No pain, No Gain

Series on “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses”
1 Peter 1:13
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 Peter 1:3-25 

[Many years ago, there used to be articles in the Reader’s Digest titled “I am Joe’s ___” with the blank being filled with a body part or organ. Over the years, I’ve written down verses that are meaningful to me on 3x5 cards. In this series we’ll be looking at some of my favorite verses. In other words, “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses”.]

  

Twice a week, for over a year now, I’ve been going to an exercise class at a gym. To reach our room you go down a hallway that has posters on the wall showing someone sweating profusely as they work out. The caption matter-of-factly reads, "No pain, no gain".

 

Peter wrote his letter to the believers who were living in exile scattered throughout the western portion of Asia Minor.  It was a circular letter to be read and distributed to multiple churches. Although Christians weren’t being systematically persecuted, they did face many trials.

 

According to Ray Vander Laan, a noted expert on Jewish culture and history, believers during this period could expect to be isolated. In a typical city in Asia Minor, religion was so much a part of everyday life, that if you refused to acknowledge their gods, you could easily lose household income, relationships, social standing and even such basic needs as fire and water.

 

In addition, we read in Acts that although many Jews and Greeks believed Paul’s message about Jesus, there were often other Jews who felt threatened. Sometimes they would drive Paul out of their city. On one occasion, he was even stoned and left for dead. Life was not easy for believers in Asia Minor.

 

Therefore, Peter wrote this letter to encourage them. First, he reminded them of the new birth, the living hope and the eternal inheritance that was theirs through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Acknowledging the many trials they faced, he also pointed out that there was a bigger picture to consider. One that would eventually result in great joy.

 

⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.        NLT

 

Put another way, “No pain, no gain.”

 

Peter then reminded the believers that the reward for their endurance and faith in Christ will be “the salvation of your souls”. It is this salvation that the prophets wrote about, foretelling the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Peter advised them - and us – about holy living in the face of adversity.

 

¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.            NIV 1985

 

Like the exercise mantra of “No pain, no gain”, Peter was telling the exiled believers that it was going to take some work on their part. They would need to “exercise” their minds for action. And that action would include being self-controlled and focusing their hope solely on the return of Jesus.

 

In closing, Peter quoted the comforting words of hope from Isaiah.

 

²⁴ For, “All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
²⁵     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”          NIV

 

In other words, your struggles will pass. But in the meantime, you can trust “the word of the Lord which endures forever”. Thanks be to God.

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

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Ask Yourself Again

1 Timothy 2:1-10

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%202%3A1-10&version=NIV;NLT

  

What would it take to make your head turn at church? Would it be someone walking into church wearing a University of Michigan shirt? Or maybe a stripper from the gentlemen’s club down the street? Or would it be someone who is a known criminal? What would it take?

 

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.         NIV

 

There you have it! When you go to church this week, the men should quit shouting at each other during prayers, and the women should not dress like the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders anymore! I don’t know about you, but neither of those scenarios happen at my church.

 

Something else would seem to be motivating Paul’s instructions about worship. Perhaps something in the culture of the day. However, because verse 8 starts with “therefore”, we only need to look at the previous verses.

 

⁵ For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶ He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. NLT

 

Therefore, when we come together to worship the Living God, He is the focus, not us. It doesn’t matter what team someone cheers for; what a person has done in their past or even the present. Nobody can out sin God’s love, grace and forgiveness. And when you worship, it should be evident in how we treat others.

 

So ask yourself again: What would it take for you to bring God’s message to your world? To show God’s unconditional love, grace and forgiveness to your family, your boss, your neighbor, or the guy who cut you off on the highway? What would it take for you to worship God with holy hands?