You Are Blessed

1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
 
PETER has been instructing the churches throughout Asia Minor. He is a pastor, a minister of God’s gospel, to help these new believers understand how to live into their new faith each day. God has set them apart to inherit his blessing of eternal life. Peter explains throughout his letter how each Christian is to live a new life in Jesus Christ.
   Now he begins to encourage them to stand in faith amid the threat of persecution. As he has urged them to pursue peace, he extends that with instruction to live well amid people who oppose their faith. As they live into Jesus’ teachings, they could suffer for what is right. What are they to do?
   Peter urges them to remember you are blessed. He teaches them to focus on the ways God has given each believer the joy of being a child of God. But, still, this is very difficult when fear of persecution can dominate one’s mind.  
   That’s why Peter encourages them, “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” This is the Lord God’s encouragement spoken first in Isaiah 8:12-14a “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, 14 and he will be a sanctuary.”  
   Peter was not merely speaking words. He knew the challenge to faithful living amid continual opposition. This was his life. And one thing we seldom consider is that Peter was married. He certainly experienced the real challenges of a loving husband who needed to protect his wife from those who opposed Jesus and opposed him. She was at risk because she was a Christian and married to one of the church’s leaders.
   Peter, then was teaching from his own experiences standing against opposition. The only thing to do amid persecution is to remain faithful to Jesus. In that faith we are to consider the extraordinary, eternal blessing of Jesus calling us “brother” and “sister” – to be a child of the living God.
   Countless people throughout the ages and millions around the world today live under such threats to their safety because Jesus is their Lord. Their faithful testimony amid the persecution is that they have kept their eyes on God’s blessings.
   What do you do when people object to Jesus and even ridicule your faith? Do you remain silent and hope they’ll go away? Or do you stand in the sanctuary of your faith? Do you know God has called you to stand for him because he, the holy one, is standing with you? He has hung on a cross, so you will have an enduring faith throughout your life. No one can take your eternal blessing. Be eager and joyful to do good for Jesus.