Stay Focused on God's Purposes - I Peter 4:17-19

As Christians we have learned some of the attributes of God that are undisputable. He is all powerful, all knowing, all seeing and ever present—he created all things and maintains control over them. He is without sin…therefore; he has never made a mistake. He created you and me and we are not mistakes. He has in his mind a total plan that is so complete that it contains his reason for each of his created beings. You were created to fulfill God’s planned purpose for your entire life while living here on earth and then he has a specific purpose for you as a member of his heavenly family throughout eternity. A side bar is appropriate here—and it is that I believe that the work ethic is so deeply rooted in the teachings of Christ that it will be carried forward into heaven. There will be no idle moments there and if you are a lazy Christian, you have a sad awakening just ahead.

Do you know what God’s purposes are for your life? Peter insists that Christians must stay focused on God’s purposes. How can you be sure you are focused if you are not sure what the purposes are?

Two or three years ago our church family sponsored a forty day study based on the book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. I have heard several of the TV evangelicals criticize this book and the study materials prepared to guide a church through the study called Forty-days of Purpose. The critical remarks caused me to revisit the written material in this study only to find that it is a book written by a man [it is not an inspired gospel] but very relevant to one of our basic needs for understanding why God created man. We must understand who we are in Christ and we must know what God expects us to do as we live this life for him.

One of the first things we must remember is that God created man to fulfill his desire and not to please man. A Christian life is nothing more than people letting Jesus use them for his purpose. There is no doubt that God intended for man to use his mind to think and plan, and he allows us to choose our career, our spouse, number of children and their names, and make many other decisions that are acceptable to God …but we did not get to choose our purpose in life…God did that before we were conceived. We were made by God for God—therefore finding God’s purpose for my life has nothing to do with me but is all about me doing what God purposed for me to do during my life time here on earth.
From Genesis to Revelation, the core of the message is that God is Love and; he loves us and he wants to be loved. God is worthy and deserves all the glory from his creation. It actually sounds too simple to say that man’s one and only purpose is to bring glory to the Master…however, this is the truth. And since there are several way for you to bring glory to God—it is entirely possible for you to accomplish everything this lesson sets out for you to do—which is to Stay Focused on God’s Purposes.

· Jesus told the father that he brought glory on him by doing everything that God told him to do—there is no difference—we bring him glory when we obey him.

· We give God his greatest glory when we truly worship him. True worship is a lifestyle wherein we enjoy our relationship by accepting him and giving ourselves to him completely and without reservation.

· God loved us so much that he gave his only Son to die for all who would believe and trust him. We bring God glory when we express, and prove our love for other believers.

· We bring glory to God when we serve him and other believers.

· We bring him glory when we witness for him.

Our lesson today starts with the seventh verse of chapter four in First Peter and it shouts out loud and clears why it is so important for us to be in focus as we microscopically examine each duty we must perform for as long as we live. “The end of all things is near.” Every writer in the New Testament refers to the fact that the end of time is very close. “The night is far spent and the day is at hand” [Romans 13: 12]. “The Lord is at hand” Phil. 4: 5]. “The coming of the Lord is at hand” James 5: 8]. “The time is near” Rev. 1: 3], and the list could continue on to over one hundred instances that refer directly or indirectly to the end time and the return of Christ.

There are many who study the bible and find all of these passages a problem. I happen to be one that thinks the bible says what it means and means what it says, that it is literally truth. I also believe that there are statements in the bible that are to be taken as being figuratively true, and this in one teaching that meets this criteria. It is plain for us to see that some 1,940 to 2,006 years have passed since the apostles wrote and since Christ preached, and time is still rolling along, so literally speaking, Peter was wrong. But wait one minute—the bible plainly states that a day with God is as a thousand years with man—it may be that it has been only a couple of God years since Peter wrote this book. Our ways are not God’s ways—therefore, our clock may run faster than his or vice versa. There seems to be no reason for us to be confused or concerned in thinking that any of the writers were wrong…they wrote truthfully.
There is one simple fact behind this teaching…God deals with each one of us personally…one at a time…and there is only one thing that is important and that is that each individual must prepare to meet God. Even with a huge stretch of imagination, we have no more than 120 years from birth. As far as the members of Faith Builders Class we do not know the day or hour, therefore, each day we have left is in the shadow of eternity. The day of the Lord may come before we get home.

