e176 What is Your Truth on the Ground (Part 2, Spiritual Maturity, Peter)

This is Faith to Witness 99, motivating us to hear God and share the Shepherd.  

Season 3 Episode 176 What is Your Truth on the Ground? (Part 2, Spiritual Maturity, Peter)

Here’s the gist, human. Peter’s first letter is impassioned, truth-seared, and glorious. It comes from his experiences, that he has lived his life trading measure for measure, that what he does in action, will receive a reciprocal spiritual strengthening. That spiritual maturity is embracing the glory-bound spiritual gain of things. His life convinces us of this: that a full investment in our obedience yields the highest spiritual return. 

We can’t not hear Peter.

My faith is defined by my spiritual maturity in action, my truth on the ground. God’s Word illuminates my faith by what I do. 

So I ask us, “how much clearer does God need to be?

Peter speaks. Let’s listen.

E176. 

When we think about the apostles of Jesus, it is easy to return to when they walked with him, dusty sandals, and all. Three short, but intense years. As young, new believers. Baby Christians. But what about earthly life after Jesus ascended? In e175 we looked at James. 

Today, we look at the first letter of Peter which comes not quite 20 years after the letter authored by James. Peter had been living his truth on the ground for 30+ years following Jesus’ ascension at the time he completed his letters. 

Like James, Peter’s voice is rich with the hard-fought maturity that comes with standing for the truth of our Shepherd. Bearing the wisdom that comes from living in the middle of truth on the ground. 

I am in this place with Peter: seeking the clarity that comes when God’s persuasion settles in to the daily life of someone who has submitted his free will to and heard the truth from Jesus first-hand. As Peter grew older he took on the spirit of his Heavenly Shepherd. 

This is why we are taking a closer look at the perspective of Peter to prompt similar considerations for how we are each maturing in Christ.  

Take Measure of Your Spiritual Maturity

Today, we look at the first letter of Peter to name behavior that shapes how mature we are in Christ. Peter is speaking to exiled believers, and more specifically addresses behaviors for friends, wives, husbands, slaves. But I am asking you to take a cue on considering the general behaviors we cover in today’s scriptures, and weigh in on your behavior to take measure of your own spiritual maturity. 

Your cue is when I say: Consider… and the scripture will follow.

Let’s get started. 

Consider why God is deepening your joy through trials. And the power of it.

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Consider how you love others to mature toward holiness.

1 Peter 1:13-16, 22

Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 

What Stops You From Craving God’s Spirit.

Consider what you must rid of to crave spiritual maturity. To crave God’s Spirit.

1 Peter 2:1-3

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Consider how you repay evil with blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

Consider how you share your reason for hope with others.

1 Peter 3:15-16

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

Next up, consider your maturity in being alert, sober minded, how deeply you love, how hospitable you are, how you use your spiritual gifts through God’s grace. 

Consider using God’s words, not yours. Measure how well you serve through God’s strength, not your own. This is what brings glory to him.

1 Peter 4: 7-11

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

Consider the depth of your maturity being contingent upon what things? Suffering brings a reciprocal measure of joy, insults bring the spirit to rest on you. 

Consider what you are suffering, to measure if it is in the spirit of Christ.

1 Peter 4: 12-17

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 

Measure Your Spiritual Focus Against the Focus of the Enemy

Consider how your testimony, your spiritual maturity is linked to how Peter was a first-hand witness of how the Shepherd suffered. And how he, Peter, suffered.

1 Peter 5: 5-9

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Consider the urgency of matching your focus to the focus of the enemy. 

1 Peter5: 8-9

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Peter’s first letter is impassioned, truth-seared, and glorious. It comes from his experiences, that he has lived his life trading measure for measure, that what he does in action, will receive a reciprocal spiritual strengthening. That spiritual maturity is embracing the glory-bound spiritual gain of things. His life convinces us of this: that a full investment in our obedience yields the highest spiritual return. 

I encourage you to take time to read 1 Peter at some point this week for the full context. This simple scripture-based exercise is meant to call out my faith, your faith and how it is defined by our spiritual maturity in action, our truth on the ground. 

God’s Word illuminates his faithfulness by what I do. 

So I ask us again, “how much clearer does God need to be?”

How about you, human? Gonna stay with us?

Part 3 is next, e177, Peter’s second letter, as he grows toward his earthly death and heavenly inheritance.