READ: 1 PETER 1: 3-9
And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (V. 5)
The cold steady rain was making this early spring day feel more like the first days of winter. Due to some light freezing rain, the morning rush hour was plagued by an overabundance of traffic crashes. No sooner than we “hit the road,” my senior partner and I were assigned to a personal injury accident on IS 270 just before it split onto the inner and outer loops of the Capitol Beltway, Route 495, which surrounds the Washington, DC Metro Area. My partner went directly to check on the driver and I immediately began to set up road flares to alert oncoming traffic to the crash and our presence. I had just finished setting out the last flare and was walking back toward the crash site when I heard my partner scream; “LOOK OUT FRED!!” Turning around I saw a car heading right toward me in a hail of flying safety flares. I set the 10-yard dash record for a person in heavy boots and wearing a thick yellow raincoat as I made it to the split just ahead of the car and dove over the guardrail. My raincoat snagged on the guardrail slowing my progress down the steep embankment to safety, but thankfully the same guardrail stopped the out-of-control car.
Emerging from the muddy bank and casting a quick thankful glance heavenward, I was greeted by the rapidly rising voice of my partner. He was in the process of pulling the offending driver from his car and registering his displeasure with words reflective of his state of anger—let’s leave it at “expletives deleted!” Similar words were on the tip of my tongue, but Ron did a great job capturing my sentiments rendering my “two cents” unnecessary. Following his lecture on being alert while driving, the offender was issued a passel of traffic citations which he wisely chose not to challenge in court.
Peter, who was no stranger to spiritual flying flares, wrote this letter to encourage Christians who were suffering social, economic and religious persecution under the regime of the Emperor Nero, the same guy who laughed when he set Rome on fire. Peter tells his fellow Christians to cling tightly to their faith. For it is by their faith they will gain salvation and witness the day when their suffering and pain will end as perfect justice will prevail. Likewise, when we walk through the trials of this life, we must hold tightly to our faith knowing that Christ is with us and the ultimate victory has been won. Faithfully serving God will help us restore marriages, mend a conflict, heal hurts, overcome illnesses and gives us the guidance to emerge from the muddy banks of our lives unscathed and sanctified.
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Life is unpredictable, one minute you are on top of the mountain and the next diving for protective cover. However, our faith ensures the certainty of our future.
Dear Jesus, help me stay united and walk with you through each challenging day of my life.