Monday, September 23, 2013 Day 260 – Jeremiah 46-47, Psalm 63, I Peter 1
Greetings from Holy Island in Northumbria, England. One of my traditions at pilgrimage sites is to arise early before the dawn to experience the sunrise. It was especially brilliant here behind Lindisfarne Castle this morning, but there is a patient waiting game required for the experience. It amazes me that there is always an increasing color as the sun approaches the horizon, but it always transforms into a “colorlessness,” immediately before the sun appears above the horizon. If I had never seen a sunrise before, the temptation would be to stop watching the sky when the colorlessness appeared. One would think, “Oh well, the show is over, time to move on…” Yet, if one stays focused on the scene, out of the colorlessness does the glory of the sunrise appear.
The importance of that focus is emphasized in 1 Peter, which we begin reading today. A short introduction to this letter that is full of insight is provided by scholar William Barclay. A link to it is here: http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=1112&C=1174. In the first line of that intro, Barclay states, “The pervading characteristic of the First Letter of Peter is its tremendous sense of the obligation which the work of Christ has laid upon the Christian.” Obligation? That sounds a little scary to me. I don’t like to be obligated to do anything. Yet, it is this focus, this discipline, that will enable us to experience the profound blessings not just in eternity, but now. 1 Peter 1: 3-12 is one run-on sentence in the Greek, which sets the stage for why we are obligated.
To follow through on the aforementioned image, we have seen the sunrise before. We, therefore, should be willing to stay focused. As Peter states, “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance (1 Peter 1: 13-14).” Similarly, in Psalm 63:8 we pray, “My soul clings to you, because I know from the past that “your right hand upholds me.”
In the times when our life’s pilgrimage seems colorless and full of trials, it is helpful to remember the sunrise. So hang in there, disciples! The Son is about to appear in glory, and the new birth, unfading and imperishable inheritance will be ours – not just in heaven, but also today.
Cheers,
Marty Zlatic
Greetings from Holy Island in Northumbria, England. One of my traditions at pilgrimage sites is to arise early before the dawn to experience the sunrise. It was especially brilliant here behind Lindisfarne Castle this morning, but there is a patient waiting game required for the experience. It amazes me that there is always an increasing color as the sun approaches the horizon, but it always transforms into a “colorlessness,” immediately before the sun appears above the horizon. If I had never seen a sunrise before, the temptation would be to stop watching the sky when the colorlessness appeared. One would think, “Oh well, the show is over, time to move on…” Yet, if one stays focused on the scene, out of the colorlessness does the glory of the sunrise appear.
The importance of that focus is emphasized in 1 Peter, which we begin reading today. A short introduction to this letter that is full of insight is provided by scholar William Barclay. A link to it is here: http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=1112&C=1174. In the first line of that intro, Barclay states, “The pervading characteristic of the First Letter of Peter is its tremendous sense of the obligation which the work of Christ has laid upon the Christian.” Obligation? That sounds a little scary to me. I don’t like to be obligated to do anything. Yet, it is this focus, this discipline, that will enable us to experience the profound blessings not just in eternity, but now. 1 Peter 1: 3-12 is one run-on sentence in the Greek, which sets the stage for why we are obligated.
To follow through on the aforementioned image, we have seen the sunrise before. We, therefore, should be willing to stay focused. As Peter states, “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance (1 Peter 1: 13-14).” Similarly, in Psalm 63:8 we pray, “My soul clings to you, because I know from the past that “your right hand upholds me.”
In the times when our life’s pilgrimage seems colorless and full of trials, it is helpful to remember the sunrise. So hang in there, disciples! The Son is about to appear in glory, and the new birth, unfading and imperishable inheritance will be ours – not just in heaven, but also today.
Cheers,
Marty Zlatic
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