1Pe 1:10-12  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,  (11)  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  (12)  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

I look at this passage and think, “Well if we believers now are nuts, we’re in good company!”

Have you ever read the Prophets?  If you haven’t, I suggest you get something like the ESV Bible Atlas.  It can get pretty hard to understand the material without a guide.  This will help you understand what’s going on – and there’s a lot going on!

But the point of this passage is to show us that we are not alone in our faith (like Hebrews 11).  There was faith in Christ on the other side of the cross.  The Prophets searched as diligently concerning Christ as you and I can re-search about Him.

They wanted to know the who and when concerning His first coming as we do about His second coming.  They “looked forward” to Him just as we do. 

That’s one of the uses we can make of the Prophets.  We can see their journey and the events and circumstances they passed through as they looked for Him.  We can also draw comfort from their struggles and perseverance.

Peter tells us that they knew, “they were serving not themselves,” but rather they were serving you and me.  How?  Through their words we see the promises, the identifiers of Jesus.  The greatest thing we see is the consistent hope in God’s plan for redeeming His people – those who had faith in God’s promises – especially redemption.

We also see their struggle with the world around them and how God’s providence was always working for their care.  We see His protection and provision through some of the strangest people and means we could imagine (or not imagine).  So, we can take strength and comfort and encouragement from their testimony.  From God’s actions through them and for them, we can be strengthened and secured.

The line of revelation flows from the Prophets to the Apostles:

Eph 2:19-20  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  (20)  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Heb 1:1-2  God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,  (2)  in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

2Pe 3:1-2  This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,  (2)  that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,

Ending this passage Peter tells us that we have access to, “things into which angels long to look.”  That is quite an encouragement for you and me.

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 1:8&9

1Pe 1:8-9  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,  (9)  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I once had someone tell me that the gospel was unbelievable.  I agreed.  For the “world,” it does seem unbelievable.  When you and I were dead in our sins, blind to the things of God, the Gospel seemed unbelievable.

But – God didn’t let that remain the case for you and me.  He made us alive, restored our sight and we believed.  Now we are His forever.

In this passage Peter is acknowledging the unbelievableness of the Gospel.  We have never seen Jesus and yet we love Him.  We don’t see Him now yet we believe in Him.  We aren’t in heaven yet – but we rejoice at the firm promise of it.

Oh yeah – we’re nuts.  Folks even thought Paul was nuts:

Act 26:24  And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind."

Paul even writes:

1Co 1:27-29  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  (28)  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are,  (29)  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Do you ever feel alien?  Do you ever have a sense that you aren’t meant for here?  That is very appropriate.  Even more so to feel a little godly "foolishness."

But this passage does not stand alone.  We haven’t “seen” Him yet we love Him.  We don’t “see” Him yet we rejoice in His promises and faithfulness.

But Peter goes on in the next section -

Us In Him 1

What is "Us In Him?”

UIH is a ministry dedicated to helping believers new and old grow in their knowledge, understanding and living out of the faith and to equipping them to use their gift for the works of service He has prepared for them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  (Mar 10:14)

and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.   (Mat 18:3)

The two verses above are at the heart of UIH.  Call it: Basic Christianity, Christianity 101 or Christianity ReBoot. 

Two things parents have taught me.  Children want to know “Why?” and children upon learning the word love, “No!”  Of course they are curious, creative, inventive and persistent. 

Children are fascinating.  Though it’s sometimes hard for grownups, listening to children is amazing.  Art Linkletter had a section on his old TV show called, “Kids say the darndest things.”  I don’t think I’ve ver had such wonderful bouts of laughter in my life. 

Without filters, with few social strictures and boundaries kids in their naiveté have a perspective and insight we sadly lose as we grow and mature.  The greatest thing about kids is they ask a lot of questions.  Sometime we think the question is simple only to discover that there is more to it.  Question – answer and then another question. 

The struggle for us comes when we try to give a single definitive answer.  Kids don’t have all the data we have so a single definitive answer is rarely an answer at all to them.  They need patience and attention as they ask and ask and ask.

When Jesus talks about becoming like little children I think part of that is His encouragement to us to keep asking questions and working for that answer that we understand.  There is an element of letting go of our knowledge and presuppositions that we need, to allow us to ask and answer well, so we can out put it all back together based upon the truth, His truth.

I came to Christ in college and brought all my knowledge and stuff with me.  It was hard to ask what felt like dumb questions.  I had a college degree, I ought to be able to figure it out  I can remember so many times when I had a burning question but held it back because I was afraid of looking dumb. 

UIH wants to be a place where there are no dumb questions.  A place where everyone takes on the demeanor of a child and allows themselves to engage in, well, Christ-child talk.  Every question is important – and important for us all no matter where we are in our walk.

I once worked in a music store where they repaired instruments.  The owner decided that he wanted me to learn to re-cork woodwind instrument – mostly clarinets.  As the repair guy taught me I felt really dumb.  He could do it with his eyes closed.  I watched him do about a dozen intruments and it was amazing.  Then one day I went in and he handed me a clarinet and told me to re-cork and re-pad it.  I went to the work station and began.  When I was done I took it to him and showed him my work.  I can’t remember his exact words but what comes to mind was, “That’s the worst repair job you’ll ever do.”

He expected me to make a mess of it.  He wasn’t surprised, he wasn’t angry he was actually pleased.  Why?  Because in showing him my mess I showed him what I could do and what I couldn’t do.  Now he could work from there in guiding me towards where he needed me to be.

This is the “vision” (I really don’t like that word) of UIH.  The assumption is that we all need guidance, encouragement, correction, admonishment – as Paul says:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2Ti 3:16-17)

And the author of Hebrews writes:

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   (Heb 10:23-25)

UIH is a place where wounded, wandering, wondering and wild followers of the Master are sought, invited and welcomed.  It is meant to serve the church – it is simply where 2 or 3 gather in His name to to grow.

. . . . like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,  (1Pe 2:2)