And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear--1 Peter 3:13-15
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? Now as a general principle people do not suffer for doing good. Proverbs 16:7 says that when a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Romans 13:3 tells us that rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Sometimes, however, people do suffer for righteousness sake.
Peter goes on in verse 14 quoting Jesus and says "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed." Happy are those who suffer because suffering helps us to hold loosely to the things of the world. We begin more and more to look forward to heaven. When a Christian does suffer persecution because of loyalty to the Lord, the result is blessing. God will use the suffering that the persecutor(s) meant for evil for His glory and for His purposes. He will bless others through it and He will bless the one who is suffering.
Look to Jesus and the cross as the example. This was the greatest evil the world had ever known and yet God used it for His glory to conquer sin and death. Jesus who knew no sin, became sin for us and suffered the penalty due us, who knew no righteousness. The blessed purpose of our Lord's sufferings were to enable us to make peace with God, and to bring us to eternal glory. Because of Jesus' humble obedience, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Peter goes on now quoting Isaiah chapter 8 saying, "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
Here is the passage Peter is quoting from in Isaiah.
For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.--Isaiah 8:11-14
Isaiah is instructed by God not to join this people in their fear of the conspiracy formed against them, but to trust the Lord alone saying that He will be as a sanctuary to those who rely on Him, but a stone of stumbling to all others.
Do you see what Peter is saying here by quoting these verses from Isaiah, girls? The fear of the Lord should be your greatest fear and should overrule all of your other fears. It is Him you should hallow...let Him be your sanctuary. Rely on Him. Give Him the preeminence in your life. Sanctify Him in your heart. When Jesus is given preeminence in your life, you do not need to fear men or circumstances. The worst thing that can be done to a believer is the killing of the body. The Christian's enemy cannot harm their soul. A believer is eternally secure. He is kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. If we suffer for righteousness sake, Jesus says we are blessed.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.--Matthew 5:10-12
We can see suffering and trial as opportunities for not only greater rewards both here and in heaven but also as occasions to share our faith...to give a defense or a reason for the hope that is in us. The lives we live and the behavior we exhibit should back up this defense. This kind of witness is especially helpful in a trial because it is in this kind of situation that most people become hopeless. When you walk in faith and hope in these types of situations, unbelievers pay attention. You provoke them to jealously, so to speak, because they begin to want what you have. When they ask, we are to respond meekly and with godly fear...speaking the truth to them in love and humility, not in arrogance or pride.
Sanctify God in your hearts, girls. Live your life entirely for Him...want nothing but His will in your life. Walk by faith obeying his word...in spite of what the consequences might be. Let Christ dominate every area of your life—As you sanctify Him in your heart your behavior will reverence and honor Him before men and be an encouragement for them to do the same.
Love
Mom
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