Lately God has been reminding me that I haven't been dwelling on the truth of His Word nearly enough. It's 12:35am and I was about to go brush my teeth when I thought I would meditate on some. I opened up my flashcard app with my collection of verses and 1 Peter 3:14-17 was the first one up.
"But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blesses. 'Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. Instead, exalt the Messiah' as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. But do this gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah will be ashamed in slandering you. After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong."
That is one of my favorite sections of scripture, it really sums up our life in a paragraph.
What if we really lived out these verses?
Especially when it says "Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. Instead, exalt the Messiah".
We would truly be followers of Christ who are willing and ready to lay it all down because we have hope and that hope does not fail. (Romans 5:3-5)
What about the last section, "After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong."
Now what is the will of God? 1 Tim 2:3&4 says that God wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth. Are we willing to go through suffering and persecution and exalt the Messiah in the midst of it? If God is allowing us to go through that situation not only to strengthen us, but also to bring others to Himself through our reaction, then why do we get offended?
Did Jesus ever get offended?
Why should we?
What is our focus on when we feel offended?
Think two moves ahead, the situations we're in now have direct affect on the future.
Be a follower, not a fan.
- Jordan Nickel.
