December 9, 2008 - - - 1 Peter 3 : 8-22

Suffering for Doing Good

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do 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. 10For,

"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For 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."

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."15But 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, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For 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, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Reading this reminded me of a friend who claimed himself to be an 'atheist' back in high school. Because he was surrounded by my other friends who were Christian from the same church, God was brought into the picture quite a few times. "I have to go to church"... "Remember that time at that retreat...". And every time, he merely laughs and exclaims, "God?? There is no God." The thing was, he was the one of the most, if not the most, stubborn person I know. Talking to him sometimes would be me so riled up I ended up spending a few hours looking up apologetics so I can kick his butt. But alas, he got the last laugh.

But I am surprised that we are still friends along with all the other guys. Because God commands it and I will obey. As Christians, we must live in harmony with everyone regardless of what evils they speak of. I could have easily broken his face, but God commands us to not repay evil with evil but do good because Jesus showed us good.

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?"

Verse 15 - If I am considered close-minded and foolish for believing in such a God, how ignorant and closed-minded you must be to reject the God who has offered you the greatest gift of mankind. I know I still have a lot to learn in order to put down any slander against the Lord and I won't give up. I pray that You be with me and that wisdom would flow within me.

Amen.