Scripture
VS 7 … husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way … so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Vs 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Vs 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Vs 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
VS 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,
always being prepared to make a defense … with gentleness and respect,
VS 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
VS 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Vs 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God,
Observation
Peter is making an appeal for how his fellow Christians should live and act.
This is for those in a particular role, “husbands”, and then “all of you”.
The “how” of this living and behaving is fascinating coming from Peter.
Peter is the abrupt apostle … the one who interrupts Jesus when He’s talking.
Peter is the acts without thinking apostle … the one who jumps to attack a soldier while Jesus is standing still.
But Peter is not that person anymore.
And now Peter encourages us to live out in ways that are:
“understanding”, “unity of mind”, “sympathy”, brotherly love”, “tender heart”, “humble mind”, “gentleness”, “respect”
And what jumps out is that Peter provides the effects of such living.
He doesn’t simply say “do it because I said so”!
And Peter indicates our natural living has supernatural consequences.
Notice the “that’s” following his encouragements:
“that your prayers may not be hindered”
“that you may receive a blessing”
“that those who revile you may be put to shame”
“that he might bring us to God”
Application
Do I recognize in every way I am a new creation?
When I mess up, act out, in other words “sin”, I can’t just say “that’s who I am”.
That’s no longer who I am.
Just as Peter’s old ways are dead … so should mine be.
Do I recognize my actions have supernatural consequences?
My prayer may be hindered if I am not understanding with my wife??!!
This is quite the statement!!
May it encourage me all the more to live in understanding with my wife!
Repay evil with blessing. Why?
“that I may obtain a blessing”
And
“that those who revile you may be put to shame”
So, I don’t have to go about getting a blessing for myself.
And I don’t have to go about shaming others.
That’s not my job. My job is to “bless” … always.
Blessing will come my way in return.
And others will bring shame upon themselves. I don’t have to do that for them.
What blessings come?
When living out these truths, I have “no fear” and can “not be troubled”.
What a blessing!
And I get the blessing of “a good conscience”.
And might it even be God’s will that I suffer? Do I even have a theological category for that?
Still, I must not be troubled.
God willed it for His own Son.
And the greatest blessing is the one brought about by Jesus “repaying evil with blessing”.
And this is the best cause and effect … Peter’s best “so that” … “so that He might bring us to God”.
Peter knows he is a new creation now.
He doesn’t have to live like his old self.
And Peter knows it’s because he has been “brought to God” by Jesus Christ.
I must not only believe this but live it out, as well … to my natural and supernatural benefit.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for Your Word
And Your Blessing
May I live out the blessing
May I know and live the cause and effects
Through the Spirit
In Jesus name
Amen