Today’s Lent reading was from 1 Peter. I decided to read the whole book. Um... kicked my butt?! Yes. So, I thought I’d share it with you all. How do we live like this? Please share your thoughts.
The following is selective passages from 1 Peter chapters 2-4 from the Message Version.
“So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God.
For the untrusting it’s a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way. They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted....
BUT YOU are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you--from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in on the celebration when He arrives.
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
You who are servants, be good servants to your masters--not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts to God. This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came His way so that you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it step-by-step.
Summing it up: be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless---that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
-Say nothing evil or hurtful
-Snub evil and cultivate good
-Run after peace for all you’re worth
God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what He’s asked, but he turns his back on those who do evil things.
If with your heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through think and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master.
Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath.
Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him.
So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.”
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