These past few days people have been commenting on freedom and growth. On submission and about living rightly in the face of opposition. The ongoing conversation has been beautiful. In chapter 2 we read about how God has chosen His people to live lives of righteousness in a world lacking such a thing. We saw that proper authority should be submitted to and that hate is not the response for hate, but love is. Jesus lived this example.
This week we will be delving into the concepts of suffering and patience. Of inward focus and what is important inside instead of whats on the outside.
The first section of chapter 3 is usually skipped over by unmarried people due to the title of the section, in most bibles it's called "Husbands and Wives" Let me warn you that if you skip this section of text or simply read past it without giving it much thought or application to your own life then you are missing some intense biblical principal and an opportunity for God to speak to you.
There is a lot of depth to this text, all of it. Don't be fooled in any way by it's lack of wordage. The weight of it can be found if you let it sink in. Don't just read it but let it effect the way you think, let it sit into your heart for a while. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply it to yourself. Then share it with others and let us know what comes out of those interactions here. Go live, learn and share.
- Corey
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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In the same way a wive can win her husband over and lead him to the jesus by showing her purity, we can do this for our friends. By showing them the kindness and love jesus shows us we can lead them into the arms of the lord.
ReplyDeleteAs to suffering for doing good, I've found the closer your walk with jesus gets the harder the devil will try to tempt you with sin.
The verse that caught my attention was
1 Peter 3:9- "do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit blessing"
When Jesus was nailed to the cross he didn't utter a single hurtful word but instead cried out "forgive them father for they know not what they do" basically what i got out of 1 petter 3:9 was to turn the other cheek. To suffer in the name of the lord is nothing to be ashamed of, but to stoop to the devils level is shameful to the lords name.
Fighting fire with fire will create a bigger flame.
1 peter 3:8-9 says,
ReplyDelete"finally,all of you,live in harmony with one another;be sympathetic, love as brothers,be compassionate and humble.do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult,but with blessing,because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
This stood out to me the most because,i am that kind of person that does the complete opposite.when someone does or says something against me i always retaliate and do the same thing right back at them.
i think this part of the chapter for me is going to be hard to follow.
especially when me and my siblings fight and argue constantly and its always over the stupidest things.
and i try not to retaliate but its hard when your used to the constant fighting.
another verse that stood out to me was,
1 peter 3:11-12,
"He must turn from evil and do good;he must seek peace and pursue it.for the eyes of the lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,but the face of the lord is against those who do evil."
I know that what this verse is saying is true.
i need to turn from evil when i want to retaliate.and i need to seek peace constantly.
i want God to be able to answer me.and i know he wants to answer me to.but he cant if i dont stop fighting and start forgiving.
1 Peter chapter 3 verses 15-17 really touched me: (NIV) "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." For me, the last verse really sums up everything that I have read so far. If someone asks us, "How are you so happy all the time", or "I feel like you are always at peace", we are to respond with something along the line of "I've got Jesus!" Even just spending time with someone can show them Christ's love, and plant a seed in them.
ReplyDeleteverse 8 is really good. . .'Love as brothers'. For me, this says: 'Ok, love as brothers should love, you should already know how this works.' Apparently, (I say this this from a nonbelievers stand-point) brothers should love compassionately and humbly. I have two younger brothers, and this is a daily struggle ; )
ReplyDelete-Joshua
1 Peter 3:13-18
ReplyDelete"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 what they fear; do not be frightened."But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit"
To me this shows me my identity in Christ. I feel like this is teaching me how to act and love, and to respect those that question God. It shows Christ's love and how we are supposed to set ourselves apart from the world, and know that Christ is Lord. It's so awesome when people ask why we are the way that we are, but it is hard to explain, so God shows us that the best way to explain is to keep living that way.