DAY 330

STAY STRONG

Ezekiel 27, 28 & 29 and 1 Peter 3

STAY STRONG—it sounds like some kind of modern day “power of positive thinking speak” or locker room pep talk, but consider the following introduction about 1 Peter from my Study Bible. “The readers of the Apostle Peter’s letter were confused and discouraged by the persecution they were experiencing because of their faith. Peter exhorted them to stand strong, repeatedly reminding them of Christ’s example, the riches of their inheritance in him, and the hope of his returning again to take them to heaven. Peter explained how Christians should respond when they suffer because of their beliefs. Called the “apostle of hope,” Peter’s primary message is to trust the Lord, live obediently no matter what your circumstances and keep your hope fixed on God’s ultimate promise of deliverance. Suffering is to be expected, but it is temporary and yields great blessings for those who remain steadfast. Peter probably wrote this letter in the mid-60’s AD.”

This letter is addressed to the “aliens, scattered.” These were Christians, who like the Israelites we have been reading about, were scattered throughout the world—in fact if you skip ahead to 5:13 the label “Babylon” is used…I pray you are seeing the connection to all the Old Testament reading we have been doing. The style of writing leads most to believe that the Apostle Peter is the author (they do this by comparing this letter to Peter’s speeches in Acts). It is believed to be written during the time of Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome circa 64 AD—and his persecution was brutal. You can see a summary here:
 http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/christians.htm

With that introduction consider the words we have been reading the last few days. I have found them both encouraging and challenging. Then when I get to the words about wives and husbands, I tend to tighten up a bit. But when I consider that these folks are being burned alive in Nero’s garden, literally being used as torches, you might understand why Peter is writing a strong encouraging letter. 

Put yourself in their shoes; think of some of your best friends at church, and then try and picture that they are tortured and killed. You get a letter from Peter…one of the BIG guys…what does he tell you to do? “Do not return evil for evil.” Really? They, or he, are killing your friends and Peter is saying “turn the other cheek.” I seem to recall someone else saying that! I seem to recall someone else suffering.

The point of this letter is not to glorify suffering. Sometimes people will teach that we “should embrace suffering, maybe even welcome it, because Christ suffered.” Embrace is a strong word and welcome is even worse. I do not think we should welcome suffering, but the point is that when we suffer, or those we love suffer, for the Gospel, then our behavior should be that of Christ’s…in order that we would demonstrate our great belief in that which is our destiny…because we are all aliens—our home is with God in eternity.