When the Fear of Tomorrow Stalks

Click Here to Listen to the Sunday, October 3, 2010 Sermon by Pastor Chip Moody


Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 3:13-22

“When Fear of Tomorrow Stalks”     

10/3/2010

The apostle Peter, writing to a people persecuted for being followers of Jesus, gives a thoroughly un-American piece of advice to his readers.  Rather than telling them to fight back, sue-the-%&#@!, or stage a demonstration, he calls them to a curiously Jesus-like sort of response.

Peter articulates the Jesus-like response in four parts.

First:  Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.  Instead, in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.

Many people who have received the grace of God through Christ have unfortunately not submitted to his teachings and commands. They enjoy salvation from sin, but they themselves are trying to be lord of their own life. This passage says that fear of tomorrow, fear of circumstances, fear uncertainty, can only be overcome when we bow before the wisdom and authority of Jesus. It allows us to agree with the Psalmist: 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil because HE IS WITH ME. (Ps. 23)

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? (Ps. 56:4) 

Second:  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.

May I harp for a moment? You know why Christians don’t share their faith more?  Because the way they   have been taught by churches to do it is rude and obnoxious and people don’t want to be rude and obnoxious.  Peter tells us to “stay prepared” to give an answer for why we live like we do.  I don’t think most Christians stay prepared.  But I hope the ones that do caught that last bit of the verse: But do this with gentleness and respect.

Third:  Keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

To keep a good conscience means that the way I live must match the Jesus I serve. Nothing harms our message of Jesus’ good news more than a life grossly inconsistent with that message.  There are always critics who will look for cracks in our obedience and call us hypocrites.  But most people aren’t expecting you to be perfect, just consistent.  When we sin against someone we take responsibility, repent of our sin, ask for their forgiveness.  When we utter word of hurt or disrespect, we confess our fault to the one we have hurt and to others who have witnessed the hurt.  It’s ALL about humility.

Fourth: Be willing, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

If you are reviled and rejected, and insulted, even fired, or punched, or persecuted, you must maintain your good conscience.  Do not pay back evil for evil, Jesus said.           It is better to suffer for doing good.  Better than what?  Better than denying your values by ignoring the will of God by doing evil, by retaliating, by fighting fire with fire when what is needed are the cooling waters of grace.

If I were to sum up the lesson from all four of these admonitions the summary would sound like this:  I can find peace in fearful times by practicing humble obedience.  In this you will be blessed, but most important of all, the glory will go to God.  To him alone be the praise and glory.