Seeds for 05/16/2024 - 1 Peter 3:13-14
Scripture:
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
Observation:
This seems like an odd question. Many respect those who are eager to do good even if they don’t agree in every respect with their goal. Still, there are problems. There are those who are have such a different definition of “good” that they will oppose you. And there are those whose hearts are so hardened that they are difficult to win over no matter how much or how purely one does good.
We must reserve plenty of room for surprise, however. Just when we become convinced that goodness will not overcome the obstacles in someone’s heart, they may very well be at or near their breaking point.
Goodness requires a certain relentlessness.
Suffering for doing good, for doing right, is blessed, Peter tells us. I can think of at least two reasons for this assertion.
First, if we suffer for doing good, for doing what is right, we grow closer to Jesus who suffered immensely for goodness and righteousness. Blessedness comes in imitating Him, and when we suffer we can still experience blessing because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Our suffering will not be wasted. He will use it to increase our spiritual maturity and grow our faith.
Second, it’s very possible that the blessing lies in persevering in doing good through the obstacles, resistance, and outright opposition that are a source of the suffering. If our doing right finally breaks through, we enjoy the blessing of seeing the Lord use us to make a difference in someone’s life.
Application:
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering… I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. Amen. (from the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, modern version)
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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