“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” – 1 Peter 3:13-14

Peter’s first letter provides excellent practical and theological advice for navigating times of suffering and hostility toward authentic Christianity. This is a good word for Christians today as we should be preparing ourselves for an increase in opposition within our culture. Don’t simply lament the situation, prepare for it!

Peter is quite correct – most of the time, in most situations throughout history people aren’t going to oppose, harass, or stop a person genuinely focused on doing good works in the name of Jesus. Even if they don’t like the name of Jesus, it’s very hard for those in power to stop obviously good things from being done to care for the poor, sick, lonely, outcast, weak, and vulnerable. God often protects such work supernaturally.

However, what if people do try to stop you? This is the practical part of Peter’s letter! Don’t worry about it! If you’re opposed, persecuted, or hurt for doing good works for the good name of Jesus, don’t worry about it! Why? Because God will bless you for doing these good works! That isn’t just a quick blessing after you sneeze. Rather, God will bless you eternally for the brief (compared to all of eternity) suffering you may have to endure while serving and glorifying Him.

Don’t let the fear of a few years of difficulty or pain scare you off from experiencing unending blessings for doing the right things for Christ! Don’t be troubled at the prospect or loss or even imprisonment for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Like the Apostles, welcome the opportunity to be opposed for the sake of Jesus and His love, because that’s a mark of God present and future blessing.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” – 1 Peter 2:15

People are going to talk about us, at least if we’re correctly living our faith in Jesus Christ. That’s a reality. People are going to say things they shouldn’t about Christians and about Christ. Hurtful things. False things. Ridiculous things. Nasty things. It’s been true for two thousand years. Across the centuries, Christians have been called cannibals, fools, haters, traitors, and the list goes on…

As the rhetoric once again rises against those who hold to the historical truths of the Christian faith, note well how God desires for His people to respond: by doing good. God doesn’t want us to silence the ignorance of foolish people by talking louder than they talk. He doesn’t want us to shout them down. He doesn’t want us to out-debate them. He doesn’t want us to act like bigger and more ignorant fools. He doesn’t want us to curse and complain about them to one another. He doesn’t want us to humiliate them or make fun of them. He doesn’t want us to fight fire with fire. He doesn’t want us to pursue legal actions to silence them.

God commands us to respond to the ignorant and hateful rhetoric of our day (and every day) by doing good deeds in the name of Christ. He wants our love, our service, and our kindness to thunder His name in the face of ignorance. He wants our Christ-like care for one another and for those in need to speak for us. How are you responding to the ignorance of foolish people – with your words or your good works?

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.”
– Psalm 131:2-3

We live in an era where everything is tuned to stir up our souls to ever-increasing anger, anxiety, fear, and frustration. Every form of media profits from getting us more and more worked up. No wonder we live in an anxious, fearful, rage filled world! However, the people of God should choose NOT to play this game!

By the power of God’s Spirit within us, we can calm and quiet our souls. The knowledge that sovereign God is in us, with us, and reigning over us allows us to live in an ongoing state of peaceful calm. The world won’t be calm, but we can be. Because our hope is in God Almighty rather than armies, laws, courts, politicians, traditions, systems, or structures, we can live at peace.

If you’ve been struggling with all the tumult and turbulence in the world, if you’ve been constantly on edge for months or years, or if you’re quick to fall into rage or despair, calm yourself! As we enter the stress and hustle and bustle of the holiday season, calm your soul. Place your hope in God. Trust in Him. Things may be strange and challenging, but God is steadfast and good. Intentionally quiet your soul whenever it grows agitated. Pray right then and there. Embrace God’s peace and satisfaction as you navigate our decidedly un-peaceful and dissatisfied world.

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” – James 3:6

Your words matter enormously! Jesus expects and commands His followers to live lives of genuine integrity, meaning wholeness and consistency. As Christians, we’re to be the same inside and out. Our appearances should match our attitudes, thoughts, and feelings. We’re to be the same in church, in school, at work, and at home. We’re to live lives of holiness and speak words of holiness at all times.

James in particular focuses in on the everyday inconsistencies of our lives that reveal profound sinfulness. He does so to help us eradicate that sin. Our inner sickness and sinfulness is often revealed by our words. If we’re followers of the Prince of Peace, our words (ALL of them) should be words of peace. If we’re followers of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, our words should be completely true and should be speaking life to everyone we encounter, not death. Even when we confront sin, we must do so with words of peace, truth, and life rather than uncontrolled anger, bitter poison, and raging fire.

Many Christians today seem to be fine with praising God with their mouths on Sunday morning and tearing down people with whom we disagree the rest of the week. That’s sinful! As James continues in chapter 3, they too are created in God’s image. There is no Christian integrity in praising God while verbally destroying His workmanship.

Carefully consider EVERY word you say, type, tweet, or share. Are these words that reflect Jesus, or words that stain you and burn down your life and others? Sinning in what you say is still sinning. Control your tongue!

“And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” – Ezekiel 34:23

God was disgusted with the corruption, abuse, cruelty, and injustice of the leaders of Israel. Though called to be shepherds, they instead abused and took advantage of their sheep. Scripture says that God ordains government for good purposes, yet at that time, the leaders cared only for themselves, their wealth, their power, and their benefit. So God made this promise. One day, He would send a new shepherd, one who would rule justly and care for the weak, sick, injured, vulnerable, lost, and confused.

Though King David had already been dead for nearly four centuries, God promised a shepherd like him, descended from him, and concerned with truly leading as God desired. This prophecy would be fulfilled centuries later when Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, and God in the flesh was born, lived, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven where He rules and reigns over the universe today.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd like David. He has indeed been given all authority in heaven and on earth. He feeds and cares for the people of God. He redeems us from our sins, strengthens us for our days, sustains us through our trials, transforms us across the years of our lives, and welcomes us into God’s presence when we die. The world remains full of corrupt, selfish, and foolish shepherds. Don’t look to them for salvation or hope. Look to the Good Shepherd! Yield your life to Him and let Jesus lead you, feed you, sustain you, and love you.