BLESSED, NO MATTER WHAT

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

1 Peter 3:13-15a, 17

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Almost every day, I meet someone who asks me what is a common introductory question:

“How are you doing?”

In response to this, no matter how many times it might be asked even by the same person, is always this:

“I’m too blessed to be stressed.”

Through the years, the reactions to this statement have been wonderful and have included:

“I really like that!”

or

“I’m going to start using that myself.”

or

“That’s a great attitude to have!”

Now, I don’t want anyone to think I say this in any kind of clichéd way. I really mean what I say and I think this is why I find so many people responding in positive ways. For when we say things from the heart, and especially things that the Holy Spirit is at the center of, it will have an impact on the listener.

In the end translation, if we really sit back and think about it, we are truly blessed in life as believers in the Lord Most High, the One through which all things are possible. And in Him, we have all we could ever ask for and all we could ever need, so much so that we need not have any worries or stresses, no matter what we are going through, for He is in control.

It’s this truth that we find at the center of our passage for today as we continue our study of 1 Peter, chapter 3. Look again at these words here:

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Vv. 13-15a

Here we find the scriptures speaking into the reality of our lives. It’s not always going to be great, is it?

Yes, there will be the really good times, the mountain top experiences that bring us to a place of rejoicing. And then there are the other times, the times when we will walk through the valleys of life, valleys where we go through hardship and difficulty. At times, mistreatment might come when we have done nothing wrong, even as a result of doing good.

Take missionaries for example. They leave the comfort and safety of their homes and travel abroad to places where the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs shared. These places are often dangerous and potentially life threatening. Like the Apostles of the New Testament, they are often attacked, beaten, imprisoned, and even murdered, all because they were doing something out of love for the very people who assaulted them.

It’s into these places that we find the Word of God speaking powerfully today, speaking words of encouragement to anyone who suffers for doing the right He wants for us to do. Note how He exhorts them to not be afraid, to see themselves as too blessed to be stressed all because they had the Lord with them and for them. All that was needed was to “revere Christ as Lord” in their hearts.

Friends, the same is true today. The true way to peace, to be blessed no matter what comes our way, is to hold the Lord in our lives right where He is, in complete authority with a love for His beloved children. To gain it, all we need to do is live out the words found in Philippians 4:6-7 where we find this:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.