Together in Christ: 'Ready to Share Our Hope!' — 1 Peter 3:13-17

Jesus challenged us with the following commands:

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." ^[1]

Jesus demonstrated His commitment to the redemptive principles He had taught when He prayed the following to the Father as He was crucified:

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. ^[2]

As Jesus' disciples, our goal is to follow Him and become increasingly more like Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. ^[3] This means that we are a people of forgiveness and grace. ^[4] Our hearts align with Jesus' great desire to reach the world with the Good News of grace. ^[5] So like the apostle Paul, we do all we can to reach those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, ^[6] and demonstrating love and forgiveness for everyone gives us a basis on which we can build the efforts to reach others.

In our verses today. Peter reminded disciples in Asia Minor about being willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. He called them — and us along with them — to follow Jesus' example and teaching. Our character and behavior under trial and suffering can give us the opportunity to explain our hope in Jesus. We want the world to know that Jesus is the reason for our good deeds under criticism, grace under fire, and mercy toward those who abuse and oppress us. Our goal is to save those who mistreat us, not defeat them in an argument or see them defeated by death. Our response to their criticism and hostility is to share our hope "in a gentle and respectful way." This orientation toward our enemies and oppressors has great power to redeem and allows us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, Who was God's "Suffering Servant" Who redeemed the world through that suffering. ^[7] We are the people of God as we follow in the steps of our Savior and live into this role in the world to redeem the world.