Before you begin today’s reading and reflection, take a few minutes to create or find a “sacred space”. If you’re in your room, make yourself a small space with as few distractions as possible. Put aside any books, music, magazines; turn off your phone; get away from your email/facebook; turn off your music; etc.

Now, pull out your Bible, and as you take some deep breaths, pray this short prayer: “Lord, help me be still and listen to your voice now and throughout this day and the next. Amen.”

(You can choose to read the whole chapter, or just the passage that is shown)

 

¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,¹⁹ in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

 

Reflection

1. Chapter at a Glance:  Christians are to practice submission in the home, and in the church.  If a person should suffer for doing good, he should remember Christ’s suffering which led to our salvation.
2. Peter reminds us that God’s eyes are on the righteous, so that in the normal course of affairs, good things do happen to good people. But there are situations when you do good, and suffer for it.  When this happen to you, “you are blessed”.  Peter than told us how to react in such situations.  Don’t fear or be frightened; remember that Jesus is Lord and sovereign over all circumstances; be prepared to explain your hope to anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are; keep a clear conscience; remember that if God chooses to let you suffer, it’s much better to suffer for something you didn’t do than for committing some sin! (vv14-17)
3. Jesus Christ suffered innocently and yet all this happened according to God’s will.  God wonderfully and graciously turned injustice into a means of grace and blessing for all mankind. So, when bad things happened to God’s people, we can be sure that He is personally involved and out of the evil God will bring out some very real good.
4. Our world is often unjust. Bring to mind some of your past or current sufferings. In the context of these sufferings, how can the suffering and consequences of Christ in this passage bring you hope?  Thank God for the hope we have been given in Christ.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

Proverbs for Today 28:9-12

⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.