? He is. His presence, His hope and His love fill me with joy which can overflow to a world that is lost and dying in need of Him. When we live our lives in such a manner as this, people are drawn by our hope in the midst of trials, our love in the midst of loneliness, and our genuine joy in the midst of tribulations.
Listen to Joy in the Journey by Michael Card
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 byEugene H. Peterson
©2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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