Just Thinking.........Again

In first Peter chapter 3 Peter is speaking about living a humble life of loving one another, being respectful and not returning evil with evil.  We are called to be tender hearted and courteous to each other.  When we act in this way, our hearts will be closer to being right with the Lord.  He will honor those efforts to live a worthy life set apart for Him.  

Even when we become Christ like we will suffer in this world.  However if our heart is right, filled with the Spirit and longing for eternity with Christ, then who can really attack you?  Who can really impact your life if your life is bound up with an eternal God that is beyond time and has already overcome death? 

Peter's encouragement is to not be fearful of the worldly threats and the trouble that is brought against us.  We aren't to be intimidated and lose our eternal perspective when the world comes against us.  Instead Peter advises………..

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. (1 Peter 3:13-17)

When we remain calm and face the troubles of this life with the Lord sanctified in our heart, we will stand out among the crowd.  People will see that you have something that gives you strength and hope.  Peoples will see the courage and steadfastness that comes from a life that is redeemed.  We've already been bought and paid for by the blood of Christ.  The Lord can now spend our lives as he sees fit.  

This should set our hearts at ease and we should have no fear.  We are free from the burdens of this life because we are now citizens of another place.  Some people will come right out and ask you why you are different.  Others will watch you and say nothing; they will study you trying to find if you are genuine.  Then there are those that will test you to find if you faith is real.  They will mock and scoff but in reality they are also curious as to what you have.  They just can't get past their own pride to explore it, to seek it for them.  

As we set Christ as Lord in our lives and in our hearts, we should be prepared to give that reason for our hope.  You can't stop others from slandering you but you can keep from giving them reason by living a life of gentleness and respect with a clear conscience.  You can make sure that you are genuine in all aspects of your life.  Then when they finally ask you or the Lord opens that opportunity to you, be ready to tell them why you are the way you are.

Tell them the Lord gave you a new heart, a new name and is transforming your life in spite of what you used to be.  Don't forget that you're nothing special………. just one poor beggar telling another poor beggar where to find bread.

Just Thinking…

Doug