Meditation - Sunday 17 May 2020
Pastor - Rev. Elroy Christopher: First Moravian Church of Georgia
THE GOOD WE ARE CALLED TO DO
Text: 1st Peter 3: 13 - 22
In Reflecting on this passage, keep in mind that Peter addressed this letter to God’s elect, Christians in Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who were suffering persecution because of their faith. (1 Peter 1:1).
Peter encouraged them to emulate the sufferings of Christ, even as they suffered severe persecution. He made the point that having suffered and died, Christ rose from death victoriously, so that they too would inherit that place that Christ secured for them, and indeed for all Christians.
Peter encouraged the Christian community that though they were suffering persecution, they were to maintain their faith and manner of living with attributes such being mental readiness, obedience, holiness, calmness, and emotional control.
It is in this context that he poses the question, who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
Doing good here is not simply mean acts of kindness or generosity but it means maintaining a lifestyle fashioned after that of Jesus, while interacting with both friend and foe alike. To be clear, doing good does not in itself lead to Christ-like living or holiness. It is Christ-like living or holiness that lead to doing good. And that is what is required of God’s people, God’s elect.
Christ like living and doing good did not then, and does not now, mean immunity from persecution or suffering, but whenever we act in the name of and Christ and for his sake, with a firm faith in him even against persecution, the result will be a blessing.
What is required is not always an easy thing. It certainly was not easy for 1st century Christians because of the severity of the persecution they had to endure. You see, they were regarded as a movement wanting to take down the authorities of the day. They were wrongly accused of all sorts of things. The truth is that the authorities were fearful because of they knew how they were oppressing the people.
Here is a call to be steadfast in faith, not fearful; a call to be ready to defend the faith, not with any acts of violence but by reasoning, and persuasion; a call to be respectful of each other and those in authority; a call to so live that the conscience will be clear, and that there could be nothing of which to be ashamed.
Today, Christians still face persecution, which In some instances can be just as terrible as it was for those to whom Peter wrote this letter. In other instances, persecution is very subtle. What is more, it is sometimes carried out in the name of Christianity and that is troubling.
However, Peter’s message encourages us not to succumb to the forces that may seek to harm us or destroy the faith of God’s elect, even when the struggles are so intense that it seems the only option or the way out is to give in.
I remind us that as Moravian Church we have the examples of men like John Hus, who was burnt at the stake while chanting “Christ, Thou Son of the Living God, have mercy on me; Michael Bradacius, who was thrown into a dungeon, or brother Jacob Chulava who was also burnt at the stake. (The latter two names are probably not as familiar as that of Hus) These along and many others suffered for the sake of Christ, yet their faith in Christ was not shaken by persecution and suffering, not even as they faced death. They understood what it meant to suffer for doing good rather than for doing evil.
Having that legacy is not enough. We too must stand firm in the faith and maintain the faith with a clear conscience, doing what we know to be right, and standing firm, knowing that God in Jesus Christ is with us. We are reminded in 1 john 4:4 that, greater is he that is in us than he who is in the world.
I encourage us all to reflect on these thoughts was we go through this week.
J. P. Hopps penned the hymn Father, lead me day by day. I quote stanzas 2 and 3 which I find to be appropriate in closing this meditation:
2. When in danger, make me brave; Make me know that thou canst save; Keep me safe by thy dear side;
Let me in thy love abide.
3. When I'm tempted to do wrong, Make me steadfast, wise, and strong; And when all alone I stand,
Shield me with thy mighty hand.
Remember also, the admonition of Paul written in Romans 12:17 : “ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”
May God bless and keep us all.