1 Peter 4:7-9

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Personal challenge

Sometimes other people are just a pain in the neck and it feels like it would be better just to write them off. I am sure that other people have the same feelings about me at times. These are the times for us to have fervent love for one another. If we love Jesus, then we are to love one another and be hospitable to them, no matter what the circumstances. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love lifeAnd see good days,Let him refrain his tongue from evil,And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good;Let him seek peace and pursue it.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,And His ears are open to their prayers;But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Personal challenge

We live in a world and a time that is filled with anger and contention. Our part in this world is to be peacemakers in all that we do so that by our actions the Word of God is shared with everyone. This is no small task, but the rewards are eternal. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Personal challenge

This passage, and the one before it is often misunderstood and misused. Wives are told to submit to their husbands, and husbands are told to honor their wives. Here is what my Orthodox Study Bible says about this:

3:1-7 A stunning call to contentment in Christian marriage, whether we live in the first century or the twenty-first. The dignity and modesty of a woman—and her good conduct—have the power to call her husband to faith and devotion. Husbands are not to take advantage of this superior conduct on the part of their wives, but are to reciprocate, indeed to give honor. Peter’s image of marriage is one of sacramental union, not merely of legal contract. Contrary to the inheritance customs of the time, husband and wife are heirs together of the grace of life (v. 7). Failure to live with understanding with one’s spouse even affects one’s relationship with God (see Eph 5:22–33).

We view marriage as a sacrament in the church because, through it, two people become one. Husbands and wives are peers and partners at the same time. This is the personal challenge, to always put my wife and her needs before mine and continually give her the honor she deserves. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 2:19-20

For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Personal Challenge

So, what is being considered commendable here? When we are subservient to another, whether it be our employer, a government official or the government itself, or anyone that we are under the authority of, then whether they treat us nicely or poorly, it is our responsibility as Christians to be submissive to them. We do this because we are ultimately being submissive to God. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 2:12

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Personal Challenge

Who are the Gentiles that we are supposed to have honorable conduct around? They are those around us who do not yet know our Lord. Our lives are supposed to be lived in such a way that those who do not know our Lord or those who have rejected Him, cannot refute the good works that we are doing on behalf of our Lord. This means that the words coming out of our mouths, the things that we do, the places that we frequent, the positions that we take in our social structure, all shout loudly about the grace and mercy and love that our Lord has for everyone. Living this way makes it impossible for anyone to accuse us of doing wrong and having that accusation stick. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Encouraging Words

I remember well those days of my youth when all the kids in the neighborhood would come together for that game of stickball. The two coolest guys would be the team captains and then they would start picking the rest of the lineup as members of their teams. Oh, how awesome it felt to be chosen. Peter reminds us that we are a chosen group of people, special in the eyes of our Lord, called out of darkness into His uncreated light. Glory be to God!

1 Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Personal Challenge

Do I really desire Christ as much as I should? Is He in the forefront of my every thought and desire? Is He the center of every decision that I make and everything that I do? Unfortunately, the answer to these questions is “No”. I let the busyness of my life, the burdens of my work, the extensiveness of my to-do list, get in the way of my seeking Him and before I know it, He is just an afterthought. Lord, have mercy! He wants me to lay aside the things of this world and to desire Him above else. Do I need rest? I will find it in Him. Do I need focus? I will find it in Him. Do I need peace? It is only in Him! Glory be to God!

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Personal challenge

Being a Christian is not like being a passenger on some train or bus headed to a glorious destination. We are not just sitting there all cushy and comfortable while God navigates the vehicle through the obstacles of our lives. We are mandated to be active participants in this journey called life. Look at all of the active verbs in this short passage. Gird up the loins of your mind. Be sober. Rest your hope upon the grace of Christ. Be obedient children. Do not conform yourselves to your former life. In all of your conduct, be holy. Sure, God in His loving grace and mercy will allow passengers to ride His train of salvation without being active, changed people. But so much of life and His blessings will be missed doing that. If we are not constantly being changed into His image by our actions in Him then we must question, “Are we on the right train?” Be holy for He is holy!