Page 31 - The Christian Life and the Church Life_Government of God

The Christian Life under the Government of God 30

He is a God of government, but He is still the God of grace. We need to turn
to Him and pray that He would continue to guide us through this, so that we
can be useful to Him for the fulfillment of His economy.
THE EPISTLES OF PETER REVEALING THE CHRIST WHO
ENABLES US TO TAKE GOD’S GOVERNMENTAL DEALINGS
ADMINISTERED THROUGH SUFFERINGS
The Epistles of Peter reveal the Christ who enables us to take God’s
governmental dealings administered through sufferings (1 Pet. 1:6-8; 2:3-4,
19, 21-25; 3:18, 22; 4:1, 15-16; 5:8-9). We have Christ! On the one hand, this
Christ is the one who judges us, but on the other hand, He is also the one who
enables us to take God’s judgmental dealings.

I hope you will not think that we are aiming at some particular people.
We are not saying that certain people have to be careful or otherwise they
will be under God’s government. I have no such thought, because I feel
that I myself have to be careful. I need to subject myself to all these serious
words that Peter wrote in his Epistles. We need to listen to these messages for
ourselves. We need to go to the Lord and pray for His mercy. If not for the
mercy of the Lord, I do not think that anyone would be able to stand before
the Lord. I hope that we all would take this matter seriously before the Lord.
May the Lord deal with us, His chosen people who are regenerated with His
life. He will enable us to take God’s governmental dealings administered
through suffering.
First Peter 2:3 says, “If you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Peter
starts by telling us that we have to taste that the Lord is good. Then verse 4
says, “Coming to Him, a living stone, rejected by men but with God chosen
and precious.” We are chosen and precious to the Lord. I believe this is why
He wants to deal with us and judge us first. I praise the Lord that He cares for
us, that He has chosen us, and that He has determined that we are precious
to Him. He wants to deal with us so that we can be buildable as living stones
for His building. First Peter 2:19 says, “For this is grace, if anyone, because
of a consciousness of God, bears sorrows by suffering unjustly.” Then verse
21 says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered on your
behalf, leaving you a model so that you may follow in His steps.”