SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 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. [1 Peter 3:8-9]
This is one of those passages that leads many to deny christianity.
The idea that anyone should submit to others sounds cruel and abusive.
And to be fair, much abuse has occurred under the banner of this text.
But what is Peter (and Paul) saying here?
This is NOT teaching the second-class status of women, but how Jesus-followers are to win over others to Jesus.
Through humility, godliness, inner beauty, respect, submission.
Submission can be seen as a special assignment (mission) from God to go beneath (sub) others in order to lift them up to God.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:24-28]
Going beneath others is hardly appealing to worldly people, but Jesus followers understand this as the way of Jesus, the way of healing and hope.
Jesus’ mission was to go beneath us in order to lift us up.
And we are called to do the same… to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
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… [1 Peter 3:15]
There is only one Lord, one Master to Whom we must all submit.
Because He is our master, we willingly submit ourselves to others for His sake.
We serve Jesus by serving others, making Him attractive to others.
So that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of (believers), when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. [1 Peter 3:1-2]
With gentleness, respect, humility, purity and reverence (inner beauty) we draw others to Jesus and faith in Him.
To this we were called.
PRAYER:
Lord, I submit to You and to Your calling, to submit to others that they may be won to You. Make my life attractive to others, for Your sake.