how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, – Acts 20:20 ESV

GREEK
ὑπεστειλάμην/hypesteilamēn: retreat, go backward

CONSIDER
Psychologist Theo Tsaousides has been quoted as saying “Being fearless doesn’t mean eliminating fear. It means knowing how to leverage fear.” If there was anyone in the New Testament that embodied this quote, it was the apostle Paul. Once he started following Jesus, he was beaten, whipped, stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked. And yet his legacy of sharing the grace of God in a lost and dark world was unrivaled in the first century. Paul was able to trust Jesus with his life to such a degree that he could say “I did not hypesteilamēn(retreat, go backward) from declaring to you anything that was profitable.” Even though Paul faced things that were challenging, scary, and downright intimidating, he did not let his circumstances justify a retreat from the mission at hand. As you spend time this week contemplating your life’s calling, it’s likely you will experience circumstances that will frighten or unnerve you. May we declare in those moments that, like Paul, nothing will cause us to hypesteilamēn from the purposes of God!

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How will I finish Paul’s sentence? My life is worth nothing to me unless I…

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except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. – Acts 20:23 ESV

GREEK
διαμαρτύρεταί/diamartyretai: provides irrefutable evidence

CONSIDER
The emergence of DNA testing has changed much of how society functions. From criminal evidence to confirming ancestry, the gap between certainty and doubt as humans piece their story together has been bridged in many cases. In the past 5 years (since 2018), at least 28 cold cases have been solved using genetic testing and DNA evidence. And yet, there are those who would say they are still not convinced that this technology is foolproof. “There’s no such thing as a sure thing” seems to be the anthem of our suspicious society. When confronted with evidence from DNA samples, some people will even filter the data through their doubt.
Irrefutable evidence seems to be harder to come by in an increasingly skeptical world. But one safe source of evidence has always been the Holy Spirit! He was present at creation (Gen. 1:2) and has been sent by the Father to instruct and remind us of Jesus’ words (John 14:26). So when the Holy Spirit diamartyretai (provides irrefutable evidence while giving a testimony [as in court]) to Paul that imprisonment and affliction await him, the apostle didn’t have to wonder what his future held. This Greek verb was used in court to describe the final piece of evidence that determined the verdict of the judge. The more trustworthy and respected the person is who diamartyretai in this setting, the more irrefutable the evidence. Paul trusted the Spirit to be active “behind the seen” and be right about his testimony, and was able to still proceed with his mission. Rather than allow bad news to derail his work, Paul leaned in and entrusted his life to the One who gave his life for him. So while our world may believe there are no guarantees in life, we can put our faith on display by living differently and taking God at his trustworthy word.

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How will I finish Paul’s sentence? My life is worth nothing to me unless I…

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But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. – Acts 20:24 ESV

GREEK
τιμίαν/timian: costly, valued

CONSIDER
Cleveland Guardians ace pitcher Shane Bieber is no stranger to mistaken identity. Sharing a surname with one of the most famous musical acts in the world will do that. So when a misprint in Shane’s 2019 Topps Stadium Club card referred to him as Justin, he saw the humor. He posted a picture of the error on Twitter, which led to Justin Bieber to comment on it, which caused the card to gain brief national recognition. Collectors sold authenticated versions of Bieber’s card for hundreds of dollars on Ebay before the market cooled a bit. Today, the card is more valuable for the story it carries with it than the statistics and skill it represents.
The interesting thing about the concept of value is that it’s not necessarily universal. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder;” therefore the cost of a thing is often determined on an individual basis. Our life’s purpose is no exception, and in Acts 20:24 we see Paul articulate what he places value on above all else. He tells his friends in the Ephesian church that he doesn’t consider his life timian(costly, valued) unless he finished his course of ministry and told others about the grace of God. To Paul, this ministry added so much value to his life that anything else – from accomplishments to trials – seemed insignificant by comparison. He pursued this mission with everything he had, even declaring that every sacrifice was worth the struggle (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Make no mistake, the story you carry with you is far more valuable than the sum of your stats and skills. When contemplating your own life’s purpose, remember that no error, flaw, or failure can keep God from seeing you as timian. You were so valuable to him that he gave his only Son Jesus to take your rightful place on the cross. And now we are free to see everything else as worthless compared to leaning into the mission he has in store for us!