“The end of all things is near.” Why do you think Peter broke his train of thought and wrote this simple statement? He had been talking about the necessity of suffering and the rewards it brings. He switched to the subject of God’s purpose for our lives…he is reminding us that we are to pray for each other…above all we are to love each other deeply…be hospitable to each other…don’t grumble…use our gifts to serve God and others. This sounds to me as though he is telling us to focus on God’s purposes for our lives. Are any of these things going on in your life? If they are not…you need to search for God’s purposes in your life, and get busy.

When you look at all that Peter is trying to convey to us it is that we should not continue to live in sin. Because the end is near…it is near for each one of us all of the time, and could be within this hour, we are to live in Christian love toward others all of the time. This could be a good word and a pat on the back or in some cases a few dollars for food or medicine for a needy family. If suffering still comes your way…do not doubt, fear or quit…but continue to do good.

For us to live the will of God means for us to have the same perspective on suffering that Christ had. All of us have spent enough of our time in life sinning, or at best doing only what we want to do for ourselves. We must realize that God will judge the sin in our lives, and he will determine if we have lived a self-centered life and the way for both of these to have a positive outcome…we must simply live for God each day.

Prepare for Suffering - I Peter 3:13 - 4:6

Before starting to write this lesson, I read the verses listed from the New International Version, Nelson’s English Version, The New King James Version and three different commentaries. The writers assigned sub-topics to introduce this scripture that were so varied that it caught my eye and I feel it is worth noting as we begin the study. You can see that the writer of the commentary on Peter who works for Life Way Publishing chose the topic for the lesson to be Prepare for Suffering. Other writers chose the following titles for the study of the same verses in First Peter. 1. Relationships with People outside the Church 2. The Christian’s security in a Threatening World 3. Talking about my faith 4. Suffering for Doing Good 5. Suffering for Right and Wrong and 6. Christ’s Suffering and Ours.

The thirteenth verse is the beginning of the last major section covered by Peter in his first letter. Although he did not ask the famous question, he is surely addressing it as a problem in the life of many Christians. The question that arises in our every day lives is: Why do the righteous have to suffer when it appears that the unrighteous are happily doing well with no apparent problems? A quick and easy answer to this question is that everybody will have a payday someday.

Verse thirteen is a question—read it now. It would appear that under normal circumstances when we are doing what is right and good, we should not expect pain or harm to be our reward. However, we know that circumstances are not always normal. We must remember that the matter of human rights, even as we know them today in America, were unheard of in Peter’s day. It is difficult for us to imagine the difficulty that Christians have today while trying to serve God in a Moslem country. It must have been even worse during the days of the Apostles. Today, we have a few countries that help to influence others to at least be tolerant toward Christians. If America is able to claim any awards in heaven, no doubt, the best chance we have will be because of our adamant and compelling stand against tyranny and fight for religious freedom for every person.

Christ was baptized by John The Baptist and started his three years of earthly ministry in a world where there was absolutely no support group for anyone that would choose to follow Christ. There were actually only two groups of worshippers in that day. The Jews, believed in God, but did not know him and did not recognize him when he appeared in person as the New Messiah—and the Jewish leadership demanded that he be crucified as an impersonator. All other nations were classified as heathen nations, all worshipped idols of many natures and kind.

My point is that when Christ and the Apostles preached and souls were saved, they had no other outside help in their new battle against sin. Christians today have North America and a few other countries as allies who promote freedom of religion. These Christians in Peter’s book had two major enemies; first was the Jewish leadership that rejected Christ and was still looking for their Messiah—and the second enemy was the Roman Empire who was afraid that Christians might grow in strength and number and overthrow the Roman Emperor. The only support they had was from the Apostles and their followers who had formed small churches that in most cases were still meeting in the homes of the members. There were no organized religious groups or churches that could support each other.

You must remember that the Jewish nation was having no huge problems with the Romans when Christ started his preaching. Christ had no problems with the Roman guards…it was only the Jewish leaders that were constantly trying to prove him an imposter. Remember, even at his trial, Herod said he could find no fault in him, and he washed his hands taking no blame for his crucifixion. The Roman government would not touch Christ as long as the charges were religiously oriented—and the Jews had to finally lie and say that Christ had threatened to tear down the temple and set himself up as the new ruler—only then did Herod have anything to do with the complaints.

