1 Peter 3:8-22 NIV
[8] Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. [9] 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. [10] For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. [11] They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [13] Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? [14] But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.” [15] 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, [16] keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. [17] For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. [18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. [19] After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— [20] to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, [21] and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, [22] who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Dear God, there’s a lot here, and maybe I should have broken it into a couple of pieces, but I couldn’t find a good separation point. It all flowed together pretty well.

I guess what struck me about Peter as I read all of this is that Jesus was his personal, real life example. Jesus taught him personally to love Gentiles. Jesus taught him to do good in the face of evil. And Jesus taught him all of the things he asks us to do here.

So now, Peter is teaching us, but it’s important for us to teach others. We become the part of the fire that is asked to pass on the spark to another: “[15b] 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, [16] keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Father, I told my wife yesterday that I am feeling convicted that I let too many of these opportunities pass me by. Whether it’s with friends, family, coworkers, clients, or a stranger whom I can tell is in pain, I am often too timid to teach. So help me to remember to do this when you present me the opportunity and help me to do it with gentleness and respect. I don’t want to push anyone away from you because I am an arrogant fool. I just want to offer them a peace that they won’t understand until they have embraced your mercy and forgiveness.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen