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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 1 Peter 3:13

Read: 1 Peter 3:13
Listen:
1 Peter 3

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Peter shares with the early Christians some wise advice. He tells them that when they are eager to do good, it is unlikely people will want to harm them. It’s a generally true principle. It’s not a promise but something that typically holds true over time. It’s a reminder that a well-lived Christian life—one eager to do good—will point others to Jesus and usually win favor for Jesus. It’s seen in other places in the Bible as Jesus grows in favor with people (Luke 2:52), and the church in Jerusalem grows in favor with people (Acts 2:47).

Peter’s challenge rings true for us today. As Christians, we should be eager to do good. When we strive for the good of others, we will likely find favor with them instead of mistreatment. If we are mistreated, we have to ask ourselves if we are doing good or being a jerk. We’re often mistreated simply because we aren’t nice. It might have nothing to do with Jesus. Guest speaker John Dickson shared a childhood story about reading the Bible and praying instead of raking the leaves as his mom asked him to do. When he got in trouble, his mom wasn’t mistreating him for reading his Bible. If he had been raking the leaves, he would’ve earned favor with his mom. He was disobeying. It’s important to note that if we’re mistreated or insulted, check to see if it is because we’re smug, obnoxious or hypocritical—when instead we should be loving, selfless and humble in representing Christ.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Consider whether you are eager to do good for those around you. Use the following prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 to ask God to reveal your heart. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”


2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

January is BIBLE READING. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.