Read 1 Peter 3:13-22

Read 1 Peter 3:13-22

13 Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry. ¹⁵But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honour him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, ¹⁶but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will be ashamed of what they say. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God’s will, than for doing evil. ¹⁸For Christ died^c for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, ¹⁹and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits. ²⁰These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat—eight in all—were saved by the water, ²¹which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing away of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone to heaven and is at the right-hand side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.

Think

Peter encourages us to live lives that win people over to faith in Jesus; but he also reminds us to be ready to 'answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you.'  Are you ready to explain the hope you have in Christ?

Pray

Lord; help me to be ready to give an account of the hope I have in you.

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¹⁴ 3.14: Mt 5:10
3.14, 15: Is 8:12, 13

¹⁵ 3.14: Mt 5:10
3.14, 15: Is 8:12, 13

^c died; many manuscripts have suffered.

²⁰ 3.20: Gn 6:1–7:24