A Christmas Story

I wanted to share a Christmas story with you this week, and found this one to be interesting. It tells the story that everyone at one or another wrestles with. Have a safe and blessed Christmas day. Brian

Seeking Christ at Christmas Time

(scene: bare stage except for a small end table on Amy's end of

the stage with Bible, cordless phone, TV remote control)

AMY --- (enters, wearing robe over pajamas and slippers, paces

briefly, picks up remote, turns on imaginary TV at back of

audience, changes channels, bored with each one, picks up phone,

dials number on TV screen, turns off TV; during the conversation

she alternately paces and stands still for emphasis and

variation)

JOSH -- (warm, confident, patient voiceover OR enters opposite

with phone to ear, remains near exit) Suicide prevention

hotline, this is Josh. How may I help you?

AMY --- Yeah, hi. Say, listen, you're going to think I'm a

little nuts, but I can't sleep and there's nothing on TV, and I

just thought that if you have nothing better to do, we could

just talk a little.

JOSH -- No problem. What do you want to talk about?

AMY --- Listen, I know you guys have, like, this 911 panic

button just in case I took a bottle of pills or something, but I

just want you to know I'm not going to kill myself or anything.

I just wanted to....

JOSH -- It's okay. We can just talk. It's not a problem. No

squad cars or ambulances will wake up your neighbors. I promise.

What do you want to talk about?

AMY --- Listen, if you get an urgent call from someone on a

fourteenth floor ledge ready to jump, you can just cut me off.

Okay?

JOSH -- Okay. It's a deal. My name is Josh. What's yours?

AMY --- Call me Babs. On TV the name Babs is always good for a

laugh.

JOSH -- Okay, Babs, what do you want to talk about?

AMY --- How about Christmas?

JOSH -- Do you have all your shopping done?

AMY --- I'm not talking about that Christmas.

JOSH -- You're not?

AMY --- Well, I am and I'm not. You must think I'm a psycho case

or something, calling at three o'clock in the morning just to

talk. And then I don't even know what I want to talk about....

JOSH -- Babs, I get a lot of people calling who just want to

talk. So, let's get back to Christmas.

AMY --- Actually, this happens every year at Christmas time.

JOSH -- What happens?

AMY --- I get restless. I can't sleep. I read somewhere that the

suicide rate really increases around Christmas time. Not that I

am suicidal or anything. You must really think I'm a wacko.

Maybe I shouldn't have called...

JOSH -- You called to talk, Babs. Let's talk. So, why do you

think you're restless and sleepless at Christmas time?

AMY --- I don't know. I think maybe I'm too analytical. I see

people spending money for gifts, half of which nobody needs. I

see all the hectic shopping and decorating and parties and for

what? It all started 2000 years ago as someone's birthday party.

And now, it seems everybody gets a gift except the birthday boy.

The first Christians didn't even celebrate Jesus' birthday.

JOSH -- Do you think it would be better if we didn't celebrate

Christmas?

AMY --- Yes. No. Yes. You must think I'm a few sandwiches short

of a full picnic.

JOSH -- Babs, I'm not judging you at all. Tell me first why you

DON'T think we should celebrate Christmas.

AMY --- Because the way we do it now, it doesn't mean anything.

It's just gifts and parties.

JOSH -- Okay. Now tell me why you DO think we should celebrate

Christmas.

AMY --- Because it's an important birthday. We celebrate the

birthdays of presidents and a lot of people thinks that Jesus is

way more important than presidents.

JOSH -- Do YOU?

AMY --- To tell the truth, I don't know. I mean, some of the

stuff they say about him is pretty fantastic, don't you think?

JOSH -- Like what?

AMY --- Like the miracles and stuff.

JOSH -- The miracles are not too fantastic if he was who he said

he was.

AMY --- You mean the son of God thing.

JOSH -- Yes.

AMY --- See that's what I don't get. I don't get how one God

could be Father, Son and Holy Spirit all at the same time. I

don't get how Jesus could be all God at the same time he is all

man.