You must also remember that The Roman Empire was in the process of conquering many nations at this time. Each new nation practiced a different religion—many had their own gods. At first, the Roman powers found that it was easier to get along with these newly conquered nations if they were permitted to keep their own religion. Christ upset the apple cart when he came along and declared that there was only one God and that no Christian should ever bow down to a Roman as if he were God.

One of the most amazing things about the writings and teachings of the New Testament is how well informed NT authors were regarding the Old Testament…and not just about the old covenant and law, but about life, people, and especially prophesies. Just stop and think: there were no mass communication systems as we have today—there were no printing presses—every communication was by word of mouth or on hand written scrolls…one copy at the time…and delivered by horse back as the fastest source available. But never the less…

There seems to be no doubt that Peter is basing his writings in verses thirteen and following on the writings of Isaiah. [Note: The OT is quoted many times in the NT by most, if not all, of the writers. This is a miracle in itself. Given the poor communication process in that day…how were the disciples so well founded in the history of human life, and the teachings of God, before the birth of Christ?] Peter must have been very knowledgeable about the writing of Isaiah.

In Isaiah 50: 9, we read, “Behold, the Lord God helps me; who is he that will condemn me? Then Peter continues in the same verse comforting new believers from fear of others and he quotes Isaiah 8: 13. “The Lord God is the one you should regard as holy he is the only one you should fear or dread…He will be your trap or snare, the stumbling block to your enemies.”

We have given you all this background material in order to let you see the people as Peter did the day he wrote this message to his followers. Being a Christian meant ever-thing and therefore was worth suffering for. And since the new Christian movement had no allies, they could expect opposition from all other outside sources, and they should PREPARE FOR THE SUFFERING THAT WAS EMINANT.

Now let us go back to the big question about good people having to undergo suffering. In verse 17, Peter tells us that it is better for us to suffer for something that God wills than for anything that is evil. Look carefully—when we suffer for doing good, it is for something that God wills best for us. But when we break the law and suffer for that we had the punishment coming…we deserved it. Let me remind you again…any suffering you have from doing anything good [God’s will] will be at the hands of evil people in this world and at the most can only be for one life-time. But…suffering that comes from doing anything bad, sinful, [against God’s will] will be dealt with at judgment and throughout eternity and that consequence is left up to God. It may be hard for you to see, and harder for you to believe but I believe that—suffering for doing good may be God’s will for believers.

Peter gave us the greatest example of one who suffered for doing good. Our sinless Savior died for sins of others—he did not deserve the smallest amount of punishment and he suffered most of all—not for him—but to bring us to God, without penalty. The righteous died for the unrighteous. All have sinned. The price for sin is death. However, you and I do not have to pay our bill for sin by dying, because he has already paid the debt. However, there is a mandatory requirement that we must meet; we must
be born again and obey the Master and this may bring about some suffering while we are serving, doing our best. A strong faith will carry you through these rough times. Now the rest of verse 18 on through 22 is very difficult for me, I need help.
On the cross, Christ died a physical death and was made alive by the Holy Spirit [capitol S] and then he went and preached to the spirits [small s] in prison. These spirits were all of the people killed in the flood who are now in prison [hell ?]. Eight people were saved from the watery grave. [But surely there must have been a few others who were true believers and followers of God.]

You can find differences of opinion about what Peter meant about Christ preaching to the spirits in prison. There were many people who had lived and served God faithfully and had already been dead for years before the flood came, and then there was an entire population on earth the day it rained. Matthew records that when Jesus died, “the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people” [Matt. 27: 52].

Some thinkers believe that Christ visited hell to proclaim his victory over sin and death…the defeat of the Devil.

I think we can say for sure that what ever happened this passage shows that salvation and final victory is not limited…it has been taught in the past on to the present, it has been preached on earth to the living and in some way [that I don’t fully understand] to every person that has ever lived and are now dead. I believe that every person that ever lives will at some time have the opportunity to accept Christ. However, I do not believe that this passage implies that some who failed to accept Christ and died in their sin will have a second chance to accept him.

Peter says that Noah’s salvation through water symbolized baptism. I see some connection since water is involved in both cases; however the bible plainly teaches in other places that we are saved by grace through faith, repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ and not of works. It was Noah’s faith in God that led him to build the Ark and so by faith he was saved.

