1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.

As we started this section on submission Peter began first with a call to submit rightly to governing authorities, second he talked to us about submission and our superiors, and what it looks like to walking out God’s Will in the workplace. Third he talked to us out submission in our most sacred relationship,  reminding us that marriage matters. Lastly he is going to call us to submit rightly in our regular everyday relationships. Many of us struggle with submission and look at it as something just to survive through but the truth is that God’s plan isn’t for you to survive life it’s to thrive in life. God’s plan is for you to prosper and be productive, and there is something inside every one of us that desires and drives us to pursue prosperity. That’s why people play the Power ball, they are willing to gamble at great odds in the unrealistic chance of success.  We all want to live the life, so we chase after the American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.  The problem is not prosperity, its our definition of prosperity and the plan we chose to pursue to find it. Society tells us to seek the path of self, but scripture tells us to seek the path of the Savior. The real question is what are you pursuing and what path are you taking to get there? The world tells us that success and satisfaction is found in the stuff but the Word tells us it’s not about the possessions it’s about people. True treasure is found in relationships not in riches.  This is what Peter is calling us to pursue, the real riches which are our relationships.  But if we want rich relationships, it requires us to respond rightly. What about you what are you pursuing? There are only two things that are eternal souls and scripture. Are you investing in smoke and sand or that which will stand the test of time?

1 Peter series – “Holding onto Hope in a Hostile World”

1 Peter 2:18-25

18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.[a] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. 21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[b] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

3.     Pattern for Submission – Vs 21

Our pattern for submission is not society it’s the Savior. While society calls us to a life of fun, the Savior calls us to a life of faithfulness. But Christ’s pattern is not just something we observe but something we are to practice. Peter calls this following in the Saviors steps. It’s the idea of stepping where he stepped. If you were following someone through a mine field who knew the way out, how careful would you be following them? Would you step exactly where they stepped or just close to where they stepped? The idea here is that we mirror the Masters moves. So how carefully are you following Christ? This comes back to resting in Him, are you relying on the Redeemer or living recklessly? Are you going to tread on truth or on a trap? Why don’t we faithfully follow in the Saviors steps, because we don’t like where He went. Peter tells us that our first step involves saying yes to:

Suffering – If you’re serious about serving the Savior, then you need to be prepared to suffer for the Savior. When I get all up in wanting to be right and demanding my rights when I’ve been wronged, I remind myself that when I signed up to follow the Savior, I signing up to suffer. One of the biggest problems in the church today is that we have bought into the lie that if we follow the Lord life will be easy. We don’t want to walk down the path of pain, because our focus is on our flesh instead of on being faithful. Instead of chasing after Christ we are chasing comfort. Look following Him will hurt. In John 6 when following Jesus teaching got hard it says that many disciples deserted. It’s easy to follow when things are favorable but what about when the going gets tough, are you going to turn on Him or turn to Him? How do you faithfully follow the Savior in the midst of suffering, focus on Him and not the hurt. Don’t give in to the temptation to live like a victim, remember that in Christ you are a victor. Work is often a struggle but it is worth it when we remember who we are working for. If you sense yourself wanting to pull back or wondering if your ministry matters, or questioning whether your work is worthwhile, allow the words of 1 Corinthians 15:58 to encourage you: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

The second step we take with the Savior involves saying no to sin. Why is this step so hard because it means saying no to worldly pleasure. What’s ironic is how we refuse to step into suffering with the Savior, yet we readily purse worldly pleasure that leads to pain. Saying no to sin includes not just living in sin but speaking sinfully. Following the Lord means that our lips should match our life. Are you watching what comes out of your mouth, are you guarding against workplace gossip and being careful not to get caught up in complaining about the boss?

The third step involves not striking back. When Jesus was betrayed he didn’t retaliate unlike Peter who as he penned these words probably recalled his response of retaliation. He sliced off the soldier’s ear with his sword. In the midst of the conflict Jesus demonstrated care and compassion, He used His power to heal and not to hurt. After telling them to put their swords away He said in Matthew 26:53: “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” A Roman legion could contain as many as 6,000 men, so Jesus was talking about and angelic army of 72,000. All He had to do was say the word and the soldiers would be smoked, in fact if He had retaliated all of Rome would have been left in ruin. He had the power to wipe out the world but instead he died for it. What about you are you serving like the Savior or sword swinging Peter? Are you healing or hurting? Are you living out God’s Will or leaving a trail of wounded in your wake? Do you need to put your sword away? Why do we struggle to serve and scar those around us, because we try to serve in our strength and not the Saviors. Peter reminds us that Jesus did the work on the cross and we have to serve in His strength. Are you serving in the Saviors power or self’s? Walking in His steps means staying not straying. Are you a wayward sheep serving self or a sacrificial one serving the Savior?