Daily Devotion, July 5, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Peter 3:8-16.

First Peter is written to encourage the Christians who are living in exile in an area which was then known as Asia Minor. Even in the midst of suffering and persecution, this letter was calling them to live faithfully following in the ways of Christ.

Verse 8 summarizes how to live honorably in their households and with each other in the community of faith: “In harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers and be compassionate and humble.” 

These earliest followers of Christ really did live in fear of persecution from the governing powers around them. Verse 9 shifts the focus from Christian behavior towards each other to their actions toward the larger society, refraining from retaliation and offering blessings, even in the midst of persecution.

In verses 10-12, the apostle Peter is quoting Psalm 34, reminding his readers that both words and actions as followers of Christ should match and are vitally important for their witness to others around them.

 

In verses 13-16, the apostle Peter is acknowledging that their suffering and fears are real. He isn’t pretending that following Christ offers an easy life of comfort or material prosperities, because it was “through Christ’s sufferings, the righteous One who died for the unrighteous, to bring them to God.”

The words in verse 15 stand out for us all, “Always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope that you have...with gentleness and kindness.” Their words and kindness to outsiders are to mirror the ways they treat each other within their own communities.

These verses remind us we can rejoice even in our sufferings similarly to Paul’s words in Romans 5:3-4, “knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”

Personal Worship Option:

“In God’s great mercy, we have been given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection from the dead…” (I Peter 1:3) This hope is in God, God’s love for humankind and God’s gift to us in Christ, therefore we can endure the suffering and help others through their suffering, trusting in God every step of the way.