Peter Inspires Quality

When was the last time you visited a museum? I don’t go often, but when I do, I certainly absorb and appreciate the fine art. The museum gives me an astute feeling, because I am in the presence of superior quality. It’s the kind of place you want to dress up a little for and be on your best behavior. You don’t want to talk too loudly or draw attention to yourself. You don’t want to yell across the room or let your phone ring.  You want to appreciate the scene you are there to see, not create a scene of your own. It’s the same when going to the opera or ballet. Refinement inspires refinement. Just for that reason, it’s good to go to one of those places now and then.

Let’s visit one of those places together right now. In 1 Peter 1, Peter describes the superior quality of God, Christ and the Bible. Look at the following passage as if you are strolling inconspicuously through the museum wearing your finest clothes and on your best behavior. Notice the adjectives that denote quality and then the resulting responses Peter suggests. While I’m tempted to point them out by underlining, I’ll be a respectful companion and let you observe on your own.

            But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:15-25)

You might want to read it again, and we can discuss what we saw together.

• Did you notice God is holy? You’re in His presence, so you want to be holy.
• You were redeemed from your vain life with something more precious than metal—the blood of Christ.
• Since your soul is purified now with the blood of Christ, you want to love others with a pure heart.
• You were born again of incorruptible seed—by the word of God that lives and abides forever. By the way, as you walked by that part, did you marvel that the incorruptible seed didn’t refer to Christ (He was the promised seed, after all) but it referred to the word of God that lives forever? Hmmm. Jesus was the word (John 1:1 & 14). So that part could be a dual reference with emphasis on the word. Quite interesting.

Let’s ponder these things today as we leave the museum and head back to our normal lives. We’ve been in the presence of quality. Let’s keep that in our hearts today.