New orders! Now what does that mean? As we continue reflecting on 1 Peter during this year, we come to a couple of very challenging sections, including talk about suffering and Jesus preaching to spirits in prison. 1 Peter 3:8-22 speaks of new orders in two ways.

New orders might be like the army gives when you have a new assignment. There is an element of that here. But new orders might also talk about the new order of creation, the new way that, by faith, we see the way the world works when we are restored to the Lord's kingdom.

Let's listen to some phrases from the text:

"Have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind."
"Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing."
"He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it."
"For the eyes of the Lord on are the righteous, and his ear
s are open to their prayer."
"But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil." "In your hearts reverence Christ as Lord."
"Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence and keep your consciences clear."
"For Christ also died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit."
"Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven."

New order of creation! We are IN CHRIST. New orders in our life: Love, be prepared, be righteous! I challenge you to read and reread these words during this month. Reflect on the new order and the new orders. Pray God opens your heart to righteous and honorable living and loving, in his power. The new order at the end of our summary makes the new orders make sense. Let us yearn to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, IN CHRIST!

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp