Read 1 Peter 3:13-17; Apologetics/Explaining our Hope

“Murphy’s Law” says: “When the going gets tough, everyone leaves.”  It’s supposed to be: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  Sometimes people think that that once you accept Christ it’s smooth sailing from there on in.  The truth is: whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me (Mt. 10:38).  In this world you will have trouble (Jn. 16:33).  We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (Ac.14:22).  We were appointed for affliction (1 Thess. 3:3).  All who want to live godly will suffer persecution (1 Tim. 3:12).

Peter’s approach is right on, again in a context of the unbelieving world that watches as Christians live out their life in front of them.  First Peter asks, reflecting on the previous passage, who … will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  People will leaves us alone if we are seeking peace.  Well, most of the time, maybe.  Because he then says: But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake …!  It’s true.  And if your conduct has been honorable in this world you know that sometimes people will still figure out a reason to make you suffer for it.  Peter says even if it happens, you are blessed.  Again, it references Jesus words in Matt. 5:10-12.  And also note that the last half of v14 is a quote from Isa. 8:12, words God spoke to His prophet Isaiah, a good man, a man of God, who also had people make his life hard.

How can this possibly be a blessing?  The short answer in this passage is that being picked on when you are doing the right things provides the most powerful opportunity for the watching world to see your hope and to ask you why you have such hope!  And that is critically important because, again, we have been called that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (2:10).

So there are three, shall we say, pre-requisites to giving the message of hope.  First, there must be a willingness to suffer joyfully (v13-14).  In other words, we must truly have this living hope through the resurrection of Christ to which we were born again (1:3).  I can’t be known for grumbling and complaining when the trials come.

Second, I must put God in His rightful place.  To sanctify the Lord God is to regard Him as holy.  For one thing, it means I see His hand in my trial and I am not angry at Him for my trial.  I know He does all things for good.  It means the controlling issues in my life are not my rights, plans and desires.  I am submitted to God (Jas. 4:7).

Third, I must be ready to give an answer.  Jesus told His disciples, and it likely applies to us as well, not to worry about what to say in these situations (Lk. 12:11).  So what does it mean to be ready?  There are 4 ways this word is uses in the NT:

·        To be alert, Mt. 24:44.

·        To be committed, past the point of no return, Ac. 21:13.

·        To be available, Titus 3:1.

·        To be prepared, having proper resources, 2 Cor. 12:14.

Let us meditate on and pray on these things, and pick this up tomorrow.