Suffer For Doing Good, Not Evil. Point People To The Christ In You
Dear Saints,
Suffer for Doing Good, not Evil. Point People to the Hope in You – "Christ in You, the Hope Glory."
You know we still do some foolish things even as believers in Christ. If you habitually come late to work and get disciplined or fired, that's not persecution. The loss of the job is your suffering for not doing good. Of course, we will suffer for doing good. It is almost guaranteed.
As we continue our study of 1 Peter, Apostle Peter keeps reminding us that our good will often be repaid with bad in our world. As such, we should not stop doing good like our Lord Jesus. Let's read 1 Peter 3:13-17:
13 "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."
Peter is asking his audience, who will harm you for doing good? The answer is yes; many in the world will do so. He's telling these pilgrims, don't expect fair treatment from the world. The people controlled by the god of this world (Satan) will be mean and harsh to you and me. Listen to Paul, Ephesians 2:1-3:
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
We should not be afraid of the world's harm, "threats, or being troubled"; otherwise, we will never leave our house. We must trust completely in our Lord and God. We must put God in the center of our hearts as an anchor and refuge. Here is our peace:
"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. 5 For He brings down those who dwell on high." Isaiah 26:3-5.
Jesus likewise encouraged us as follows:
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:28-31.
The truth is that we once were like everyone else in the world. We were mean and hateful. But now, we are new creatures in Christ. We have been born again by the Spirit of God. We have a new nature, and as a result, we must live like Christ.
Listen to Christ: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthews 5: 44-48.
What are you facing today? Trust God's worthiness. Listen to the news, and you will see that evil is rampant. People and those in authority are taking advantage of others. No one is doing right. It looks very hopeless. Guess what? We are very hopeful in Christ.
Can people around you and me see much hope in us? We must demonstrate so much hope to cause people to ask us why. "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
I have been organizing a fall get-together for our cul-de-sac. People wonder why I do so in our USA of racial tensions/divisions and everyone wanting to mind their own business. Well, the answer is the Hope in me which is Christ, the Hope of glory.
My vision and prayer are that my neighbors here will also be my neighbors in heaven. I don't want to leave any of them behind. I pray for them daily, try to do them good, and point them to the Christ in me. Please pray for my neighbors as we gather this Saturday to eat and have a good time outside.
I know you are doing something good for others. That's what Peter is calling us to do. Let's face it. Some may misunderstand us and even pay our Good with Evil. But relax: "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."
I hear your question. When/how do I know it's God's will? Pray and listen to God's Holy Spirit in you. Don't go by your feelings, but by His Word. May the Lord help us do good and not evil. Amen.
Who will you tell the Hope, the Christ in you? Let's do so with "meekness and fear." Formerly, we did not know Christ and were hopeless. Lord, we thank you for Your grace that saved us. Amen.
Are you hopeless today? Say, Lord, I confess and repent of my sins of self reliance. Please grant me grace and faith to believe and trust you. Please, Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Be Encouraged today in the Lord. Amen.
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