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How will I finish Paul’s sentence? My life is worth nothing to me unless I…

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Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear  – 1 Peter 3:3 ESV

GREEK
ἔξωθεν/exōthen: the outside layer of something

CONSIDER
One of the most incredible names in the animal kingdom belongs to a bug called the diabolical ironclad beetle. As impressive as its moniker is, the most remarkable thing about this insect is its exoskeleton. It can withstand compression forces of about 39,000 times its body weight; that would be like a 200 lb person being able to tolerate 7.8 million pounds of pressure! But the outside of the diabolical ironclad beetle only serves the function of protecting what is on the inside. Its appearance, features, and even its named identity all center around the beetle’s external layer, but the fragile inner layer is what matters most. When it gets too old to “hunt” for food sources it dies of starvation or dehydration, hazards that even the toughest exoskeleton couldn’t avoid.
Behind the Seen. Sometimes the best things in life happen in places where they can go unnoticed. Like when Peter warns not to let your adorning be exōthen (external, composed of the outer layer), he was actually warning those he loved not to put all of their energy into making others see a false version of you. As we learned Sunday, it is not a sin to wear your hair a certain way or to own jewelry. Peter simply tells us that when the exōthen commands more time and attention than you give your soul, the real you suffers. Thankfully, even though this is a universal problem, Jesus died to reshape our identity from the inside out. By conferring the breastplate of his righteousness to us in exchange for our flimsy version of goodness (Eph. 6:14), Jesus both recreates and protects the very heart that at one time considered him an enemy.

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Who do I need to treat differently as a result of the Gospel?

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but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. – 1 Peter 3:4 ESV

GREEK
ἡσυχίου/hēsychiou: tranquil, peaceful

CONSIDER
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

– It is Well With My Soul by Horatio Spafford

Widely considered one of the most important hymns ever written, the lyrics to “It is Well With My Soul” have encouraged and strengthened people across the world. The message is universally identifiable: regardless of the painful experiences of our lives, we can allow our souls to rest in the truth that Jesus has done something about it. Horatio Spafford eloquently reminds us through his song that there is peace in focusing on Christ’s work above our current reality.
This is the type of mindset that Peter is expressing in this week’s pericope. He tells us that God considers it precious when these wives display the imperishable beauty of a gentle and hēsychiou (tranquil, peaceful) spirit. Of course, it might be easy to assume that this first-century patriarch is telling women within the Christian community to be subdued and soft-spoken, but hēsychiou actually carries with it the opposite implication. It took courage to remain tranquil while going against the flow of culture as a Christian, and these women were brave enough to exemplify the heart of Sarah in a heartless world. A life set apart for Jesus meant that they would not experience smooth sailing through the storms of life, and yet their tranquility was evident through it all. Though trials should come, by trusting God to work behind the seen, we too can showcase the counter-cultural quietness that impacts people, even in our most helpless estate.

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Who do I need to treat differently as a result of the Gospel?

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but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. – 1 Peter 3:4 ESV

GREEK
πολυτελές/polyteles: extremely expensive

CONSIDER
What makes something valuable? Economists will tell us that the concept of value boils down to two elements: how much a thing is needed, and how rare that thing is. To get a better understanding of this truth, think back to how much value we placed on toilet paper in the spring of 2020! When something is simultaneously hard to come by and impossible to live without, it is considered to be very precious. So when Peter tells us what God considers polyteles (extremely expensive) we are forced to take notice. Is there anything that he would consider hard to come by and impossible to live without? For Peter, the answer is a gentle and quiet spirit. As referenced in our last devotion, this does not mean possessing a spirit that is timid and reserved but one that is able to patiently endure the storms of life. The wives that are being referenced in Peter’s letter have a spirit that unapologetically trusts God in the midst of cultural and spiritual challenges. God finds this attitude polyteles in part because it is necessary to have if we want to properly impact the world we live in. In today’s society more than ever, it is easy to mistake a relationship with God for a ticket to a charmed life. But those who refuse to succumb to the enemy of their souls and allow gentleness and quietness to mark that battle will stand out in a world of noise and shifting ideals. The gospel reminds us that we don’t have to strive to win God’s approval – Jesus has done that work for us! By putting our trust on display, we offer up something that even the God of the universe considers to have great worth.

