1 Peter 3:18

18 Christ also suffered when he died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. (NLT)

 

He never sinned, but He died for you and me: the sinners. That is what you call unconditional love. He did not think of Himself, but of you and me. Jesus wants us to come home to be with Him and the Father forever. Lift your voice in praise to God who raised the Lord Jesus Christ up to life in the Spirit and through Him you are raised up with Him to life in the Spirit. Amen.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

Words of Encouragement

                                                                   

1 Peter 3:13-17

13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (NLT)

 

God can say it so much better. Do good, do what is right in the Lord and follow His word. Continue in obedience and do what is right and God will reward you. Do not be afraid or worry but worship the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Always be eager to do good.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.  For the Scriptures say,

 

"If you want a happy life and good days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil,

and keep your lips from telling lies.

 Turn away from evil and do good.

Work hard at living in peace with others.

 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,

and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns his face

against those who do evil." (NLT)

 

Do good, do what God wants you to do and be a blessing to others. Don’t repay others for the wrong they have committed against you but instead pay them back with good and God’s love. Watch what you say, always speak the truth, work hard, be at peace with others and pray. The Lord hears the prayers of those who do what’s right in His sight and blesses them for being a blessing to others.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 3:7

7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard. (NLT)

 

As husbands God has a high standard for you to live up to. God wants you to treat your wife as God treats you. Honor your wife, treat her as an equal partner because she is. Be patient, understanding and listen for God has given her to you because he loves you. God created woman from Adam's rib, which is on his side; therefore do not treat your wife as beneath you or above you but she is right alongside you to help on the journey God has for you and her. Treat her as you should, as God intended you to or your prayers will not be heard. Pray with her as a team as one helping the other that God’s blessings will overflow in your life together.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 3:3-6

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. (NLT)

 

God cares about one thing and that is your heart. He cares nothing about outward appearances He only cares about your inward person. A wife is to first trust God and then accepts the authority of her husband. Does this mean she gives up who she is or who God created her to be? No. In Genesis God says “a man shall leave his Mother and Father and cleave unto his wife. The marriage is about how the two become one with each other and with God. Marriage represents the trinity, “God, the husband and the wife,” it represents, “God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and these three are one.” Putting God first in everything.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 3:1-2

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse to accept the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over by watching your pure, godly behavior. (NLT)

 

God has order in all He has created. When things are done according to God’s Word and God’s will blessings come in abundance. God has placed the man as the head and the authority of his household. But a husband who does not listen to his wife is foolish and if a wife does not accept her husband’s authority is also foolish. To have peace and harmony in the marriage you must accept the role and position God has placed you in. God’s will done God’s way gets God’s blessing.

When it comes to the gospel, if you have an unbelieving spouse you are not to belittle them or beat them with the Bible or verbally bash them. But instead you must live out the Christian life in front of their eyes so that they may be won over by your godly behavior. This you must do also to your neighbors and co-workers that they may be won over by seeing you living out the gospel of Jesus Christ in front of them. Remember they are watching you to see if you are walking the walk and talking the talk.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:24-25

24 He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! 25 Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (NLT)

 

Jesus cares for you and loves you. He personally, purposefully and thoughtfully carried your sin to the cross where He and your sin were nailed and died. So then why do I still sin as a believer? Because you take your eyes off of Jesus, you try to do things in your own strength and not in Jesus. In the last sentence it says “But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls,” you turned to Jesus and you need to remain focused on Jesus. Jesus has given you a new life so don’t go back to wondering around aimlessly but focus on Jesus and what He wants you to do. It’s all about Jesus and when you follow Jesus it’s a wonderful life.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:21-23

1 This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. (NLT)

 

Do you find it difficult to suffer for Jesus? Do you find yourself not wanting to suffer for His cause? Do you find it hard to follow in Christ’s example of suffering? You have been called to suffer with Jesus just as He did. You are to follow in His steps wherever He leads you. Jesus never deceived anyone, never lied, He never threatened to get even and He never retaliated when insulted even on the cross. What did He do when these things happened to Him? He left them in God’s hands to take care of things because He knew God always judges fairly. So no matter what happens to you, suffer with Jesus and leave all the rest in God’s hands.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:18-20

You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you — not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.  Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you. (NLT)

 

The word “slave” here can also be interpreted as “employee." You are to accept their authority not only when they are a good employer but also if they are not so good of an employer.  If you work for someone else, God expects you to do as your employer tells you to and to do the job as they want it done unless they give you the creative ability to do it your way. If they ask you to do something that is against God’s Word or that is illegal then you will need to refrain even if you must suffer for this. For God is pleased with you when you patiently endure unfair treatment and especially if you handle the unfair treatment in a calm Christ like manner. But if you suffer for doing what is right God is pleased with you.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:15-17

15 It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you. 16 You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God's slaves. 17 Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king. (NLT)

 

It is God’s will for you to live a good life and to be an example of Jesus Christ to those you live around. You are free and you are no longer chained down by sin. But do not use your freedom in Christ to continue in sin or as an excuse to do evil. You are free to live a life in Christ, not a life unto selfish desires. You are free to live as a servant and ambassador of the living God. Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