Called to Suffer for Good (1 Peter 3:8-12)

CALLED TO SUFFER FOR GOOD (1 Peter 3:8-12):

Previously, Peter had written about the uniqueness of being believers, a lot of dos for the Elect, and about their conduct in specific roles too. Peter started to write the believers in general and certain others by starting the section ‘finally’, after reminding certain things that were already written. He says the believers have unity in mind as there could be always difference in thoughts and opinions because of the wide differences in many aspects. Another character, Peter says the believers to have is Sympathy, that is feeling and thinking from the other person's situation which will kindle us to help or encourage them instead of extricating them. He continues saying them to have brotherly love which binds one another and stirs us to have everything in common. Also, Peter says the believers have tender hearts and humble minds because the unjust desire of the heart and the selfish pride of the mind could estrange believers from God.

Peter then says the believers not to repay evil with evil because God is just and He is more than anyone and knew everything. If the believer repays evil for evil, he denies the quality of God indirectly and breaks the command to love others as ourselves. Also, spreading negative information about those who do wrong, may also be not right in the sight of God, for even Jesus was being reviled by some of the Pharisees, leaders, and teachers of the law. Peter exhorts the believers to bless those who do evil and not revile against them as the believers are called to not revile. By doing this they would be able to win the souls of the non-believers and they can know the love, grace, and power of God because every believer has been forgiven by the love, grace, and power of God. Also, the believers will be able to obtain the blessing of enjoying God’s favor and the fruits of the Spirit that is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Peter continues to write about those who would love life and want to see good days. The believers who had already been pursuing to have good conduct, ought to guide the seekers.  Peter says that those who love life should refrain their tongue from evil and stop their lips from speaking guile. The tongues could flame anything, deviate some people, deceive some people by crafty tricky words and it needs to be handled with care for a lovelier, pleasant life filled with Good days that can be seen. Those who want to see good days also need to turn away from their evilness and do good. They have to seek the peace that has facts and pursue it to really enjoy the essence of the truth. Jesus had already told that those who seek will find. Peter also says that the Lord looks at the righteous as their deeds please him and he hears their supplication as it is according to his will. And at the same time, Peter reminds us that God is righteous to judge who does evil.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.      How the believers are supposed to be when facing evil?

2.      Why the believers need to have unity of mind, sympathy, and brotherly love?

3.      Why the believers need to have tender heart and humble mind?

4.      What should not be repaid by believers? Why?

5.      Who should keep his tongue from evil and lips from speaking deceit?

6.      What should those who love life and who wants to see good days do?

7.      Why those who desire to love life and seek good days have to keep their tongue from evil and lips from speaking deceit?

8.      How seeking peace and pursuing it helps those who want to see good days?

9.      What is mentioned about Eyes and Ears of Lord?

10.  Against whom, is the face of the Lord?

11.  How we can handle those who do evil and revile against us with higher biblical standards?

12.  Do we have people who love life and want to see good days around us? How we can help them?