When believers face struggling, how are we to reply, and the way are we to like and look after each other within the midst of it? The apostle Peter addressed these issues as he wrote his first letter, reminding his readers to domesticate Christian character, love their enemies, commit themselves to doing good, and be ready to clarify their hope, all in view of Christ’s personal struggling on our behalf. As Alistair Begg explains within the sermon “Struggling for Doing Good,” for the Christian, struggling is inevitable—however how we endure it may well, by God’s grace, testify to God’s glory:
Peter isn’t writing in abstraction right here. “Haven’t any concern of them,” he says, “nor worry.” Certainly there are a selection of strains on this letter, as I’ve already mentioned, that should have value Peter to write down. “Haven’t any concern of them or worry.” Actually, Peter? You imply such as you didn’t have concern of these individuals who have been asking you the questions on whether or not you comply with Jesus or love Jesus or knew Jesus? Like whenever you didn’t have any concern when the girl says, “Certainly you’re considered one of his,” and on the third event, with fearful oaths, you mentioned, “No, I’m not a disciple of Jesus; I don’t know Jesus”?
Now, it’s this similar Peter who’s giving directions: “Haven’t any concern of them, nor worry, … in your hearts honor Christ … as holy, all the time … ready to make a protection to anybody who asks you.” In different phrases, as you face this struggling and as you reply in accordance with God’s plan, then it is going to be an event for individuals to say, “Why is it that you’ve responded in that approach? Are you able to inform me why it’s that although you’re going by this, as an alternative of you reviling, turning into spiteful, or no matter it could be, there’s a dimension to you that I don’t perceive? Are you able to please assist me perceive?”
… When, enabled by grace, we find yourself not fearing our opponents, we trigger them to be shocked and so forth. The setting could also be a courthouse. It might be a typical room. It might be a lab. It might be a golf course—no matter it could be. However Peter says, “Be sure you do that.”
