We concentrate this month and next month yet on continued readings from 1 Peter. This month we come to a harsh turn in the road as we reflect on 1 Peter 4:12-19. My brothers and sisters, do not be surprised about the fiery ordeal that awaits you! You will suffer for your faith! Peter's words get a bit dangerous for Christians who witness their faith.

Hardly the kind of words we want to hear as we celebrate our Sixtieth Anniversary as a congregation and look forward! My Concordia students studied 1 Peter with me last spring. I asked them to categorize the types of passages in the letter.

Some of the passages look at the great love of God who sent our Lord to suffer, die, and rise, to give us eternal life. Some passages look at the individual in relationship with the Lord. We have each come from death to eternal life. Still other passages look at the nature of the love for fellow Christians in their congregation, their newly formed community. Some passages instruct the Christians about living honorable lives in the unbelieving community. But finally, the fifth category of passages talks about the wrath from the world against Christ and Christians. God's wrath is gone for us. But unbelievers hate God and his mercy (Romans 5).

Christians cannot be neutral. We love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and extend that to others inside and outside our community. That is natural for us as new creatures. Our old sinful nature wants to blend in, just be nice, forget God's imposition of our death sentence on his Son that we might live forever.

Some who are "outside" are touched by grace and become members. Others hate God and his mercy to sinners and are irritated by Christians. A heart that at one time hates can be turned by God's grace to love. But the battle for Christians is there. We are tempted to cave in and lie low, say nothing, "not argue religion." But salvation by grace through faith spurns us to love others and watch God's grace work.

We rededicate ourselves to love the Lord, come what may. Eternal life is at stake. We pray that all will be touched by the Gospel and stay in communion with fellow Christians. I encourage all of you to keep getting touched by the good news, along with your family. Stand up for Jesus and His love. Forgive as you have been forgiven. He will see us through. Happy Birthday to us, IN HIM!

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp