Ready For A Response

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 their threats; do not be frightened.” 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:13-17

Notes

In life, we tend to follow a simple formula. If someone does good, good things will follow. If someone does something bad, bad things will follow. However, we know the story of Job, who was good but endured great suffering on earth. We also see people who we would label as bad, wicked or corrupt and see them winning and succeeding. What we are led to do in response to suffering—even persecution— is to regard it as a blessing. How is this possible? The paradox in this statement can lead us to two conclusions:

Following a path of righteousness and trusting God causes protection to oneself. Divine intervention serves as a shield, protecting us from harm because of our goodness.
The worst thing a person or entity could do to a believer could never be so severe as to cause eternal harm. He/She may suffer bodily harm but no foe can damage his/her soul.

We should always be ready to share why we have hope. We, as believers, should not hold faith in institutions, courts, employers or households as our deliverance. Presidents, supreme court justices, mayors, and employers all come and go and do not determine our fate. And yet, this hopefulness is far more than being optimistic. This is a belief in God’s supremacy over all things. If we depend on men (or women) to be our salvation, we are wrong and will be disappointed. And when people come after us, whether in words, cancel culture or by force, we can stand firm in our faith in God who does not forsake us.

If we do find ourselves being attacked our response should be with gentleness and respect and not in defense. A sharp retort, a stinging barb or a clever zinger may seem satisfactory in the moment, but the opportunity for reconciliation becomes even more distant. We are a witness to the good that God is and the hope we have in Jesus who provides a path toward salvation. If we stay silent, we act as earthly judges to those we deem beyond redemption by not providing them with hope. And when we do speak up, it is not in a tone of superiority or dominance. We should be humble and gracious, always remembering that none of us deserve salvation and that we did nothing to earn it.

People yearn for truth and long for healing even if they try to claim the contrary. There is something in the way humans are made, made in the image of God, that leads us to what is good and what is just. Our bodies and minds might be directed toward self-indulgence, but we long to have our lives not be in vain.

Suffering is part of life. No one escapes it. We should be willing to suffer because Christ suffered for us. He is the example that we should follow. Even though he was innocent, God allowed him to suffer—and his suffering bore the greatest gift this world will ever know. We are encouraged to do good, even if suffering will follow. We have no control over other people or random occurrences. We do have control over our attitudes, words and actions. Let them be for good.