1 Peter 1:3-9 | Finding (God's) Purpose in Uncertainty

Summary

Note: For now, there will be no audio from our Zoom services. The back-and-forth conversation doesn’t translate well to podcast. If you don’t have anywhere to be next Sunday, though, we’d love to have you!

While San Francisco shelters-in-place, Citizens will be gathering twice weekly via Zoom. Officially, this mandate extends until April 7th, but it’s looking like it could last much longer. Every day, the news changes and the crisis worsens.

Unless you’re a government official, medical professional, or part of the country’s vast food supply network (and to you, we offer thanks and prayers!), you’re stuck at home unable to contribute much. As Christians, what do we do?

In light of this experience, this week we began a series entitled “As We Wait: Faithfulness in Uncertainty.” What would God have us do in this season? This week, from 1 Peter 1:3-9, Dave reminded us that we do have purpose, that our purpose in trial is always found in God’s purpose, and that this purpose is the refining of our faith in Him.

Of course, God’s providence is accomplishing many thousands of things and we cannot know it exhaustively. But we can know what he tells us in His Word. And he tells us, specifically, that trials purify and preserve our faith, producing steadfastness which will lead to our ultimate salvation.

In the Lent Devotional many of us have been reading, the authors wrote

Suffering is not a setback to our agendas, but rather an orientation to God’s agenda, which is to form the character of Christ in us.

We’re at the beginning of this, and it’s likely that none of us truly know what God wants to do in our hearts. But it’s good and right to wonder, what might be God’s purpose for you? How do you see Him already at work in your life at home? What might be God accomplishing in you? What do you want him to do in you through this? Of course, we’re praying for God’s provision and protection in our circumstances. But how are you asking God to form your soul? Could this challenging season be the time when God gives you greater contentment, peace, humility, intimacy with God, boldness to speak the gospel? Could this be the time you grow as a leader in your home or church? Is God calling you to own discipling your children? Again, what do you want from God in this season? Remember Matthew 6:33, “Seek him first and his Kingdom, and everything else will be added to you.”

If you missed Sunday, you can find the full text of Dave’s manuscript here.

Text

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV)