Friday Micro-Group Moments
1 Peter 2:13-25
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Footnotes:
[e] 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
[f] 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
Pondering Point
There are many people in this world who would say "there are many people in this world who are ignorant and full of foolish talk" (you may be one of them).
You can see it on the internet, on blogs, on Facebook and other social media – you name it.
God sees it too, but He does not encourage us to silence such talk with our own talk, but with our actions -- by doing good.
Let your actions speak louder than your words. And let your actions speak in the name of God rather than your personal opinion.
Prayer
Father God, let my actions speak louder than my words – and let them speak in Your name rather than my personal opinion. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
By the way, don’t let the simplicity of such prayers like the one above cause you to miss the depth of “the ask” in the prayer. These are serious prayers asking for serious results and potential need for change in your life. If You need to do so, pray them slowly, deliberately – and more than once.
Micro-Group Moment:
Considering the life of Peter as a case for participating in Micro-Groups
Aside from Peter’s MG (Micro-Group) with Jesus, James, and John and his marital MG, there are a few other examples of MGs in Peter’s life.
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Footnote:
[a] Luke 5:1 That is, the Sea of Galilee
When Jesus stepped into Peter’s boat, He stepped into a pre-existing MG of Peter, James and John – fishing buddies. The bible calls them partners, but it is the same “churchy” word in Greek that we use for “fellowship” (koinonia).
God can step into all kinds of MGs to do His work: Your workplace, hobbies like bowling or music or family-, health- or sports-oriented activities. Without regard to God’s involvement or not, write down some of your current or past MGs.
When Peter and his partners James and John dragged in those TWO BOATLOADS of fish, it wasn’t just Peter who left his boat. It was plural – they left their boats and followed Jesus, with James and John joining Peter to become fishers of men rather than fish. It was probably the first of many MG experiences they had with Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, open my mind and my soul to the possibilities of participating in micro-groups. Let me see in Peter the benefits of micro-group life and look to have You replicate it in my world. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.