{{2009_12_09_t1.jpg}} {{2009_12_09_t2.jpg}} {{2009_12_09_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2009_12_09|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_i|| Topics Collection i ]] ======Letters of the Apostles 3 - babies and precious stones ...====== Wed/Thursday, Dec 9/10, 2009. The two letters of Peter have been attributed to the apostle Peter, the key apostle of Jesus and first leader of his church, by the early church fathers. They pick up key Christian thoughts and want to motivate us to live in a sincere and pure faith. Peter writes for example in his second chapter: "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." (1 Peter 2: 1-3) Then Peter continues: {{2009_12_09.jpg }} "4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2, 4-5) Two important images are used here for us. We should be like newborn babies, taking up the word of God, listening all the time, drinking what he says, being completely focused on him like a child is longing for its mother! In the center of all this is the kindness of the Lord. Second, he calls Jesus the living stone, who has been rejected by men. And he calls us precious living stones as well, who are part of a building, a spiritual house. It is a fascinating picture, living bodies to be stones building the house of God. This image is similar to the "body of Christ" image, where people of faith in Jesus are understood as his body on earth. The whole point of this paragraphs is again faith, pure faith. Peter wants us to focus on Jesus and his kindness and to live in his salvation. What ever other situation we are in, this is the important center, the important fact. All other things will be secondary only. {{ 2009_12_09_2.jpg}} The letters of Peter contain many more statements and remarks. He touches difficult topics. But he comes back to this life in Christ, to his kindness which was dominant in his character even in the most severe suffering. [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_i|... more texts]]