By Clay Anthony
The Endurance of Our Hope • 1 Peter 3:8-17
If we commissioned a poll to ask everyone on earth if they are hopeful, what do you think the results would be? We are bombarded daily with an endless cycle of bad news. People are hurting. Questions concerning health to school to stock markets to college football all are going unanswered. It would not be too long of a stretch to say that many people, if asked, would not be categorized as hopeful. Peter’s audience (1:1) were believers spread out over Asia Minor. Their new faith had put them at odds with their government (Rome) and the prevalent religion (Judaism). Peter had heard the promise in John 16:33. All followers of Christ can expect trouble. His readers, nor believers today, do not get a pass when it comes to suffering. We see the same news cycle as the rest of the planet, yet we hold to the encouragement of 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Hopeless is not a Christian idea. Peter gives three reasons why this is true.
We are called. Verse eight lists five virtues toward which believers are to strive. These are words of doing. These are actions that should be on display in a Christians life. Our minds and our hearts are to be turned towards the world that is lost in hopelessness. The opposite is true in verse nine. These are actions that must never involve a Christian. These actions center on payback or avenging wrongs. You will note the verb “bless” in this verse. We are to bless others. When they hurt us. Bless them. We they are against us. Bless them. This is what we are called to do. Verses 10-12 are quotes from Psalm 34. Each verse proves Peter’s point. God is always watching and listening for those who strive for peace and for those who are working evil.
We are carried. Living a life of obedience to Christ guarantees trouble (John 16:33). Speaking the truth, even in love, can be misconstrued. Actions we take to minister to others can be misunderstood as self-promoting. How are we supposed to follow the Bible in a world set against it? Why does obeying Jesus seem to always lead to trouble? Peter’s answer in verses 13-14 seems almost too simple. In short, what can they really do you? Who can harm you for doing good? Yes, there can be trouble and that can also lead to suffering but ultimately nothing can happen to the believer. All suffering here is temporary. Peter wants believers to have an eternal perspective when it comes to life on earth. Whatever a Christian has to go through here, the arms of Christ are carrying them through it.
We are commissioned. We have work to do and lives to live. As we do this we are to display hope. If asked why we are so hopeful in a hopeless world, we are to be ready to defend our reason to hope. That is the heart of verse 15. The original word for defense is apologize. No, do not think that we are to be sorry for believing like we do. This is a legal term used in courtrooms every day. You stand accused of being hopeful. Why? That is the question. What makes your life far different in 2020 than what is reported on the news? It may be that such questions even come in the form of slander (verse 16). Those without hope are looking for something in which to hope. We have that knowledge. We have that work before us. Rest assured, regardless of what the any newsperson reports, Jesus will see His commission work accomplished. Lottie Moon summed up Christian hope best by saying, “I am immortal until my work is done.”
Please church, spread hope.
Anthony is director of the Collaborative Missionary Network, Oxford/Holly Springs.
