Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me.” Mark 9:35-37.

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV.

Our chapter, 1 Peter, is one of the most beautiful chapters and I found myself reading and rereading every sentence slowly because so much is held in every word. It was written by Peter the Apostle, one of the Twelve, to Jew and Gentile converts scattered throughout Asia Minor. It said in the notes the date was unknown. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I AM holy.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

Do we want to understand the meaning of life? The whole meaning of everything we have lived, seen, heard, learned, wondered about, suffered, experienced, rejoiced in? We are saved by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit.

And if you wonder about anything, wonder about that! Real hope is found in Him. And with Him speaking gently to our hearts and minds and spirits, how we see going forward changes. Can you imagine being Simon Peter, a fisherman who met God? I try to imagine the impact of everyday people just like us seeing Jesus the Son, Creator God, not just for moments of profound calling like the prophets of old – but living with Him, being taught and corrected by Him because all He was teaching needed to undo everything else not of God’s love for us. He bent down to touch and heal those we would have turned away from. Peter saw that. How confusing that must have been! If we’re honest, it’s confusing for us today. Imagine…May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. No wonder it took three years with Jesus and then His resurrection and teaching before He ascended to where He was before, with the Father. No wonder it takes the Holy Spirit still speaking to our hearts over time because this is so big and we are so wounded and so certain of everything not of God’s love. But the difference in then and now for each of us? Christ in you…the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27). Real Hope is found in God with us. And He is here…always! Can we begin to see the scope of God’s love? Not just for you and me longing for Him. With the power and strength of God’s love for us and with us, can we pray for those we would not bend down to? Can we count them as blessings in need of His love and closeness…those filled with pride and hurting others, those wearied under trials, those aching in pain, those suffering under torment…those denying Him? His love for them is ongoing. I want to know that Love. I want with His help to be His love for others as I pray for them and the hope held for them in Him. We are still learning and He is still teaching! Are we listening?