Suffer for Good

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
Equipped with Hope

1 Peter 3:8-12

The Message

Suffering for Doing Good

^8-12 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
    and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
    Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
    run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
    listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
    on those who do evil things. 

For Reflection

Read the passages again and again.  Make them your mantra. 

Pray

that you will be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, and be humble.  Pray that what you say and do is not hurtful.  Pray that you will be a peace-maker.  Pray that you will snub conventional wisdom and embrace God-centered wisdom.