15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. --------------
This verse correlates with another theme that is prevalent in 1 Peter....which is suffer for doing good, but not bad. If you suffer for doing good, you will be blessed and the Lord is pleased and peace will come upon you because He will give it to you. However, if you suffer for doing evil things, like the ones listed above, you will be disciplined and you really don't want to suffer for doing these things because there is no mercy left for people who do such things. Be pure hearted and don't get mad when things go wrong because you made a decision to turn your back on God. But most importantly know that if you suffer for doing good, there is no better place to be because you share in the suffering of Christ!
(This post will be somewhat similar to Tito's)
ReplyDelete14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
At my last count, Peter mentions 7 times how we should act when persecuted on account of Christ, and every time he reminds us that it is a blessing, and that through our faith will be refined and produce rejoicing. I think that it is clear what message Peter was trying to convey in this letter!
v. 7 - The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
ReplyDeleteThis goes along with v.3-4, but sticks out to me the most as it serves as a summary of the issue at hand (debauchery) and gives perspective to the eternal scope. Not only with drinking responsibly (or not at all), thus living as an example of Christ's power in our lives, I am also reminded to be self-controlled in all areas of life. One is the amount of time I'm 'joking around' or simply not in tune with reality. If I'm joking all the time, it makes it hard to be in constant prayer...
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
ReplyDeleteHearing the stories of these early Christians as they are persecuted in the world shows there amazing faith. I do not feel that i am persecuted for being a Christian, and i still do not do the best job of following the Law. However these early people that Peter is talking to were being persecuted yet they held their faith. This is just an amazing example to me of how awesome our God is.
1-2 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
ReplyDeleteThis verse is very similar to Hebrews 12:3, where it is said, "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." We need to join into Christ's suffering in the flesh. Why? Because, those who live for the will of God and not for worldly passions will suffer. The will of God is contrary to the world and therefore it causes friction to arise. Are we living for the will of God today?
8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
ReplyDeleteI know much of what I discuss in the blog is love, but it is something I value very much. I really encourage our brotherhood to love each other as fraternity brothers as well as brothers in Christ. It says plain and simple that love covers a multitude of sins. So why not overwhelm each other with love that is flowing from the Lord? We are called to love God's children as we love Him for we are made in His image and represent Him as Christians.