1 Peter

Is your faith strong enough to pass the test?

By: Haley Foster Period 6 11/23/10

The book of 1 Peter talks about what to do when your faith is being questioned. Throughout all of our lives, we will all be tested about our faith. The question is, are we strong enough to handle it. Peter wrote this book to Jews and Gentiles who became Christians. He was in Jerusalem at the time. The letter was sent to the area of present day Turkey, and read aloud to the Christians. The letter was then passed on to smaller churches. Christians new and old were able to learn what to do when they were in compromising situations. Peter uses multiple examples of being tested about our faith. When people are ridiculed and scoffed at, they should not be cowards and deny their faith. They should stay strong and not be ashamed. Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift that was given to us. We have been healed through Jesus wounds. Jesus was laughed at and insulted all throughout His life here on earth. He never once lied or retaliated. He was kind to everyone and stayed strong in God. When Paul traveled he was faced with many trials. In Acts, we see how Paul also stayed strong in his faith. He was not ashamed of his love for God. He knew that he did not belong to the world, but to Heaven. Paul was put into prison for professing his faith. He said that Jesus was the Son of God and that He came down to earth to save us. The Pharisees told Paul to stop preaching this. Paul stayed strong and never backed down. He trusted God and did what was hard. Paul wanted the Christians to know that even though they may suffer in this life, they have an eternal home in Heaven with God. He wanted them to know that it was by

Gods grace they were able to have hope in Heaven. No one deserves Gods grace, but He gives it to us anyways. Peter also wanted to inform Christians to live like Christ lived. He knew that no one is perfect, but we should all try to live a blameless live. Peter knew that it would not be easy to live like Christ. He just wanted to set expectations. These expectations are high and they will be difficult to reach. Paul and Peter both showed us examples of doing hard things. Paul gave up his entire live to living like Christ. He made mistakes, but knew that he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength. These truths still apply to us today. Today, the expectations have been lowered by society. People expect less and less of us every day. The truth is nothing has changed since Peter wrote this book. God still expects as much of us now as He did of the Christians back then. He still wants us to live our lives in a way that will glorify Him. Peter also talks a little bit about respecting your elders, or employers. When you practice this, God is being glorified. Honoring those who are put in higher power is honoring to God. We should always respect our leaders and government. This doesnt mean that we have to agree with them all the time; it just means that we need to respect them. 1 Peter is applicable to me in a few ways. I may not be confronted with people who pick on my faith, but I am faced with temptations every day. Just because people arent around to witness me doing hard things, I still need to strive to be like Christ in all areas of my life. I need to practice in private what I do in public. God sees me when Im with my friends and when I am alone. 1 Peter has made me re-evaluate my life and see what areas I need to work on strengthening in my faith.