JOSH -- You took college physics. How can there be light waves

and light particles at the same time?

AMY --- How did you know I took college physics?

JOSH -- Did you?

AMY --- Yes, but....

JOSH -- Is it possible for light to be both a particle and a

wave?

AMY --- Well, yes, under certain energy conditions light can be

explained better if we speak about it as a wave. And under other

energy conditions the photon particle explains it's behavior best.

JOSH -- But it's all light.

AMY --- So, you think Father, Son, and Holy Spirit might be just

God's way of explaining his nature to numb-nuts like us who only

have college physics to explain things?

JOSH -- Maybe.

AMY --- But that still doesn't explain Jesus. He didn't seem to

exist until he was born. There's no record of him in the Bible

before that.

JOSH -- You've got a Bible there. Look up Colossians 1:16.

AMY --- Sure. (picks up Bible, flips a few pages, straightens)

Wait a minute. How did you know I had a Bible right here?

JOSH -- Did you?

AMY --- Well, yes, but...

JOSH -- Well, what does it say in Colossians 1:16?

AMY --- (turning paging pages) This is, like, really spooky.

Do I know you?

JOSH -- Just tell me what it says in Colossians 1:16 about

Jesus?

AMY --- (reads while pacing) For by him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether

thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were

created by him and for him.  (stops pacing)

JOSH -- Why did you stop pacing?

AMY --- (looks both ways) How did you know I stopped pacing? All

the drapes are drawn. How did you know I stopped pacing? Do you

have, like, a TV camera in here or something? (clutches lapels)

JOSH -- Babs, you're perfectly safe. I tell you what, you answer

my question first. And then I'll answer yours. Why did you stop

pacing?

AMY --- (points to Bible) Because this answers the question

that's kept me so restless and sleepless at Christmas.

JOSH -- What question?

AMY --- If Jesus was just a guy or even an angel; if he was just

created or invented, then what's all the fuss? Why bother with

Christmas at all? In fact, why bother with LIFE at all?

JOSH -- It was not just a mere coincidence that you called the

suicide prevention hotline, was it?

AMY --- (paces) Well, now that I've found the answer, I don't

mind admitting that every Christmas I keep thinking if it wasn't

really God who was born in Bethlehem, then it wasn't really God

who came to save the world. And I don't stand a chance of making

it to heaven. And if I'm not going to heaven then, all there is

left is gifts I don't need and parties with people I can do

without. Then, what's the point of going on living? But it

really WAS God who became a man, wasn't it?

JOSH -- Yes, it was, Amy.

AMY -- (stop, straightens) Wait a minute. You just called me

Amy. I told you to call me Babs. Mister, you have some

explaining to do! Who are you?

JOSH -- Would it help you to know that you were the only one in

the world who saw that phone number on television?

AMY --- (disbelief) Jesus.

JOSH -- Yes.

AMY --- (paces, arm outstretched) Oh, Man! Jesus!

JOSH -- My Hebrew name is JOSHUA.

AMY --- Why me? I mean, I know I called you, but, I mean, you

didn't have to answer.

JOSH -- Look in your Bible, there, Amy. Matthew 7:7.

AMY --- (turning pages) I was just reading that chapter this

morning.

JOSH -- I know.

AMY --- Here it is: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and

you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (looks

up) You heard my prayer after I read that.

JOSH -- I don't usually answer prayers by phone. But you did

ask, seek and knock.

AMY --- Oh, man! I'm talking to God himself. Oh, man!

JOSH -- So, Amy! Do we celebrate Christmas this year or not?

AMY --- (tearful pause) Happy Birthday, Jesus.

JOSH -- Thanks, Amy. Call me anytime.

(both exit)

©2004 Bob Snook. Conditions for use:

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Being a Blessing to Others

1 Peter 3:8-12

Blessing to Others

V.8 (Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous :)

Be of one mind, there are times that I wonder if I am of one mind let alone being of like minded with all. To be of two minds is to be tossed about by every doctrine that comes along, unsure of truth and following the winds of popular doctrine instead of being grounded in the word. A double minded person is unstable in their thinking, and hurtful in their own witness. For how can anyone be convinced of the truth of the gospel, if one is unsure of it themselves? Prayerfully spending time in God’s word is the only cure for this disease of being of two minds. Spending time in the word, surrounded by prayer, allows God to open His word unto you in a way that you can understand it. God has given us a book, as a message from Him, and through the Holy Spirit, opens this word to His followers.

Peter is talking of being of one mind not only with ourselves, but with others as well. Does this mean everyone, or just those in the church? Does this mean every church or just our own? Peter is talking about the church and its unity, which is essential for growth, and peace in the church and our families. Though we may not agree with everyone outside and inside the church, or even in our own families, we should agree on the essentials of salvation. I am in fellowship with many believers that have different opinions of faith, and belong to many different denominations, yet we share in essentials of salvation, being salvation by faith through grace. I know one brother that believes that the King James Version of the Bible is the only one to use. Does this cause us to fall out of fellowship, because I have six different translations? No, we are connected by a common bond of being family, united by the blood of Christ and sharing in the same inheritance in Heaven. At this time we will be with Christ the living word, and translations will be meaningless. This is the question we should ask as we debate over the finer points of religion, when religion is gone and the truth of Jesus is revealed to all, will these things matter?

So how do we treat others in the churches that don’t share our opinions? Peter says to love one another as brothers, showing compassion on those that have differing opinions, and be courteous to them. Since we know from previous lessons, these were a people under persecution from those who did not understand there new faith, they were to show compassion to their persecutors as well, understanding that a good witness goes a long way to leading others to Christ. I talked to a friend recently, who told me he was beat over the back of the head by the Bible, not literally, and this caused him to walk away from the faith. He can quote scripture to you, but it has lost its meaning to him.

V. 9 (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.)

Peter knew that his readers would be hated and treated with evil for Christ sake, but how are we to act when others revile us, and treat us unkindly for the sake of Christ, or just because they intend evil? This talks against revenge against those who harm us. The law will take care of those who seek to do us harm, but we are not to take the law into our own hands. Christianity tells us to go one step further, and bless those who seek to harm us. Matthew 5:44 says to love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those that persecute you.

In "Context," Mary Marty retells a parable from the "Eye of the Needle" newsletter: A holy man was engaged in his morning meditation under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank. During his meditation he noticed that the river was rising, and a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, "Don't you know that's a scorpion, and it's in the nature of a scorpion to want to sting?" To which the holy man replied, 'That may well be, but it is my nature to save, and must I change my nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?" Joseph B. Modica.

Our calling as Christians gives us great reward both in our live and in heaven, but it also calls us to great responsibilities. One of the hardest tasks I had to learn as a Christian was to pray for my enemies. I had heard to pray for my enemies, so that hot coals would come down upon their heads. I liked this idea, of them being burnt up from fire from God. As I matured and began to realize that it meant conviction from God and not literal fire, praying for them became harder, yet it is my Christian duty, so I must. This also allows a release of anger, that I harbor in myself, so that the prayer is not only beneficial to my enemies, but to me as well. I feel that God allows certain thing to happen in our lives, just to see our reaction, when we don’t repay evil for evil, than our Father in heaven will bless us even as we bless others.

Vs. 10, 11, 12. (For “He who would love life and 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.”)

Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 to drive his point home saying that those who wish to live long and prosper, to steal a line form Mr. Spock, must act in these ways: 1. They must refrain from evil speaking, this includes lying and slandering. 2. One must avoid flattery, which covers hypocritical speech with wicked intentions, or for self gain. 3. They must avoid evil, continuing in a life style that walks away from evil. 4. We must do good, and continue in a lifestyle that promotes righteousness. 5. One must live peaceably with all men, seeking peace where it has been lost, even within ourselves, restoring it where it has been broken, and pursue it where it seems to be fleeing. When we live by our passions and not by the word of God, we tend to shorten our days here on earth. Not that we can not act passionately for the cause of Christ, for this is what drives many of us to serve God, but not to live in the passions of this world. I have always believed that you can get so far from God, as a Christian, that He would shorten your days on earth rather then see you lost, in your sins. These verses seem to confirm my thinking, for if the Lord can lengthen your days, surely He can shorten them.

In a story taken from Clarke’s commentary, there was a certain person, traveling through the city, continuously calling out, “Who wants the elixir of life?” The daughter of a rabbi said, “What is this elixir of life that you sell?” He answered, “Is it not written, What man is it that loves life, and desires to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking evil. This is elixir of life, and is found in the mouth of man.”

James 1:26 says; If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own head, this one’s religion is useless.

The righteous person is continually under the eye of God, he attracts Divine notice, and where ever he is there is the ear of God. For every righteous person is indeed a person of prayer, and whenever they pray, as soon as they form the words enter into the presence of God. But the face of God is turned from the evil person and they literally have no prayer, as theirs fall upon deaf ears. The arm of His justice is against them, to draw them from the evil lifestyle, unto the grace of God.

Living Together and With God

Living Together and With God

1 Peter 3:1-7

1. Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2. when they observe your conduct accompanied by fear. 3. Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-4. rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with and terror. 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.

When people read this passage they cringe and bristle up, saying that this way of thinking is archaic, and living in the past. The truth is they are trying to understand it living outside the will of God. We do not walk into marriage thinking it our goal to have a bad marriage, but to share the rest of our lives with someone that we can’t live without, and yet some claim that they can’t live with them. One of the big mistakes we make in striving for a perfect marriage is trying to change our spouse.

One bride-to-be was nervous about the wedding ceremony until the pastor gave her specific instructions. "When you enter the church, just focus on three things: the aisle, the altar and the groom." As she entered the church escorted by her dad, the people in the congregation overheard the bride saying over and over to herself, "Aisle, altar, him. Aisle, altar, him."
A great marriage does not come from changing our spouse it comes from changing ourselves. A successful marriage isn’t just finding the right person it’s also being the right person. It isn’t just focusing on how our spouse could do better it’s also focusing on what we could do better. I have heard spouses say that their mate has a few rough edges, but I can smooth them out. That is a horrible way to enter into a marriage.
God said it best when He looked at Adam fresh from His hand of creation. "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." (Genesis 2:18 NLT) The Bible account of the first marriage continues... "So the Lord God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam’s ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam. “At last!” Adam exclaimed. She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called "woman", because she was taken out of a man.” God knew man, having created him, and knew exactly what who be the perfect mate for him, now having created woman, He also knew the perfect mate for her, now all that was left to do was get the two together. This is a beautiful sight as God brings Eve to Adam, no better yet presents Eve to him, for if we start our marriage in the will of God, we first ask God who do you have for me? As a man stands at the altar as His bride comes into view, he sees the most beautiful creature ever created, as she is escorted down the aisle by her father and given to her groom, he repeats Adam’s words. “At last!” This is the scene played out in Genesis as God brings creation together and they become one. This is also the scene that will be played out as we, washed in the blood of Christ, spotless before God, as God delivers us to Jesus as His bride. Jesus will say there is my bride, as He tells all who will listen how beautiful she is. This will be the moment He has waited for, when we shall come to Him dressed in robes, washed white by His sacrifice for us.

If the first couple was brought together by specific acts of creation, it would appear logical that to enjoy a meaningful marriage we must begin with the first wedding planner - God Himself.

