1 & 2 Peter Book Study Sample

Don't Lose Your Balance

My grandson is only three, but he is convinced that he will be a great ice hockey player even though he has never even tried on a pair of skates. And when he gets that chance, I have no doubt that he will quickly lose his balance and fall down (unless someone holds his hands).

Peter warns his readers about losing their balance as well, only he isn’t talking about ice skating! He is concerned that they might lose their “spiritual balance”—their sense of what is true, what is righteous and what Jesus calls them to be like.

How might this happen? First, they might forget that true prophets said there would be false teaching and times when society is almost completely selfish and self-centred. This should not come as a surprise. Secondly, such a development does not indicate that God is absent or that Jesus will not someday return to earth. God’s timing is not similar to that of humans—he will come, and his promises of destruction for the earth and the creation of a new earth will surely come to pass.

Being consumed with all that is going wrong in the world can put us “off balance,” as can thinking that God will not keep his promises. A great corrective measure is to both remind ourselves of God’s promises and to spend our time living well. Concentrate on being “pure, spotless and living at peace” is how Peter puts it in 2 Peter 3:14 (NIV).

Respond in Prayer

Lord God, give me the ability to stay balanced. Keep me from deceitful and deceiving ways. Let your word and your presence help me to avoid falsehood and embrace truth. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Henry Friesen