The God Pause for Wednesday, 17 May 2017 - Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with the Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22
1 Peter 3:13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;[1 Peter 3:15 Isaiah 8:12-13] while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you — yet with humility and fear, 16 keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame. 17 For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil.
18 For the Messiah himself died for sins, once and for all, a righteous person on behalf of unrighteous people, so that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but brought to life by the Spirit; 19 and in this form he went and made a proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, 20 to those who were disobedient long ago, in the days of Noach, when God waited patiently during the building of the ark, in which a few people — to be specific, eight — were delivered by means of water. 21 This also prefigures what delivers us now, the water of immersion, which is not the removal of dirt from the body, but one’s pledge to keep a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah. 22 He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,[1 Peter 3:22 Psalm 110:1] with angels, authorities and powers subject to him.
[Complete Jewish Bible]
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We know that Peter was an able evangelist. According to the author of Luke-Acts, he was even capable of making spontaneous and lengthy speeches. In this letter Peter speaks of "suffering for what is right" (v. 14) and "suffering for doing good" (v. 17), as well as "not being intimidated" (v. 14). This takes on a particularly sobering resonance when we think of the kind of death Peter is believed to have died. I believe he was still evangelizing to the end, still coming up with material for more epistles with his dying breath, still preaching the good news. He was suffering for what is right. It is another common belief that what most people fear more than anything, even death, is public speaking. Most people avoid such vulnerability at all costs. They would rather not suffer in this way, whether it is for good or not! But we, like Peter, must not be intimidated: "Do not fear what they fear" (v. 14).
God in Christ, may we sanctify you in our hearts always. May we be willing to suffer for what is good and right, in your name--even, and especially, when it makes us vulnerable, when we must open our mouths to do so. May we proclaim your name without fear and never be intimidated. In Jesus' fearless name. Amen.
Sam Bardwell, '15
Actor, Minneapolis, Minn.
1 Peter 3:13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,
15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
21 And baptism, which this prefigured, 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 made subject to him. [New Revised Standard Version]
We know that Peter was an able evangelist. According to the author of Luke-Acts, he was even capable of making spontaneous and lengthy speeches. In this letter Peter speaks of "suffering for what is right" (v. 14) and "suffering for doing good" (v. 17), as well as "not being intimidated" (v. 14). This takes on a particularly sobering resonance when we think of the kind of death Peter is believed to have died. I believe he was still evangelizing to the end, still coming up with material for more epistles with his dying breath, still preaching the good news. He was suffering for what is right. It is another common belief that what most people fear more than anything, even death, is public speaking. Most people avoid such vulnerability at all costs. They would rather not suffer in this way, whether it is for good or not! But we, like Peter, must not be intimidated: "Do not fear what they fear" (v. 14).
God in Christ, may we sanctify you in our hearts always. May we be willing to suffer for what is good and right, in your name--even, and especially, when it makes us vulnerable, when we must open our mouths to do so. May we proclaim your name without fear and never be intimidated. In Jesus' fearless name. Amen.
Sam Bardwell, '15
Actor, Minneapolis, Minn.
1 Peter 3:13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,
15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
21 And baptism, which this prefigured, 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 made subject to him. [New Revised Standard Version]
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Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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