Jesus leads the way to doing good
In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. This posture toward Jesus fortifies us for all kinds of trouble. Peter knew the difference upholding Jesus as Lord in the heart can make. Peter knew the moments when things didn’t go well for him by his own failure; he knew those moments when his heart had lost courage. But he also knows now the power of Christ risen from the dead in his life.
So it is with complete confidence that he calls out to the followers of Jesus to not give into the pressure to comprise the life-giving press against the death and decay of the world. Who can really harm you in your life is in Christ? Who can really harm if your soul is secure in Him? Jesus has conquered death! He is at the right hand of His Father in heaven in which all powers are in submission to Him.
Setting apart Christ as Lord.
To trust in Him we must see His glory outweighing all we fear to bear. To not trust is do with fear. To be controlled by fear is to not be secure in the love of Christ. So take the time, carve out the space in your day, even now to “set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts.” Lay your affections, dreams, ambitions, and fears before Him. He will fortify your soul!
1 Peter 3:13-22; NIV
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.