I never cease to be amazed at the attitude that this society is the peak of social development, so therefore if the Bible doesn’t agree with the prevailing attitudes so the Bible is wrong...In 1995, there were 6,400 marriages per day in the US...and 3,200 divorces...from 1970 to 1994 the number of divorced people quadrupled...half of all children live through a divorce, and half of those live through a second divorce...and more than 1 in 4 children live in single-parent households. And lest you think that this is just young people, the generation in America with the highest divorce rate is between the ages of about 55 and 75 today. But we still hear that the Bible is outdated and things are much more enlightened today.

So how do we add God into this equation? By first teaching our children that God cares who they will marry. I would tell my girls from an early age that their mate was alive today and that they needed to pray for them, and I too began praying for them, in hopes that God would bring them together one day. God knows our needs, and still today prepares our mate for us. I often wondered if God brings us together then why do so many marriages end in divorce. I have come to know that, though a person seems so perfect for us, this is not the person God has for. Seeking the will of God is not usurping His will for ours.
What the text suggests is good news for those who want to have a meaningful marriage. Husbands and wives who understand and meet the needs of their spouse will most often have their own needs met. The key word here is understand. There are times I look at my wife and think to myself, that I do not understand this stranger living in my house, yet it is my job to understand this person, that is wired completely different form me. This is where conversation comes into play by talking to each other we come to have a better understanding of who we are as a couple. Are there times I still do not understand her? Certainly, these are the times that love, trust, and honor come into play, my love for her, my trust in God, and my honor for my marriage. What about getting our needs met? Here are the needs as the scripture relates them.

The primary goal for women in the marital union, according to our text scripture, is inner beauty. The primary goal for husbands is to be considerate and respectful of their wives. Amazingly, both of these patterns are often the opposite of the way marriage is portrayed in the world around us. The Word of God says to wives: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV)
Does this mean that women are to ignore their outward appearance? Thankfully, no! For men are sensual creatures and are moved by the eye more often than the heart. I appreciate when my wife takes time to look her best. The husband also values a wife who cultivates inner beauty. Problem is, all too often in our society, inner beauty is often left uncultivated while outer beauty is often overemphasized. Peter reminds his readers of the example of Sarah and Abraham to prove his point.
"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." (1 Peter 1:5-6)

“Obeyed” and “master” are the two words in the text that causes many to dismiss the whole passage, yet we cannot dismiss the word of God, so we must try harder to understand it. Also we need to approach this text carefully, leaving any sinful selfish attitude behind. The Bible teaches us that the very first sin, the sin Satan committed that caused his fall from grace, was the sin of pride and pride results in selfishness, the “me, me, me” attitude so prevalent in today’s world. This attitude is prevalent in many marriages that claim to be on an even keel. But are marriages to be on an “even keel”? Many say that they do not have any problems, and that their marriage is 50/50, there is a problem with this attitude, and it is a selfish attitude. Marriage isn’t about balancing things out it’s about giving everything you have without reservation. So if we discuss the necessity of men loving their wives as Christ loved the church, or of wives submitting to their husbands, your first thought ought not to be, “Yeah but what do I get out of it?”

To make this all work we need to put our hope in God, and not give into fear. At one point in Abraham’s life, acting out of fear, he became a bad husband and gave his wife to another man to be a part of his harem by lying and claiming Sarah was his sister? (Genesis 20:2) Sarah "put her hope in God" and "did not give way to fear." She submitted to her husband in a way I would never counsel a wife to submit. She went along with her husband’s wishes. Was she right or wrong? God knows, I don’t." But God came to Abimelech (the man Abraham gave his wife to) in a dream one night and said to him, ’You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.’" (Genesis 20:3 NIV) God protected Sarah when her own husband wasn’t courageous enough to protect her. God protected Sarah because she "put her hope in God" and "didn’t give way to fear."

This glaring chink in the spiritual armor of one of the godliest men of faith who ever lived proves that there is no such thing as a perfect husband. What do wives do who live with imperfect husbands? "Trust in God" and "don’t give way to fear".
Extreme example? Yes definitely. But it proves a very, very crucial point. Wives don’t place your ultimate sense of security in your husband - place it where it belongs - in God. When your ultimate security is in God, you can be happy even if you’re married to a jerk. Pray for him yes. But keep in mind, part of what God will use to change him will be your very attitude in this instance.

