Last 5 Days
Harmony Through Humility
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Peter asked his readers to live in harmony with one another by behaving humbly with a sympathetic, loving, and tender heart. “Finally,” concludes the subject of submission he spoke in chapter 2. This is said in the context of the different relationships from the rulers and their subjects, to masters and slaves, and also husbands and wives. He asked them to do good and not repay “evil for evil or reviling for reviling.” Instead to bless and be blessed; to love and do good instead of evil. This is good for promoting peace with one another instead of being conflict with them. God is against the evildoers but looks with favor on the righteous and listens to their prayers. Furthermore, if you do good no one will harm you but people will bless you instead. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.It will honor the holy God. Be ready to defend your words and deeds but do it gently with a good conscience. Do not let anyone slander or speak evil against them or shame the name of God. This was the example of Christ too. He was righteous but suffered for the unrighteous to reconcile them to God. He humbled Himself to become a man and died for us. He was made alive in the spirit and was raised from the dead so He could proclaim His victory over death to the disobedient spirits in prison. As God waited patiently to save those who entered the ark in Noah’s days, God also waits patiently to save those who would allow Christ to enter their hearts too.
Baptism is an appeal to God for what Christ did to save us. His resurrection is the sign of His victory over death. He is seated at God’s right hand with the angels, authorities, and powers that are subjected to Him. Thus, He was given this power and authority to deliver us from the power of sin and death. At our salvation, we are adopted into God’s family to become children of God. Therefore, we must live harmoniously with one another by loving one another. Even if we are to suffer for doing good just as Christ did, we must do so so as not to let people point a finger at us or shame the name of our Lord.
Prayer: O Lord, help me I pray to do good. I pray for grace that I would be willing if I have to, to suffer for doing good instead of being found to be suffering for doing evil. Help me to humble myself so I can live harmoniously with others by being sympathetic, loving, and tender in heart towards one another instead of being self-righteous like the Pharisees.
