Bible League: Living His Word Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats.— 1 Peter 3:13-14 NLT Under normal circumstances, people will not want to harm you when you do good. People who lead good lives can typically expect to experience peace and tranquility in their dealings with other people. After all, the Bible says if you "Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper" (Psalm 37:3). Under normal circumstances, a good person can expect to receive good in return. There are times when you may suffer for doing what is good. In fact, you may suffer precisely because you are doing what is good. That's what happened to Jesus. Although He led a life of unqualified good, He was persecuted and ultimately crucified by wicked people. And that's what happened to the apostles as well. They suffered and died because they did nothing more than follow Jesus' example. Jesus Himself said, "... Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you..." (John 15:20). Although persecution is evil, the Apostle Peter says that good will come from it. He says that you will be rewarded for it. In saying this, he was alluding to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." (Matthew 5:10). Further, the Apostle Paul promised that "...God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). One might say that good is going to be returned to the good person – no matter what. Since good is going to be returned to you no matter what, there is no reason to worry or be afraid of the threats of the persecutors. When it happens, don't let it get the better of you. Instead, do what Jesus said to do. "Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven..." (Matthew 5:12). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJob 26, 27, 28 Job 26 -- Job Declares the Greatness of God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 27 -- Job Affirms His Own Righteousness; The wicked Will be Cursed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 28 -- Wisdom Is Harder to Obtain than Earth's Treasures NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 11 Acts 11 -- Peter's Defense in Jerusalem; The Church at Antioch NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.Insight People were flocking to hear Jesus preach and to have their diseases healed, but Jesus made sure he often withdrew to quiet, solitary places to pray. Challenge Many things clamor for our attention, and we often run ourselves ragged attending to them. Like Jesus, however, we should take time to withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.We must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and with Christ, if we are not in Christ. Beloved friend, are you trusting to Jesus only? If not, whatever you may have to mourn over on earth, you are not "suffering with Christ," and have no hope of reigning with him in heaven. Neither are we to conclude that all a Christian's sufferings are sufferings with Christ, for it is essential that he be called by God to suffer. If we are rash and imprudent, and run into positions for which neither providence nor grace has fitted us, we ought to question whether we are not rather sinning than communing with Jesus. If we let passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord's battles with the devil's weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not be surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as the result of sin, we must not dream that we are suffering with Christ. When Miriam spoke evil of Moses, and the leprosy polluted her, she was not suffering for God. Moreover, suffering which God accepts must have God's glory as its end. If I suffer that I may earn a name, or win applause, I shall get no other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite also that love to Jesus, and love to his elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the Spirit of Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search and see if we truly suffer with Jesus. And if we do thus suffer, what is our "light affliction" compared with reigning with him? Oh it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ, and such an honor to stand in the pillory with him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in present honor; but when the recompense is so eternal, so infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not take up the cross with alacrity, and go on our way rejoicing? Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,Acts 2:7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? Matthew 4:18,19 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. • And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, • so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. John 15:16,5 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. • "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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