1. “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,” (1 Peter 3:1) "Won without words". You can’t needle or cajole a man into doing what is right. Some of you disagree because you have successfully accomplished that at times. Well let me tell you as a man that it doesn’t pay off in the dividends you desire. You may win a temporary battle with a man by talking him into doing what you want. But you will win the war by your behavior, by your inner beauty - your attitude of love and assistance. God said that He would make a companion for Adam there is no doubt in any woman’s mind that a man needs a woman’s help. So what then does a wife need from a husband? “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.”(1 Peter 3:7)

When it comes to relating to your wife nothing beats considering her way of thinking, her way of communicating, and her way of feeling. God is so wonderful in giving us opposite sexes and we are definitely opposites in so many ways. That’s why the husband especially needs a jolt here. A man is generally less considerate because of the way he is made. He isn’t wired to sense some of the things his wife senses. Some have called this "women’s intuition" and there is a lot to that. This is part of what Peter is getting at when he tells husbands to respect their wives as "the weaker partner".
Generally speaking Peter is simply stating the obvious. Across the board men usually are physically stronger than women. Husbands don’t run rough shod over your wife’s feelings. Just because you don’t feel what she feels doesn’t mean her feelings are real. Be considerate. Talk to her and touch her softly and tenderly. Be considerate. Respect her.
Show her how much you value her by watching one of her favorite movies instead of expecting her to watch sports with you. Treat her like you did when you were trying to get her to say "I do". Talk nice. Compliment her. Take her places. Open the door for her. Bring her flowers. We are "heirs together of the gracious gift of life." An heir is someone who has been left an estate. Jesus died and left us His estate. Let’s not fight over who gets what - let’s share it all together!

Servants Before God and Man

I Peter 2:18-25

V. 18 (Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.)

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House." Houghton Mifflin in Reader's Digest, December, 1981

"Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bond slave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master's purchased property. Bought to serve his master's needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave's sole business is to do as he is told. This probably included freedmen who remained in their master’s house. A master was not always a Christian, so Peter does not mention how they were to behave towards their servants. Paul, however, does mention the master’s conduct in Colossians 4:1-6, but these master’s were Christians. Christian service means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one's Savior (1 Corinthians. 6:19-20). “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I also believe that this carries over to the workplace and how we address our superiors. My terminal manager gave me some excellent advice, when we discussed being asked to do something that I felt was unfair. He told me to do what I was asked to do and then bring my concerns to him and he would address them. This is the issue Peter was addressing, do what you are asked to do as long as it does not compromise your faith, and bring your concerns to God and he will deal with it. This does not mean to sin against God if asked to, but if asked to go above what is normally considered in your job description do it. Remember that you are God’s and He will defend you.

V. 19 (For this commendable, if because of conscience toward God, one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.)

This verse speaks of performing our duties towards God rather than man, either in our personal lives or in the work place. There will be times that the world asks to act outside the will of God, at this time we have to remember who we serve man or God. This seems to tell us to act in the exact opposite of what Peter says in the previous verse. Peter is telling those he is writing to that they will suffer for their choice to follow God, and to endure such suffering. If asked to do something that contradicts the will of God, in the work place in order to keep ones job, we are better off to remember our duties to God, rather than man. This may cost you your job, a relationship, undue suffering, or even your life. In Acts chapter four we find Peter and John arrested for healing a man and preaching Jesus to the people. When asked to stop this behavior, Peter filled with the Holy Spirit says; “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” Peter and John did not stop speaking the word of God and ignored the threats of the Jewish leaders to do so. Each and every one of us will face a test when we too must decide if it is right to listen to man or listen to God. When we choose to follow God He will remember our deeds and honor them, in His timing according to His will.

V.20 (For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your own faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.)

