Monday 23 April, 2018

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

God is very encouraging in these verses. I hear God in this passage clearing the way for me to live a life that is free to be eager to do good towards others, with no if’s, but’s or maybe’s attached. If I suffer for my eagerness, God calls me blessed. My eagerness should always be with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience that I’ve done the good thing by my fellow man in every situation. And Jesus is my great example, in that even though he suffered to the point of being put to death, even then God made opportunity for him to make proclamation to the “imprisoned spirits.”

God wants me to live each day eager to do good to everyone that I have the opportunity of crossing paths with. Particularly, God wants me to be prepared and ready to share my hope with anyone who asks – the ultimate good that can be done. And God through this passage arms me with courage for the potential opposition – should I suffer at any point, God’s blessing is upon me, and God makes a way for more good to be done, even as He did in Jesus’ life.

Lord, I am called to be courageous in eagerness to do good to my fellow man. Help me prepare a powerful answer should anyone ask for why it is I hope in you Lord. And I have courage because you declare, even though I may suffer for standing boldly for you, even then I am blessed by you. And none can bless like you bless Lord! Amen.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh