OUR DAILY BREAD: RUBBERNECK

[cimi]

June 3
Sunday


READ:
1 Peter 1:3-12
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They...preached the
gospel to you by the
Holy Spirit sent from
heaven--things which
angels desire to look
into. __1 Peter 1:12
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Have you ever watched people at a tourist spot? At places like the Coliseum in Rome, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, or the Grand Canyon in Arizona, visitors strain their necks to get a better view. Some call this "rubberncking," which means "to observe with curiostiy."

The Bible tells us that such fascination also goes on in the heavenly places. The apostle Peter pulls back the curtain of heaven to let us see angels gazing at God's plan of redemption--"things which angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12). The Greek word translated "look into" means "to stoop and look at carefully with curiosity."

But why are angels so fascinated by man's salvation? The most likely explanation is that they are amazed at the astonishing way God solved the problem of sin (Eph. 3:8-12). The cross was the means by which God provided His Son as the righteous substitute to pay the penalty for sin while upholding His holy standard (Rom. 3:19-31). God now provides redemption to any human being who will repent, believe, and recieve it.

Are you thankful for your salvation? The angels are! They rejoice every time a sinner repents and puts his faith in Christ (Luke 15:10). __Dennis Fisher
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~I look at the cross upon Calvary,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And O what a wonder divine!~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~To think of the wealth it holds for me_~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~The riches of heaven are mine. __Christiansen~~~~~~~~
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The cross of Christ is the bridge
between God and man.
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~~~~~~~~~~Today's Bible Reading __1 Peter 1:3-12~~~~~~~~~~~

3 Blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away...6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a litttle while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 that the genuineness of your faith, ... may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

11 searcing what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~INSIGHT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter's first letter was written to believers scattered throughout Asia Minor as a result of the persecutin of the church. For that reason he encourages his readers to endure their "various trials" (v.6), placing their hardships in the context of the "sufferings of Christ" (v.11). __WEC