Day 1,154: 1 Peter 3- Suffering For Doing Good

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
 
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
       “Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
       let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11    let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12    For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
       But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
 
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
 
Meditation
When God’s grace grabs our hearts then the gospel will guide us in following Jesus and sustain us when we experience friction with those standing in opposition to Him.
 
Since 2:11-12, Peter’s main point for the church has been to glorify God by living good and godly lives among Gentiles, a people set apart in a pagan world. Peter’s focus of application has been through power dynamics in society- citizens submitting to governing authority, servants submitting to bosses, wives to husbands (1-6), and husbands to wives (7). The immediate context moves from specific categories to generalities- “all of you” (8); while clarifying what this looks like for believers to live holy lives in a hostile world- doing good and not evil (9-11) and suffering for doing good (13-17). From these convictions, Christians are called to be prepared to make a defense for the good of our lives and living for the glory of God.
 
Peter’s paradigm is Jesus Christ who Himself glorified God by suffering for doing good, submitting to unjust authority and living a holy life in a world hostile to the gospel. Jesus’ suffering for doing good brought us to God (18). When we suffer for doing good it is an opportunity to witness to those that don’t know Jesus as their Savior.
 
When our lives portray the love of God through suffering for doing good, our lips can give a reason for our difference. This is comprehensive Christian witness, suffering for doing good and speaking of the excellencies of “Him who brought us out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (2:9).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the paradigm of suffering for doing good?
 
-Do you welcome suffering for doing good so you can speak of the excellencies of God’s grace and love? Why or why not?
 
-What difference does it make, in both motivation and endurance, to know the suffering of Jesus for doing good brought you to God, as you seek to bring the lost to Him?
 
Key Verse
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.