Thursday, November 24

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

EZEKIEL 47:1–48:35

1 PETER 2:11–3:7

PSALM 119:49–64

PROVERBS 28:12,13

 

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:19–21)

 

 

In this passage, Peter discusses the believers’ calling to honor God in both public and private settings, starting with our interactions with governing authorities to employers to our families.  He centers this conversation around Jesus’s submittedness to the Father’s will, even in the face of His suffering and crucificixion.  Peter indicates that Jesus’s sacrifice both serves as our example and our enablement to live in similar submittedness to God’s call.  Peter anticipates that the example of Christian duty will open doors for proclaiming the Gospel:  “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…. ” (1 Peter 3:15)

 

With governing authorities and employers, Peter urges believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to honoring God, even if we should face outward persecution.  Like Paul in Romans 6, Peter explains that we should exercise our freedom in Christ to become slaves to righteousness.  As part of this calling, we should “show proper respect to everyone,” including emperors, governors, and employers.  We will give real testimony to the truth of the Gospel:  “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15,16)

 

This passage caused me to consider my own desire to be “proven right” – and quickly!  This desire comes from my natural pride and impatience.  Peter’s words, however, suggest that we should be willing to endure through challenging moments, keeping our eyes on the greater purpose.  Verse 23 pierced me to the heart:  “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

 

How well we “entrust” ourselves to God (“him who judges justly”) will determine our success in sharing the Gospel through our submitted lives.  This high calling does not come easily to us in our natural selves, but God empowers us through sending His Holy Spirit into our lives.

 

Today, we may desire a greater bounty of trusting our great God and Father.  Without this trust, we will miss the mark in staying the course and following Jesus’s example of obedience in the face of physical and spiritual opposition.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to save us and to exemplify the submitted life that You desire for us to show.  Strengthen us today to live this way, even under opposition.  We give thanks today for You, for our families and friends, and for the fellowship of believers among us.  We love You and honor You today.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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