Peter is speaking directly to those servants who were punished for not worshiping their master’s idols as they were instructed to do. This also speaks to all of us who have no trouble paying a late fee for not paying a bill on time, grumble but pay a speeding ticketing, or apologize to our spouse for saying the wrong thing rather than endure the silence. We are to take to same attitude when we suffer for serving God.

Stephen a man filled with the Holy Spirit, preached Jesus, and did many signs and wonders in His name. When he angered those around him, he continued to preach to them and he was stoned for it. Did this go unnoticed before God or man? Certainly not, for God honors all who serve Him, no matter the costs. Also there was a man in the crowd who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, who God changed his name from Saul to Paul. We have to wonder if Stephen’s witness before Saul made an impact. We know that from reading that Saul witnessed the deaths and punishment of many Christians at his own hands. This did make an impact on Saul that at his conversation Jesus told him it was hard to kick against the goads. Jesus knew Saul’s heart and he mentioned this to remind Saul of the turmoil that was going on in his heart, because of the witness of those he persecuted. Saul upon his conversion spent the rest of his life honoring the lives of those he persecuted.

V.21, 22 (For this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.”)

As new guys are hired on at my work place they go out and train with a driver who works every day and makes a good income. I have told them that this is a good job to have but a hard job to keep. When work is good, everyone works and is happy; as work slows down they begin to grumble. What kept me there during those times was that I could see the older drivers had reached where I wanted to be I was willing to endure the smaller paychecks in order to get to that spot.

In a way this is the life of many a Christian, we answer to the call of Christ to follow Him, and share in the experience and excitement of this new relationship, and look forward to a time when we will be with Him forever. Yet we still have to live in this world, even though we keep the goal in sight, it is only the encouragement of God through the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the saints, that keeps us on the path to the goal. Peter is not beating his listeners up telling them that if Christ suffered and He was sinless, than why are you whining, but encouraging them to look to the Sinless One, for our strength and encouragement to continue in the faith.

V. 23 (who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;)

Jesus could have inflected any kind of punishment He wanted to upon His persecutors, yet he kept silent. Even when Peter struck out against those who came to arrest Jesus, He rebuked him and told him if this was not the Father’s will that all He had to do was pray and twelve legions of angels would have been available to Him. It was Peter’s acting in anger, or lashing out that Jesus was speaking against. To give us an example of how to deal with persecutors, that we should avoid acting in anger to avenge ourselves.

It is a great comfort to take our pain and fear to God, knowing He judges according to all truth. It is too easy to lash out against those who persecute you, or accuse you wrongly. When we are persecuted for the sake of Christ, which I feel that his verse refers to, it is Christ who is being persecuted as well. When Jesus met with Saul on the road to Damascus, He asked him why he was persecuting Him, and not why he was persecuting Christians. There are many in history and today that followed this example even to the point of death.

The ultimate goal is that the heart of the accused and accuser, be saved. What a witness this is that even when persecuted for our faith that we do not lash out, but pray for or accusers. Just as the witness of those Saul persecuted worked in his heart to bring him to salvation, it works, through God, in the hearts of men and women today. God never changes, He still loves as He did before the world was formed, and His will is that all should come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. Remember before you lash out against someone that your witness could affect their eternity, what an awesome responsibility.

V. 24,25 (who himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepard and Overseer of your souls.)

Christ is our redeemer and our example, His death makes our repentance possible, as well as our response to God of a righteous life. Peter puts in the simplest form, that by His stripes you were healed. His intent in quoting Isaiah 53:5 is to show that personal wholeness (mental, psychological, physical, and spiritual) flows from our conversion. We were lost separated from God, as we went about trying to control a life that we had no control over in the first place. This is why Peter says that we have returned to our Shepard and Overseer. God is in control of all humanity, and does not live in fear of what His creation will do next, but all things are working towards the return of Christ, the final redemption of mankind, and realization of the final victory over Satan and his assault on God’s children. Christ has won the victory over sin and death, and Satan’s time is short, come even now Lord Jesus!