Share New Life - Luke 24:1-6, 36-49

Jesus willingly gave his life on The Old Rugged Cross and his life’s blood ran down the beam of the cross and spread as a blanket covering the ground where all of our sins lay at his feet—and those sins and all other sins that we will ever commit were hidden from his sight forever and will never again be held against us. Nothing else is more valuable to us—however; nothing else is more horrible than his excruciating pain that ended in his physical death there on the cross.

In my mind’s eye I can visualize many examples that picture the passion period as ugly, approaching darkness and imminent death. Leaves turn and then fall from the trees; fruit rots and fall to the ground. Sap, the life blood of trees and plants goes down into the roots and ground and even some animals hibernate through a cold, dark winter period.

Jesus was hurriedly placed in a borrowed tomb because the beginning of the Sabbath was approaching and Jewish law prevailed over the burial of his body. No labor was allowed on the day of the Sabbath. As the new week arrived, people resumed their life’s work. Even the apostles returned to the routine of their life. Then there were the ladies that had been closest to Christ, who felt that they should return to the grave site and complete the customary anointing process. It was as if ladies today would return to the grave site to rearrange the flowers and put the final touches on the decoration of the burial. The shocker that came should have been expected because many had been told that Christ would not remain in the tomb. It was empty!

Now, look at the comparison between his death and resurrection. In my mind’s eye I can visualize many things that picture the resurrection of our Lord as an event that is nothing less than the beautiful season we call spring time. I see the new life that blossoming forth; I know that the sap has started to rise and the new nourishment is something like a good breakfast in the early morning. The buds swell, the leaves start forming, and blossoms mature and fall away with nourishing fruit well on the way. There is no ugly in springtime—just as there is nothing more beautiful than our risen Savior. Nothing is more valuable to us than his resurrection and nothing is more beautiful than new life in the springtime.

It may be necessary for me to sound somewhat redundant but I must stop here to remind you that I am attempting to compare [if it is possible] the death of Christ that was for the remission of our sins to the resurrection of our Savior, on the third day, making our resurrection and ascension possible. Jesus was born one time; he died one time; he was resurrected one time and he lives one time—forever. How-ever the pictures of the reasons come back every year, at the same time—and on time just like a clock. I do not remember missing a single year out of the last sixty reminding others of these two most monumental of all events.

Carefully looking back causes one to think that biblical scholars and writers may have placed more emphasis on one event to the expense of the others. Let me add two more events…The Physical Birth and Earthly Life of Christ. The emphasis placed on the birth of Christ has been shifted to the field of commercialism. This has become so obvious that it causes one to grieve over the fact that Santa Clause is more popular throughout the Christmas season than our Savior.

Ask and answer this question. If we study carefully the major events in the life of Christ—is it possible for us to conclude that any one of the events is more important than any other?

• Christ was. God was. The Holy Spirit was. God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are. Do you believe this? Is there any thing else that is more important?

• Christ was born physically. So Christmas. Happy time. Important?

• Christ lived about 33 years and learned to be human and taught man how to be like Christ, a spiritual being. Do we profit from this picture of his earthly work?

• Christ died on the Cross paying the debt for our sins, which we could not do. Nothing can ever be more important to a lost person.

• Christ was buried like a man and arose as a spiritual being. Showed us how. We call it Easter. Without resurrection, his death means nothing.

• Christ remained on earth forty days—moved about as spirit, with no doors necessary but he communicated with mortal man proving his death by showing his scars. There were hundreds of witnesses. He commissioned his church and promised to send the Holy Spirit.


• He left earth by way of a cloud and ascended back into heaven…thus paving the way for our ascension. How will you be caught up?

There you have the seven [7] major events in the life of Christ. Seven [7] is God’s complete…perfect…number. Now what I have in mind is for you to tell me which of these events is the most important. There are a small number of the churches in the Protestant movement that place an extra-ordinary emphasis on the very narrow thought process that claims that ‘absolutely everything depends upon Christ and the Cross…and if you listen closely it even seems that the cross is emphasized more than Christ.’ I do not totally disagree with this; however, we can not say that there is a lesser importance in any other event in his life.

• Where would we be today if Christ had refused to give up his Holy Lordship in heaven for thirty-three years?

• Who would have written the New Testament if he had not selected the twelve?

• What worshipful body would we have if he had not established his church?

• How could we be saved if he had not died for us?

• How could we be sure that the dead in Christ will come forth from the grave without Easter?

• How could we know about our journey from the grave to heaven if he had not showed us the way? He Arose!

