彼得寫信給散居各地的猶太基督徒，當時他們正因信仰的緣故，遭到非常嚴重的逼迫，於是彼得提醒他們：「上帝……重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望」（彼前1：3），所以當患難來臨的時候，無須驚訝！對患難要有所預期，及早預備，並作適當的回應，但要確定的是，你因行善受苦，而不是因作惡受累。效法基督順服別人，使你在生命的考驗結束後，得著上帝豐厚的賞賜。

        讓父母感到欣慰的，莫過於髫齡稚子獻上一把鮮花的誠摯，而令人難過的是三天後，看到這束花已經枯萎凋謝。
        參觀當地的軍史館，你會發現什麼呢，老舊的軍裝，指揮旗，各類軍品－－隨著時間已經斑駁褪色了！地上榮耀隨著年日消逝，但上帝榮耀的恩賜卻不會這樣！是永不衰殘的（彼前1：4），而要愈來愈光亮！（林後3：1-18）
        現在你明白以上帝的觀點處理地上的困難是多麼重要了吧！如果你繼承了天上的基業（彼前1：4），那麼地上的財產蒙受了一些損失又有何妨呢？如果你的信心比黃金更寶貴（彼前1：7），那麼災難熔爐裡的高熱不但不會燒毀你的信心，反而使它更加精純美好！
        這個禮拜裡找個時間，請一位家人或朋友同行，一起去參觀軍史館，當你知道你所看到的並不是陳列的一切時，對你會是一個很好的提醒。

        寶貴的房角石─
        彼得引用了以賽亞書廿八章十六節的話：「看哪！我把所揀選所寶貴的房角石，安放在錫安。」（2:6）來指向基督。在聖經的年代這塊石頭被放置於兩面牆的交會點，它不只是房子的根基，並且是用來對準建築物的水平和垂直線，使房子緊密結合的房角石。基督正是那塊寶貴的房角石，是我們建造靈宮的活石。

溪流中的石頭一旦除去，就不能發出潺潺如歌的水聲。

English

        Peter writes to scattered Jewish Christians who are undergoing intense persecution for their faith. He reminds his readers that God "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope" (1:3). Therefore, don't be surprised when suffering comes your way; expect it—prepare for it—respond to it correctly. And be sure you are suffering for doing what is right, not for doing what is wrong. Imitate Christ in your submissive spirit toward one another, and God will richly reward you when the trials of life are over.

        Few things bring more delight to a parent's heart than a fistful of flowers picked and delivered by a small child. And few things are sadder to look at than that same "bouquet" three days later!
        Visit your local war museum and what will you find? Old military uniforms, battle flags, artifacts—all of them discolored and disintegrating with time. Earthly glory fades with the years. Not .so with God's glorious gifts! They never fade away (1:4), but grow steadily more glorious (2 Corinthians 3:1-18).
        Now do you understand why a heavenly perspective is so important in dealing with your earthly problems? If your inheritance in heaven is eternally safe (1:4), what does it matter if you suffer the loss of a few earthly possessions? If your faith is more precious than gold (1:7), then the heat of adversity can only serve to refine it, not ruin it!
        Plan to visit a local museum sometime this week, Take your family or friends along. It will be a good reminder for you that what you see isn't all there is!

        The All-Important Cornerstone —
        Peter makes an obvious allusion to Christ when he quotes Isaiah 28:16: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone" (2:6). In biblical times a stone was put where two walls met. More than being just a foundation, the cornerstone helped align the building horizon¬tally and vertically and held it together. Thus, Christ is the all-important One on whom we, as "living stones," are built into a spiritual house.

The brook would lose its song if the rocks were removed.