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Who do I need to treat differently as a result of the Gospel?

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Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. – 1 Peter 3:8 ESV

GREEK
εὔσπλαγχνοι/eusplanchnoi: living with deep-seated empathy toward someone; Lit. good guts

CONSIDER
Where do emotions originate? Are they generated by our head, or like the popular phrase suggests, do they come from the heart? The answer is likely from both places. Biological researchers in Finland have created a chart called the Body Atlas, designed to illustrate where our different emotions begin. Surprisingly, the data reveals that emotional signatures in various body parts are culturally universal, meaning emotions are linked to our biological systems. For example, emotions that we often consider to be negative (sadness, envy, contempt) were universally concentrated in our head and limbs, while emotions like love and happiness had their most prominent signature in our chest and gut. It turns out that when it comes to enjoying life and loving people, we’re most authentically happy when we love from our gut!
The apostle Peter also suggests that as Christians we should love from within. He asks his readers to have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, eusplanchnoi (deep-seated empathy), and a humble mind. This Greek adjective literally means to have good guts! In other words, when we sense God’s call to care for and bless those around us, we should never be satisfied with surface-level, hollow acts of compassion. Jesus’ work on the cross made it possible for us to drop our excuses to treat others with a love that originates from deep within. And when we make loving decisions with eusplanchnoi we are actually leaning into the way our creator designed us to care for people. So as we consider this week’s application, let’s avoid the temptation to take the path of least resistance, and instead go with our gut!

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One way I will commit to bless someone is by:

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Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:9 ESV

GREEK
τοὐναντίον/tounantion: not obvious to the untrained eye; illogically

CONSIDER
The typical thesaurus will show that the opposite of logical is the word unreasonable. Although at face value this seems to makes sense, depending on one’s personality this actually might be hard to hear. It’s true that in our culture many of us take pride in our ability to base our decisions in steady and stable logic; however others feel that this approach seems to take all emotion out of the equation. But whether you’re guided by logic or emotion, one thing remains true: no one hopes to make unreasonable choices! We believe we are making a proper decision, and can justify it with either our heads or our hearts.
This juxtaposition is what Peter is communicating with his use of the phrase “tounantion (illogically, on the other hand) bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” He conveys that when we are reviled or experience evil committed against us, the logical thing would be to make the offending party pay for what they’ve done. But as Christians, we have been called to bless others in situations such as these! When we do, it will seem illogical and perhaps even unreasonable. But the promise that comes with the decision to do so is that we will inherit a blessing. Through a natural lens it makes more sense to hurt those who hurt us, but choosing tounantion to bless instead will model the heart of the One who died in the place of sinners so that sinners could experience the blessing of eternity with him.​

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One way I will commit to bless someone is by:

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let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. – 1 Peter 3:11 ESV

GREEK
διωξάτω/diōxatō: chase after with all haste; hunt down

CONSIDER
There’s an old hiking joke that goes like this: “When you meet a bear in the woods, you don’t have to be faster than her, you just have to be faster than your hiking partner.” We typically think of animals hunting in terms of a predator chasing down their prey, but that’s not the only way they pursue their next meal. Often referred to as persistence hunting, some predators use their stamina to slowly but methodically wear down their prey. They pursue their target at a relatively slow pace, but they continue the chase for so long that the prey eventually grows too weary to go any further.
Sometimes the things worth chasing after don’t come easily. Today’s verse reveals that peace is one of those things, and that it isn’t enough to simply seek peace, but we must also diōxatō (chase after with all haste; hunt down) it. This word suggests that peace isn’t obtained by living our life and passively wishing for something to change. Peace must be diōxatō, or actively hunted for. We are all well aware that peace is elusive in our world, and that many cultural strategies to achieve it fall far short of what we need. But because Jesus is the Prince of Peace, when we are willing to pursue him we are also pursuing the source of the very thing our souls crave. Don’t give up if the work to diōxatō peace turns into a persistence hunt – Peter promises the reward will be worth the effort!

