Weep For the Sinner; Rejoice With The Saints
Have you felt like the whole world is falling apart lately? Anger, murder, chaos, division, and evil being called good? It wears on you, doesn’t it?
I have felt a heaviness for a few weeks that has caused me to be stirred. As I have prayed about this and the vile things happening around the globe, the Lord brought me to 1 Peter.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-7
This heaviness has grieved me and caused me to think about those who are far off from our Lord. But I have found that my prayers for the lost keep ending in praise for those that have been found, and remembrance of what awaits me.
The Lord has been reminding me of the grace He has shown me, and those that I love. He has continually reminded me that there is STILL hope for the future and assurance for eternity. He has been pointing me towards heaven while I wait on this earth.
The “little while” I currently live in will pass away, and the wonderous glory of His eternal Presence awaits me, along with all those who have accepted His Lordship.
The result of my prayers of petition have brought me comfort and peace. This eternal perspective is needed to find joy while standing in shadows. 1 Peter 1:24-25 reminds us that our bodies will die and decay, and our glory will fade, but the Truth of God’s Word will never pass away.
24 “…All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:24-25
God wants us to live a life that weeps for the sinner, yet rejoices with the Saints.
And we know that is the behavior of the Saints that can even cause sinners to open their hearts to God in moments where God visits them in a way that only He can.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12
Our jobs as peculiar people and wanderers through this fallen world is not to fix others, it’s to remain in communion with The Spirit, denying the passions of the flesh, and to reveal God’s glory through our actions.
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep 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 prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12
The Lord will handle the evil. We are not tasked with destroying the Enemy, we’re tasked with praying, showing godly fruit, and trusting God’s voice. We should not respond to evil with evil ways. The Lord does not bless actions that fall in line with wicked responses. We are to be set apart and different. The encouragement we carry is that the Lord sees us and He hears our prayers. PRAY for those who do evil and minister to those who do not know Jesus! The following verses express that we are to be the ones controlled and unsurprised by sinful people acting out of sinful passions.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13
Our hope can be linked to an incredible truth — God will RESTORE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN, and ESTABLISH the believers who suffer on account of His name.
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 5:10-11
I am grounded in the knowledge that my God, Jesus himself, will restore what I lose, confirm what He promises, strengthen what was weak, and establish me in the heavenly realms where His goodness abounds forever.