Living Hope - Suffering Well
Peter was known for urging early Christian exiles to live holy and Christlike lives in front of everyone, driving home the fact that the attitudes of our minds and hearts matter because they determine how we live, love, and act in every situation.
1 Peter 3
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Like-mindedness, Sympathy, and Humility
Being like-minded means sharing the same thoughts, attitudes, and thinking harmoniously with others. Care and empathy are needed to think harmoniously with others while suffering.
Being sympathetic means to suffer with or alongside of. Even if we aren’t suffering directly ourselves, it’s having empathy and compassion towards those who are. This requires spending time with them, listening to them, and caring for their needs.
Peter tells those who are suffering to be humble. It might feel out of place to tell slaves, oppressed, and persecuted people to be humble, but Peter encourages them to look beyond their current circumstances to see their future reality. They’re living for a future Kingdom.
Do not repay wrongs done to you by doing something wrong back.
Instead, Peter says to repay those who do you wrong with blessings. Peter tells us this is a calling, and our calling is to suffer as Jesus suffered. He did so without retaliation, defending Himself or His honor, but rather with blessing and forgiveness. One of Jesus’ last words as He was hanging on the cross was, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
We are given instructions here on how to live a life loving one another in spite of what is being thrown at us. It might be tough to hold our tongues when something negative is said about us or someone we love. Evil is around us daily, yet we are told not to repay evil with evil.
When was the last time someone insulted you and your first thought was to pray for that person and bless them? It’s not a natural response. It makes it hard to follow Peter’s words and not speak out of anger, frustration, or fear. It’s hard to think of the needs of others when we’re going through hard times ourselves.
It’s tempting to distance ourselves from those in need, knowing full well that engaging is going to cost us something.
People will even go as far as sacrificing money rather than comfort. That’s where these people were, and that’s the situation Peter is speaking into.
1 Peter 3
13 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 their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But 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, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Suffering Well
Suffering well is hard to do. People are drawn to others who show courage in the face of danger and determination when there’s seemingly no hope. For us, that is the evidence of our faith in Jesus. That’s why it’s important to suffer the way Jesus did.
People are going to ask about the hope in us, and we have to be able to share that it is because of Jesus. His strength, grace, and mercy are why we are able to suffer well. That doesn’t mean it is easy, but it does mean that we know we can suffer well with Him.
How we respond in times of suffering will be determined by our source of inner strength and determination.
Even when we don’t want to, it’s important to remember that God uses our suffering. Everyone has a breaking point. We eventually explode when we do it on our own or reach a boiling point. But again, Peter turns the attention back to Jesus.
1 Peter 3
18 For 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. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to 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, 21 and 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Jesus is our example of how to suffer well. Christ’s suffering was our rescue. He made the ultimate sacrifice to save us. That is our king who we serve and must glorify through our suffering.
Encouragement is found in suffering when we take the focus off ourselves and put it on the bigger picture.
Intentional Living
We have to be intentional to live Christ-like lives towards other people. Through our hurt and pain, the way we respond matters. It is what others see and it shows the world there is something we’re holding onto that goes beyond us, this life, and this world.
When someone hurts us, we have to be intentional with our Christ-like response because we represent not only ourselves but also our faith. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to the broken and hurting.
The results of living intentionally and responding to the suffering of others are incredible and beyond what people think can happen. And remember, this is temporary. We get so hung up on the small things that it’s often hard to see what suffering really is and what it’s for. The pain and suffering here on earth can be so hard but take comfort in knowing it won’t last forever.
But while we wait and during the suffering, what a difference the world would be if we approached it intentionally and showed sympathy and compassion to others in their suffering.
As you go through it, trust in Jesus, rely on Jesus, and share Jesus.
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons here or check out LHC Unplugged here.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter below or follow us on Instagram.
1 Peter 3
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Like-mindedness, Sympathy, and Humility
Being like-minded means sharing the same thoughts, attitudes, and thinking harmoniously with others. Care and empathy are needed to think harmoniously with others while suffering.
Being sympathetic means to suffer with or alongside of. Even if we aren’t suffering directly ourselves, it’s having empathy and compassion towards those who are. This requires spending time with them, listening to them, and caring for their needs.
Peter tells those who are suffering to be humble. It might feel out of place to tell slaves, oppressed, and persecuted people to be humble, but Peter encourages them to look beyond their current circumstances to see their future reality. They’re living for a future Kingdom.
Do not repay wrongs done to you by doing something wrong back.
Instead, Peter says to repay those who do you wrong with blessings. Peter tells us this is a calling, and our calling is to suffer as Jesus suffered. He did so without retaliation, defending Himself or His honor, but rather with blessing and forgiveness. One of Jesus’ last words as He was hanging on the cross was, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
We are given instructions here on how to live a life loving one another in spite of what is being thrown at us. It might be tough to hold our tongues when something negative is said about us or someone we love. Evil is around us daily, yet we are told not to repay evil with evil.
When was the last time someone insulted you and your first thought was to pray for that person and bless them? It’s not a natural response. It makes it hard to follow Peter’s words and not speak out of anger, frustration, or fear. It’s hard to think of the needs of others when we’re going through hard times ourselves.
It’s tempting to distance ourselves from those in need, knowing full well that engaging is going to cost us something.
People will even go as far as sacrificing money rather than comfort. That’s where these people were, and that’s the situation Peter is speaking into.
1 Peter 3
13 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 their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But 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, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Suffering Well
Suffering well is hard to do. People are drawn to others who show courage in the face of danger and determination when there’s seemingly no hope. For us, that is the evidence of our faith in Jesus. That’s why it’s important to suffer the way Jesus did.
People are going to ask about the hope in us, and we have to be able to share that it is because of Jesus. His strength, grace, and mercy are why we are able to suffer well. That doesn’t mean it is easy, but it does mean that we know we can suffer well with Him.
How we respond in times of suffering will be determined by our source of inner strength and determination.
Even when we don’t want to, it’s important to remember that God uses our suffering. Everyone has a breaking point. We eventually explode when we do it on our own or reach a boiling point. But again, Peter turns the attention back to Jesus.
1 Peter 3
18 For 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. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to 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, 21 and 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Jesus is our example of how to suffer well. Christ’s suffering was our rescue. He made the ultimate sacrifice to save us. That is our king who we serve and must glorify through our suffering.
Encouragement is found in suffering when we take the focus off ourselves and put it on the bigger picture.
Intentional Living
We have to be intentional to live Christ-like lives towards other people. Through our hurt and pain, the way we respond matters. It is what others see and it shows the world there is something we’re holding onto that goes beyond us, this life, and this world.
When someone hurts us, we have to be intentional with our Christ-like response because we represent not only ourselves but also our faith. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to the broken and hurting.
The results of living intentionally and responding to the suffering of others are incredible and beyond what people think can happen. And remember, this is temporary. We get so hung up on the small things that it’s often hard to see what suffering really is and what it’s for. The pain and suffering here on earth can be so hard but take comfort in knowing it won’t last forever.
But while we wait and during the suffering, what a difference the world would be if we approached it intentionally and showed sympathy and compassion to others in their suffering.
As you go through it, trust in Jesus, rely on Jesus, and share Jesus.
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons here or check out LHC Unplugged here.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter below or follow us on Instagram.
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