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One way I will commit to bless someone is by:

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? – 1 Peter 3:13 ESV

GREEK
ζηλωταὶ/zēlōtai: a person who boils over with passion

CONSIDER
At Centerway, one of our Because and Therefore statements goes like this:
Because God gave us everything we value GENEROSITY therefore we are open-handed and happily go above and beyond with our time, our talent, and our treasure. We steward our spiritual gifts and serve. We are contributors not consumers.
When our kindness can be described as open-handed and done happily, there won’t be much that other people can say negatively about us. Of course, there will always be a person or two who finds fault in any situation, but as a general rule, generosity is tough to criticize. With this in mind, we can see a richness to the Greek noun that Peter uses in today’s verse. He asks, “who is there to harm you if you are zēlōtai (a person who boils over with passion) for what is good?” By using zēlōtai, he defines what a person who is passionate for what is good looks like. It’s likely that every person on the planet would describe themselves as someone who wants good to win out. But a zēlōtai is a person whose passion boils over into action. There is no question about whether they are generous because their passion for kindness is evidenced by the things they do. What are you passionate about? What are the things that boil over into action for all to see, even when doing so costs you everything? When we’ve been changed by the gospel, our generosity is simply a reflection of the life-changing generosity that Jesus displayed by leaving his Heavenly throne for us. And because of his work, we can offer every part of our story back to Christ so that others can see the grace of God on display.

APPLY
Write out your story.
(before the gospel… accepting the gospel… living the gospel)

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,  – 1 Peter 3:14 ESV

GREEK
ταραχθῆτε/tarachthēte: be put in motion, be shaken back and forth

CONSIDER
If you find it tough to work out two days in a row, imagine balancing on a platform for 37 consecutive years! That’s what Simeon the Stylite did in the 5th Century as a way to connect to God. As an ascetic, Simeon hoped to show his devotion through acts that required humility and discomfort, but as he gained notoriety, he found himself constantly barraged with requests for prayer and advice. The more he interacted with people, the more he felt distracted from God and troubled by their opinions. Noticing a 10-foot pillar that had remained upright amidst the ruins of an old building, Simeon climbed to the top and remained there for more than three decades until his death in 459. People traveled from all over the Roman Empire to see what is required to live out one’s day on a 1-square meter platform. Simeon tried his best to physically remove himself from the pain associated with people and their judgments.
Living on top of that pillar may have demanded a lot out of Simeon, but make no mistake, it didn’t mean that he had escaped trouble. In fact, just about all of us understand firsthand that our outward appearance doesn’t always match our inner reality. Peter touches on this concept when he tells us to not be afraid of those who mistreat us for our righteous living, nor to tarachthēte (be put in motion, be shaken back and forth). When we face this kind of persecution, it may be tempting to reject people altogether and move toward an easier, more solitary path. But the Greek verb Peter uses to describe trouble paints the picture of a stationary object being uprooted from its position. Our spiritual enemy would love nothing more than to cause you to tarachthēte from the path you are on toward a pursuit of righteousness. He not only wants to shake you back and forth internally, he hopes your persecution will lead you away from caring for others. Only as we root our identity on the solid rock of Christ’s work, will we be able to suffer for righteousness and yet stand firm in showing compassion and righteousness.

