Searching in Service to Others

¹⁰ 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. (1 Pet. 1:10-12 ESV)

In this letter, Peter is addressing the elect exiles who are dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  He has been describing God’s work on behalf of those who believe and now in verses 10-12 explains that the prophets of old are connected to the salvation that these believers are experiencing.

He states that they searched and inquired carefully about the person or time of Christ and His sufferings and His subsequent glories.  The two verbs for searched and inquired when taken together paint a picture of the prophets ardently, carefully, painstakingly investigating the salvation about which they spoke. They wanted to know! They did not merely wonder about or ponder the salvation about which they spoke. They took action and put forth effort to understand it. They sought to understand what they said and what prophets before them had said concerning Christ. They wanted to know the one about whom they spoke. They searched and inquired carefully.

Peter continues in verse 12 and notice what he says, “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you…..” Their search and inquiry was not just for themselves it was in service to the believers who would follow them. It was in service to Peter’s audience and it was in service to us and it comes via the preaching of the good news.

So, two questions come to mind.

• How diligently do you search the Scriptures?
• Do you search in service to others or solely for yourself?

Do you diligently and carefully search the Scriptures that you may know Christ? Do you see that your searching is not just for you? Do you search the Scriptures as diligently as you do your favorite sports team? TV show? News? Social Media? Blogs? Author? Etc. As you search, do you do so merely for yourself? Men, do you see your searching of Scripture as being in service to your family, boss, neighbors, etc. Ladies, what about you? Is your searching in service to your family and others around you? Young people and children do you search the Scriptures in service to your parents and others who have authority over you?

Friends how do you answer these questions?

By His Grace Alone,

Josh