In this regard, listen to the words of Georg Neumark which he wrote after he was attacked by a band of thieves who robbed him of everything he had- literally all of his worldly wealth which in 1641 was a big deal--- -If thou but suffer God to guide thee, and hope in Him through all thy ways, He'll give thee strength, what ever betide thee and bear thee through the evil days- who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the rock that naught can move.- -What can these anxious cares avail thee, these never-ceasing moans and sighs- What can it help, if thou bewail thee o'er each dark moment as it flies- Our cross and trials do but press the heavier for our bitterness.- -Only be still, and wait His leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content to take what ever thy Father's pleasure and all-discerning love hath sent- nor doubt our inmost wants are known to Him who chose us for His own.- -Red Trinity Hymnal -670-

The fellowship enjoyed with God via His word is determined and influenced by the One we endeavor to meet with when we come to His word.

We tend to think of salvation as a past reality, specifically the time when God converted us. And that is fine. However, we must see that there is much more to salvation than just our forgiveness-

Peter exhorts the persecuted brethren to understand that the word of God is the only power by which they can live their Christian life and is the only means by which they will endure and survive the miseries of this life.

That we have been saved -unto the love of the brethren- tells us something rather important- fulfillment- realizing that for which we have been redeemed- comes not when we get what we want in life, but as we give ourselves to the Lord and to each other -cf. 1 Tim. 5-6- Ps. 133-1-3-. When we do this, we realize in our lives today a little more of the heaven God has deigned to grant us in Christ-

Peter roots and so grounds his ethical call here- to -fervently love one another from the heart-- to our salvation- He is not rooting the calling here to the fact of our salvation. Rather, Peter is rooting the calling here to the purpose of our salvation- which is nothing less than a love relationship with God- We were saved to enjoy God----Accordingly, the more we understand, appreciate, and enjoy the salvation granted us in Christ, the more we will become the people God has called us to be- which according to our passage involves an -ever-stretching love- for each other- We see this throughout Scripture-

Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.

Talk about shocking- God condescended to this earth and washed the dirty feet of a devil and 11 foolish men- Amazing- It wasn't enough that He stooped when He, in His coming, Christ humbled Himself by washing the feet of ones were arguing as to how great they were- Brothers and sisters, that is sacrifice-