13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.
15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
v. 13: - "who is going to harm you" - It would be foolish to think that the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be persecuted. If the savior was crucified for no earthly reason (having been falsely accused by the Jewish leaders, etc.), the followers are not better than He, and should not expect better treatment. They (the enemies of God) may kill you. But they cannot take away your eternal reward. Even Satan cannot harm your eternal soul. In Christ your new nature is untouchable.
It is important to understand that 'harm' here means harm to your soul. The body is part of the world, and will not be part of the new world. New earth, new bodies! No doubt this body can be 'harmed', but with respect to eternal matters, it is a little thing.
This is hard to grasp, maybe even causing you to recoil. "What!? I don't want to suffer! I especially don't want to suffer when I've done nothing wrong! I don't want to suffer when I have followed and believed Jesus Christ!" That will not save you from persecution. Read Hebrews 11. Satan and the world hates (HATES!) the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers. Satan and his minions (including people, not just devils) will do all sorts of evil in order to crush the church. See: Matt. 5:11; Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4; 21:12; John 15:20; Prov. 16:7; Rom. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:20.
v. 14: - "suffer for doing what is right" - You may be persecuted, but not for the reason you might expect - righteousness. Beware of the righteousness of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20). See: 1 Pet.2:20. He approved of real righteousness (doing what is right in the eyes off the Lord, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, staying in His will). God will bless us if we suffer persecution due to that righteousness. We need not fear those who persecute us. If (when) we are the Lord's, they can only hurt our physical bodies. See: Matt. 10:28; Rom. 8:38, 39. As Christians, death holds no power over us. Don't be fooled. Dying a physical death may be gruesome, or painful, horrible. It is the 'second death', eternal separation from God that is to be feared. We may dread the process of dying, but death itself is powerless - we are the Lord's we will go to be with Him.
Why is that death powerless over us? Because Jesus has already died that death, and was resurrected. We are in Christ and as such, we share His death and resurrection. We do not suffer the separation from God - Christ did that. To read a really good explanation of this, see "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee (an older book, written in 1957).
v. 15: - "set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts" - Give Christ the most holy place in your life. Campus Criusade for Christ described it as 'putting Christ on the throne of your life'. We have a living hope within us. We are called to hope and receive a blessing. Be ready and willing at all times to counsel with and explain to anyone who asks us about the hope we have. See: Col 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:2.
"Always be ready" - But we must share in love, and be gentle, have (show) respect for those we talk to. Belittle no one. If you just bought a new car, and it is the best car you have ever driven, don't you want to share that with others? If you just moved to a new neighborhood, and the people are friendly, and the homes great - don't you want to share that information with others? If your favorite football team has just won an amazing game - don't you want to share with others? Your faith in Christ is the same, only much, much better. A new car does not give you peace with God. A new home and neighborhood does not break the domination of sin in your life. A football win does not give eternal joy.
v. 16: - "may be put to shame" - We may suffer for righteousness sake. If so, be prepared to defend the hope we have, but with gentleness; and always remain pure, so that the revilers do not have anything on us, and thereby they will be ashamed. The number one accuser is Satan. He is defeated by Christ's resurrection. Anything with which he might attempt to slander you to God is met by Jesus saying, "He is mine", or "She is mine." All accusations cease!
In this world, we may be accused by enemies of Jesus. Be sure your behavior is done with clear and clean conscience. In this way, others can be your rebuttal witness, and testify on your behalf. A crowd of witnesses saying, "Those things can't be true. I know this person. I've seen this person work and live." The false accusations will be thrown back in the slanderer's face. Don't gloat about this. Give God the glory that your life is a light in the world. He has empowered you, it is to His honor and reputation that praise may be given.
v. 17: - "than for doing evil" - There can be no glory for us if we are suffering, and deserve it! This is a very clear statement that all may not be sweetness and light for the Christian. God may put you in a position, situation, or location in which you will be persecuted for your faith. God has promised that we will not be forced to bear more than we can endure. If we are not experiencing suffering: we either are (1) not witnessing for Christ, or (2) He knows we cannot withstand very much. Please do not use the latter as an excuse. If God has placed you there, He knows you can do it. He knows what you need, and will suppply it, when needed. Corrie ten Boom said as much in her memoir "The Hiding Place".
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