Within the scope of the first 12 verses of this Epistle, Peter, sounding like Paul in the first 14 verses of Ephesians bursts forth in a song of matchless thanksgiving and joy. When you consider Peter’s circumstances, writing on the eve of Nero’s persecution of Christians, writing during a time when both Romans and religious Jews were persecuting Christians, you can’t miss the fact that Peter has kept His eye on the larger eternal picture.

Today, we live in a difficult and often Christian-unfriendly world. And this world is hard on all kinds people, Christian and otherwise. However, as we keep our eyes on the Savior we should radiate a joy and a gratefulness that induces some to stop, look, and listen to what we have to say. Why? They see the power of God at work in us. Today, we will consider four reasons for showing the world our gratitude toward God for all we have, despite our circumstances. In so doing we compel others to ask us, “What do you have that I lack?”