Living a Godly Life

As I was preparing yesterday to teach the Jr. High Small Groups at Church, God showed me this passage and it summed up every thing we were talking about. Being a Christian is wonderful but it's not easy and we were never promised it would be easy. In fact if it was easy we really wouldn't have the relationship with God that we have now. It's through the struggles that we grow closer to God. In this passage Peter is telling us how a Christian should act and it calls for some hard things. I hope this passage blesses you as much as it has blessed me in the past 24 hours!

1 Peter 3:8-17 (New Living Translation)

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!