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
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Hymn of Faith
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.--Habakkuk 3:17-19
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Such a beautiful hymn of faith! Such a profession of unwavering confidence in our God. Verse 16 says that the prophet trembled when he heard of the judgment coming from the Babylonian invaders. But his solution was to rest in Him and wait on Him. Habakkuk's fears took Him to God and it was in Him where he found rest. It is in Him, girls, that we also find rest from the fears and sufferings of this world. Habakkuk's strength melted at the thought of what was to come. God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul said this in 2nd Corinthians 12:9.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Habakkuk decided or purposed in his heart to delight in God. All that was predictable and normal in his world was collapsing. All that He knew might be gone but the Lord would remain. His God would not leave him nor forsake him. Here is the point. Habakkuk's desire was not for the things of this world or his own comfort and peace. Habakkuk's desire was for God himself. This was what made all the difference in his outlook. Paul had spoken of this very thing in Philippians.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.--Philippians 4:11-13
The Lord was Paul's desire. It was God in whom he rejoiced. Trials show you where your heart is...there is no joy in a heart that does not know Jesus when they are abased and in need. There is nothing left here on earth for them and nothing to look forward to eternally. A person who has the living God in his heart can praise God for their salvation and rejoice and even sing like the apostle Paul during times of deep distress because he understands that this world is not his home. Our hope and our security are not here in this world but are in the person of Jesus Christ. It was and would be Habakkuk's faith in God that would sustain him and enable him to endure.
Here is what Matthew Henry said about these verses:
"Thus the prophet, who began his prayer with fear and trembling, ends it with joy and triumph. And thus faith in Christ prepares for every event. The name of Jesus, when we can speak of Him as ours, is balm for every wound, a cordial for every care. It is as ointment poured forth, shedding fragrance through the whole soul. In the hope of a heavenly crown, let us sit loose to earthly possessions and comforts, and cheerfully bear up under crosses. Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry; and where he is, we shall be also."
Love
Mom
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