1 Peter 3:13–17 (CJB)
13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you—yet with humility and fear, 16 keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame. 17 For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil.
Peter is telling us that we will suffer. We will be harmed by those who hate righteousness. We not to fear what they fear or be confused by it. We are to be filled with hope and be able to provide others with our “why” of it. With reverence and humility we confidently explain our place in Christ and that is why we do good. That is why we are zealous for what is right and true. It is better for us to suffer for doing what is good rather than evil. Suffering for what is good displays Christ to world. Suffering for evil displays the world to Christ.
I am reminded of something Johnathn Pokluda said about marriage. ‘Find someone you can suffer well with.’ This life is going to be filled with heartache, tragedy, and unmet expectations. For those who are in Christ can deal with all of these things differently than someone who has no hope what so ever. Not that a believer gets it right all the time, but we at least can hold on to the fact that there is more to this life that what is happening right now. There is a future, an eternity with Christ. So how am I handling life? Where is my zealousness? What am I passionate about? Where are my troubles? Are my troubles paling in comparison to those around the world? Am I going to go with our a meal? Running water? We are accustom to our way of life. When the hot water heater breaks we complain about not having hot water. When the A/C stops working we get it fixed quickly. What am I suffering for? Not that only having cold water and a hot house are what I’m called to. But really, where am I suffering? How am I suffering well with Angi? What trials and tribulations are we dealing with because we are doing good? I get praises for doing what is right. Is that a measuring stick? Am I doing right by worldly standards? Am I not sharing the Gospel enough? I feel like that last episode of the podcast is not doing as well because with dove into apologetics at the end. Too much Jesus for the algorithms. I don’t care, and not that suffering is not having an episode do well but worldly standards say that episode is not worthy of promoting. Do not be confused when the world is against you. Don’t be surprised when we are skipped over and shut out for our faith. Do not worry in the midst of the trials. God is for us and goes before us. And we are his even though death into eternity. What does the temporal matter?
Papa, I want to be able to suffer well. There are areas and aspects of my life that bring me sadness and heartache and I am laying them down at Your feet. They bring me distress and an internal suffering. They challenge me in the roles that I must be on this earth and I have desires for specific outcomes. But You are in complete control of this world. You see and know things that I will never comprehend. So, I will continue on. I will keep running this race and suffer whatever comes my way. Not only persecution but just life in general. Everything that I have direct contact with and is outside of You designed purpose for us, I will sit with these and share the hope that I have in You. I will give reasoned answers for how we keep going in the midst of life. Keep doing good. Keep sharing the good news. Amen.