Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22-23, ESV)
Grace and truth sometimes seem like oil and water. While they can be in the same container, they don't mix. People tend to gravitate toward one or the other. There are "truth people" who deliver truth conviction no matter the consequences. You probably have run up against them when you said something in your community group that was outside of their theological box. Without warning, a cruise missile of truth is launched into the conversation.
But there are also the "grace people." We all know these people because we feel pleasantly warm around them. They ooze with love and kindness. Whatever you say or do seems to be met with a smile. You might even say something to see if it's possible to offend them. It's not.
What are we supposed to be? Do they both exist in the church as some divine balancing act? In this passage, Peter wants us to understand that the message of Hope produces people of a different stripe. Take some time to read through 1 Peter 1 & 2. And ask yourself, "Where do I tend to land? Grace or truth? Why?" Then come ready to worship together on Sunday.
Also, we will be celebrating communion together. And we are going to show a brief recap video before and after the service of last week's women's retreat. Get there a few minutes early to take a look.