• How would we know that our room will be decorated and ready for us when we get there if he had not told us where he was going and what he would do?

It is Easter Sunday 2007, and I am glad that I can be satisfied and happy to tell you that this is one of the greatest days of celebration that has ever been. Christmas Day 2006, was just a few weeks ago. It reminded us that Christ gave up his home in Glory and was born as a babe in the manger to be our Savior. How could anything be more important? The olive branches carried down the isles of First Baptist last Sunday by our beautiful, innocent children reminded us that Christ rode the donkey into the city to start the horrible scene leading to his death on the cross. No other day in history was any more important.

The more I study the results of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—the more I realize that the story of his life is composed of many events or parts—none of which can be said to be less important than any other. My point here is found in your answer to the following question. What would his death on the cross have accomplished if he was still in that borrowed tomb…dead?

Exercise Submission's Power - I Peter 3:1-12

Do you believe that God is involved in the little things of every day life? I do. When I opened my Bible to the third chapter of First Peter and started reading today’s lesson, for just a moment, the subject covered was a total surprise. Then I slowly awakened to the fact that God is in total charge of “everything” and that includes the subject that Peter wrote about in these first twelve verses—as well as the date {April 1} when it would be suggested as a topic to be discussed—in Faith Builders Class, First Baptist Church, Heber Springs, Arkansas. You may ask why it was a surprise. It is because the teacher and his wife, Juanita, will have been married sixty-three years on Sunday, April 9, 2007, next Sunday! Your teacher is not a marriage counselor, but he has been there and done that, and he prays that this experience will help somebody to either save or reclaim their marriage.

Just one week ago we were discussing the subject of submission in the life of a Christian. There seemed to be a general agreement that it is relatively harder for men to be submissive than it is for women. It appears that this lesson today tells us why women seem to have an advantage over us men with their winsome attitudes. Men have been mistaken in their belief that submissiveness is a sign of meekness or even of weakness. We have been in error because actually there is a hidden power in meekness that we need to discover. Jesus taught his disciples and the multitudes that the ‘meek will inherit the earth’—and that indicates that there is a hidden source of power and energy available only to those who are willing to submit their life to a higher power.

Have you ever really tried to understand why people prefer to think and talk about sinful situations and happenings? Why do people prefer to read the bad news in the paper and watch the ugly and gruesome programming on TV? It should not be so! But it is. The Bible teaches that we all [everyone] inherited a sin nature and therefore these flaws in our actions and reactions have always been present and will continue to be. There is one place where the results of sin affects our nation and the world more than in any other…and that is in the lives of families. If you are anywhere near retirement age, you have lived through the age of the family demolition derby. More marriages fail than are successful. Only a small percentage of the children in our schools today are fortunate enough to still live with their own biological mother and father.

In this lesson today, Peter turns to the domestic problems which Christianity inevitably produced. When salvation became available to us under the new covenant it was dependent upon the personal choice that each individual would make, and it was inevitably that one of the marriage partners would be won for Christ while the other would remain in their sin; this set up a situation where marriage problems were sure to arise.

In every example of ancient civilization that we have studied, women have had little or no rights at all. Under Jewish law a woman was considered property—just a thing that belonged to her man. She was owned by her husband in the same way that he owned his live stock. She could not leave her husband for any reason, although he could dismiss her at any time for any reason he had. In most cases it was reason enough if she chose to change her religion.
In the Greek civilization it was the duty of the woman to remain indoors and to be obedient to her husband. General instructions to women was—you are to see little—hear little—and ask no questions. Women existed for the pleasure of men and had no independent existence and no part in the decision making process. The man could divorce his wife at his own will for what ever reason he wished so long as he returned her dowry.

Under Roman law the life of a woman was of even less worth than the other two…she actually ‘by law’ remained a child for life. As a child at home under the care of the father she was under what they called the patria potestas or father’s care. This literally meant that the father had the power of life and death over the girl. At the time of her marriage the right of power over her passed to her new husband. For example, if a woman was caught in an act of infidelity, her husband could kill her without even having a trial. Egnatius, a roman emperor beat his wife to death for drinking wine. Many were discarded for appearing in public without their veil.

