Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

1 Peter 3:13-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

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Reflect

Filled with hope, yet cautious…Peter is like me, maybe you, as well. (Read the first few chapters).

We relate to past followers of Jesus, mistreatment for no other reason(s) than that we are followers of Christ. As is true with Peter, we are to adhere to, and encourage others to do the same, as it relates to government, as much as possible without harming others and self, to fulfill the will of God.

It is difficult to fulfill God’s will in and among the wicked, because our flesh says, “Give it to ‘em as good as they give it to me.” But I have found it to be true time after time that God will handle my enemies. He has done so right, frequently, right before my eyes.

For our good, Jesus was threatened as a child and adult, betrayed, publicly humiliated, swapped for a career criminal, mutilated, nailed, head pierced with a crown of thorns, spat on, jeered, pierced in the side, and yet among His 7 last sayings/utterances, God’s only begotten Son…Mary’s only baby, said, according to Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Oh, how my hope is in Jesus!!

I must be in the perpetual mode of unconditional love, and forgiveness without quid pro quo, while setting and maintaining high standards that are not negotiable; and constant faith in the Lord. My constant faith guarantees that I ‘shall not be moved.’

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Pray

Oh God, God of the CHRISTian believer, available God to the unbeliever with repentance, thank you for your all and all. We know we are not worthy, no matter how we do…and the motives for which we do…
In our weakness and ungratefulness, continue doing what you do to not only get our attention, and to also give us another opportunity to get some stuff deleted, and some things incorporated. Have your way in/with the wicked, but also make it even more clear that your people are victorious, already, in the matchless, powerful name of Jesus, amen.

Go with God!