In review of 1 Peter 3:14-15 it tells me that “If I suffer for doing what is right, God will reward me for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, I must worship Christ as Lord of my life. And if someone asks about my hope as a believer, I should always be ready to explain it” (NLT).
I have been one who believes that faith is a personal matter that should somewhat be kept to oneself. While its true that I shouldn't be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing my faith, I should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about my faith, lifestyle, or my perspective. Can others see my hope in Christ? Am I prepared to tell them what Christ has done in my life?
It turns out that Christianity is not for weaklings, wimps, or the faint of heart. It takes courageous men and women to follow Jesus.
People all over the world are suffering like we in the United States will never suffer. But what is it costing me to follow Christ? It’s unlikely I’ll ever face violent oppression. But I deal with silent repression every single day as the culture becomes more and more secularized and anti-Christian.
No matter where I’m from, when I’m faced with opposition because of my faith, it’s natural to feel afraid. So how do I get rid of the fear of opposition? How do I get rid of the fear of disapproval? How do I get rid of the fear of being rejected?
I need to be filled with God’s love. The Bible says that there’s no fear in love and that perfect love casts out all fear. When I face opposition, I focus on God’s love for me. People who rest in the assurance of God’s love aren’t afraid of rejection. They aren’t afraid of disapproval.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:14-15, “If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (NLT).
There are two choices when I feel pressured to be quiet about my faith in Christ: I can worry, or I can worship. That means either I panic or I pray. Either I focus on the problem and the pressure and persecution, or I focus on God.
I have to turn my attention away from the pressure I feel and turn my focus toward God. That’s what worship is, focusing on God. When I face opposition, worship instead of worry.
In summary, If I suffer for doing what's right, God will reward me for it. Don't worry about threats. Worship Christ as Lord. If someone asks about my hope, always be ready to explain it. Can others see my hope? Am I prepared to tell them what Christ has done in my life? It's unlikely that I'll ever face violent oppression. However I do deal with silent repression every day as the culture becomes more and more secularized and anti-Christian. When I face opposition, it's natural to feel afraid. To combat this, I need to be filled with and focus on God's love for me. I have two choices when I face pressure, I can worry and focus on the problem or I can focus and worship God. When I face opposition, worship instead of worry.
Today’s passage reminds me to do what’s right and not worry or be afraid of other’s treats for doing it. I should continue to worship Christ as Lord. If someone asks about my hope, be ready to explain it. I pray Father that this morning you send your Spirit to help me to do what is right, regardless of what others say or may think. I ask for your help to turn worry and fear into worship and trust. I also ask that you provide guidance and wisdom for my day. I ask these things in your Son Jesus name, amen.
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