Just imagine the fate of any wife that would join the new Christian movement while her husband was still faithful to the ancestral gods. It is because of these conditions that are prevalent that Peter addresses this problem at this time. It would seem to us that the directions should have been for the women to get out of these situations as soon as possible. But where would they go? To whom could they turn for help? Peter joined Paul in his admonishment to women in 1 Corinthians—to remain in the family and work from the inside to win her husband over to Christianity. His advice was just to be a good wife, caring and submissive to her husband. Her response to him must be founded on love and respect.

The situation was different when the man became a Christian—because he usually brought all the rest of his family with him. The story of the Philippians jailer in Acts 16 is an example. Peter’s advice to the women is a good example of works speaking louder than words. Peter did not advise women to try to preach to their husbands; instead they should live lives that would speak louder than their words.

All of the first seven verses in this chapter are speaking clearly telling women [and people] that a changed life speaks loudest about what should be important. In v. 3, we are warned about over emphasis on fashion and style—however we are warned that cleanliness, good grooming, and neatness is important—but not as important as a persons attitude and inner spirit. True beauty is not “skin deep” but it is “deep under the skin”—it is from the inside out.

I remember attending a revival in Griffithville, back in the early fifties. There was still some concern in the church about how women were dressed and the kind and amount of makeup they were wearing. The evangelist was younger, and ahead of his time, and he made a startling statement that shocked some of the older and more conservative ladies in the church. I think some one had been talking to him about the new trend of gaudy make up and frilly hair-does. He explained his thinking regarding the matter this way. He said, “Someone has asked me what my position is on the new trend in women’s fashion, and I will try to tell you in one simple statement. It is very simple—if an old barn needs a new paint job—I say “Paint It.” Well, I guess he was about right—but the amount of food and shelter it provided was still more important.

The word submissive in verse five means voluntary cooperation with others out of love for God and respect for the other person. It is always best if this is mutual. This submissive attitude is projected in reverence to Christ; and sometimes it is not mutual. In the case of Christ on the Cross, there was nothing mutual about it…Christ went alone, submitted his life alone for many. There may be times when true Christians have to submit to unpleasant circumstances or situations when it is the only choice and it may not always seem fair. Just think about the strength required of Jesus as he stood alone against the mob and died alone on the cross. That same kind of power is available to the Christian who is willing to be submissive to the will of God.

In the seventh verse Peter refers to women as the weaker sex, or partner. I have searched for his exact meaning of the word ‘weaker’ and believe that he is simply referring to the fact that [generally speaking] women are smaller, have less muscle power, and because of this they can be physically abused most of the time if matched against men. This kind of thinking is also born out in the fact that women, even today, will usually admit that they have trouble in a man’s world. Maybe Peter could look into the future and see cops taking advantage of women, car dealers hiking the prices on women and mechanics taking unfair advantage of a woman on a repair job. I have heard women talking about some of these things that they believe to be true, whether they are or not.

There is absolutely no denial that there are more “safe houses” for abused women and children than there are for men. It is sad that the majority of America’s poverty stricken and homeless is single mothers and abandoned children. Peter is warning us that conditions should not be allowed to exist that would allow these kinds of hazards to come to the weaker partners.

Men, you need to look at the seventh verse closely. If you are not considerate and respectful toward your wife this plainly states that your prayer life is going to be diminished. Don’t know about you, but I already have times when it is difficult for me to pray and feel good about the outcome. If there is strife and contention between a man and his wife, there is no way for your prayer life to be what it should be. In Matthew 5: 23 we find that if we have a problem with any person—it must be made right between us before we can worship at the alter. This would be even more important with our daily life with our spouse.

In verse eight, Peter gives us a wonderful summary of five key elements that should characterize the life of all true believers.

1. We must have like-mindedness, harmony in our homes for sure with all seeking the same goals.
2. We must have a sympathetic attitude, and always be responsive to the needs of other members of our family…church family…community and world.
3. The Bible says “But the greatest of these is Love”…love will lead us to see and treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
4. Meekness requires compassion…and compassion will result in a heart that cares.
5. Humility is a must. It is not the Razorback way…but you do not have to be number one…You can be humble and really rejoice in the success of others…especially those that you love. Try it sometime; it is true joy to be number two…behind someone you love very much.

For sure, Peter learned how to be compassionate and humble the hard way. In his early walk with Christ these did not come naturally because of his personality and strong will.
Then the rooster crowed! He saw an empty grave. He beheld his risen Lord. He received the power of the Holy Spirit, and became the favorite apostle of many.