Eastertide
May 14, 2020
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 3:13-22
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. –1 Peter 3:13-17
The definition of the Greek word agathos1 translated here as “good” is “good.” It is recommended for use when trying to describe something that is: intrinsically good, good in nature, good whether it be seen to be so or not, the widest and most colorless of all words with this meaning. 1 Merriam-Webster wrote several pages trying to describe the word “good.”2
The word “right” used in the scripture above:1343 /dikaiosýnē (“divine approval”) is the regular NT term used for righteousness (“God’s judicial approval”). 1343 /dikaiosýnē (“the approval of God”) refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in His eyes.3
What happens when others do not deem what we are doing as either good or right in the eyes of God? Greed quickly closes people’s minds to what is good for anyone else but themselves. Greed results in injustice in the eyes of God. We are seeing a lot of that going on in our world today.
We are called to be people functioning under the example set by Jesus Christ. The popular phrase started a few years ago, “What would Jesus Do” has more significance than a wristband fad. According to the Pew Forum 70.6% of USA citizens identify as Christians. A number that is rapidly declining4. We, however, are houses divided not even able to recognize the validity of the varying tenets we follow. Our discord is driving people from the faith.
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. –2 Chronicles 7:14
Once we have sought God’s forgiveness and guidance, we need to find those issues on which we do agree and start the rebuilding now.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our self-righteousness in our service to you and guide us in learning how to live like Jesus in selfless-righteousness. Amen.
1https://biblehub.com/str/greek/18.htm
2https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/good
3https://biblehub.com/str/greek/1343.htm
4https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.