Word@Work 1Pet42 - 1 Peter 3:13-14
Published: Tue, 06/23/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
CONFIDENCE WITHOUT FEAR
1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (NIV)
All children assume that they are safe, until they find out that some people hurt them. Such experiences light a fuse of fear which may continue to hold them back through their adult lives, further inflamed by other painful experiences. Peter's readers had bad experiences too. He addresses them as 'strangers in the world' and 'scattered' (1 Peter 1:1) - they must have known the feeling of being despised: and suffering is mentioned 15 times - it is one of the themes of the letter. So, with personal experience of suffering, they were in danger of being paralysed by fear.
Personal confidence comes with eagerness to do the right thing. The more we practice righteous living, we grow in assurance that God (and other people) will approve of us. Obedience brings blessing. It is also a blessing to live without the accusation of a guilty conscience. But in a wicked world, the righteous will become targets for those who hate truth and God's light. When that happens, there is another blessing from God; Jesus said so in Matthew 5:11-12. So Peter emphasises that fear must not be allowed to terrorise any disciple of Jesus.
Fear will always take us off course. Either we will be too terrified to move forwards in obedience to the Lord, or we will take a different path to avoid the pain we fear. Both ways take us away from the blessing that comes with obedience, and the blessing that comes with endurance. Whatever suffering you fear - God's blessing will outweigh the hurt of every attack; and you will grow in confidence as God honours those who honour Him (cf 1 Samuel 2:30). There is business to be done for God, so you must reject the domination of fear by deciding to trust the Lord and live obediently for Him. It will start a good revolution in your life at work, as you stop cowering and grow in confidence that God will keep His promise and bless you.
Prayer: Lord God Almighty. Thank You for your promise to bless all those who trust you and live according to Your Word. Help me to be more concerned to please you than to avoid difficulties that may be hurtful. And help me to grow in confidence as I practice my faith by obeying You at work as well as at church. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
All children assume that they are safe, until they find out that some people hurt them. Such experiences light a fuse of fear which may continue to hold them back through their adult lives, further inflamed by other painful experiences. Peter's readers had bad experiences too. He addresses them as 'strangers in the world' and 'scattered' (1 Peter 1:1) - they must have known the feeling of being despised: and suffering is mentioned 15 times - it is one of the themes of the letter. So, with personal experience of suffering, they were in danger of being paralysed by fear.
Personal confidence comes with eagerness to do the right thing. The more we practice righteous living, we grow in assurance that God (and other people) will approve of us. Obedience brings blessing. It is also a blessing to live without the accusation of a guilty conscience. But in a wicked world, the righteous will become targets for those who hate truth and God's light. When that happens, there is another blessing from God; Jesus said so in Matthew 5:11-12. So Peter emphasises that fear must not be allowed to terrorise any disciple of Jesus.
Fear will always take us off course. Either we will be too terrified to move forwards in obedience to the Lord, or we will take a different path to avoid the pain we fear. Both ways take us away from the blessing that comes with obedience, and the blessing that comes with endurance. Whatever suffering you fear - God's blessing will outweigh the hurt of every attack; and you will grow in confidence as God honours those who honour Him (cf 1 Samuel 2:30). There is business to be done for God, so you must reject the domination of fear by deciding to trust the Lord and live obediently for Him. It will start a good revolution in your life at work, as you stop cowering and grow in confidence that God will keep His promise and bless you.
Prayer: Lord God Almighty. Thank You for your promise to bless all those who trust you and live according to Your Word. Help me to be more concerned to please you than to avoid difficulties that may be hurtful. And help me to grow in confidence as I practice my faith by obeying You at work as well as at church. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
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