APPLY
Write out your story.
(before the gospel… accepting the gospel… living the gospel)

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. – 1 Peter 3:16 ESV

GREEK
ταραχθῆτε/syneidēsin: persisting notion; co-perception

CONSIDER
Many know Saint Patrick as the patron saint of Ireland, whose death is memorialized by eating, drinking, and marching in parades. But before he was Patrick: Ireland’s favorite son, he was Maewyn: enslaved teenager from Britain. He was captured by Irish raiders as a 16-year-old and forced to tend sheep in a remote part of the island. Maewyn was alone and afraid in a strange land, and yet God used the six years he was held in captivity to draw him closer to his side. He escaped his captors and returned home, and yet he sensed compassion growing inside him for the Gaelic people. History celebrates his decision to return to the very people who had kidnapped him in order to share the love of Jesus with them. The man who would come to be known as Saint Patrick had developed such an intimacy with God that he trusted him to provide through one of the toughest assignments imaginable.
Of the many myths connected to Patrick, we are likely to buy into one of the most dangerous. It is easy to believe that Patrick was a Lone Ranger figure, boldly returning to Ireland on his own and single-handedly converting a dark, pagan land to the light of Christ. But the truth is, Patrick was not only sent out and trained by the church, part of his mission seemed to include encouraging Christians already living in Ireland. Most importantly, Patrick was attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit and was led by God’s prompting. His life illustrates Peter’s desire for us to have a good syneidēsin(persistent notion; co-perception) when reviled. We may really want to let our emotions drive our decisions when people slander us, but instead, Peter urges us to have co-perception. This means that we should be directed by both our moral and spiritual intuition. What will that look like specifically within our story? Much like Patrick, we will allow the Spirit of God to speak to and lead us in ways that may not be comfortable or easy, but will be worth the risk every time.

APPLY
Write out your story.
(before the gospel… accepting the gospel… living the gospel)

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, – 1 Peter 3:18 ESV

GREEK
ἀδίκων/adikōn: those in breach of divine justice

CONSIDER
At exactly 5:24 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2023, Spring will officially begin in the northern hemisphere. Known as the vernal equinox, this is the moment when the earth’s axis is tilted in such a way that every latitude experiences the same amount of light and darkness. For the six months prior to the vernal equinox, we have experienced more darkness than daylight during a 24-hour period. Clearly, this doesn’t mean that we’ve been living in total darkness for the past half year, only that the amount of time we have been exposed to the light has been outnumbered by the amount of darkness we’ve experienced. For many, the vernal equinox is something to celebrate because it means longer days are on the horizon!
In our culture, we’re often tempted to compare the good and evil in our lives with the length of the seasons. Sure, we know that we’re not perfect, but there are days when our good deeds outshine our bad, and we’re as pleasant as a warm summer day. And those days when we mess up can be as dark as a winter evening, but eventually our goodness wins out and we see the light yet again. The problem with this comparison is that it doesn’t line up with what the Bible has to say about us. 1 Peter 3:18 explains that Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for adikōn (anyone in breach of divine justice), that he might bring us to God. This word refers to anyone who has ever failed to live up to God’s standard of righteous living. And because both the Old and New Testament tell us that every single person fits this description (see Psalm 14, Psalm 53, Romans 3), we know that we are adikōn no matter how hard we work to change that. Shining a light into our lives only serves to expose the unrighteousness in our hearts. Thankfully, Peter shows us that Jesus is our hope, and his sacrifice has ensured that we can draw closer to God! No matter how much darkness you’ve experienced or caused, you have access to the light of God’s presence at this very moment.

APPLY
How will I draw closer to God this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  – 1 Peter 3:21 ESV

GREEK
eperōtēma/ἐπερώτημα: a response to an inquiry

CONSIDER
Anyone who has ever needed to hire someone knows how important it is to find the right candidate. Whether looking for a key employee or a competent handyman, there is rarely margin for choosing the wrong person for the job. That’s why the interview process matters. A good set of interview questions allow us to see clearly who the candidate is and why they hope to join our team. On the other hand, a bad question not only does little to achieve our goals, but it can also leave the interviewer looking foolish. Real interview questions that have actually been asked include, “Can you sing a song that best describes you?” and “how many balloons would fit in this room?”. As much as it might be fun to watch the candidate scratch their head, these questions won’t really help us find the person we’re looking for.
Asia Minor, the land of the people to whom Peter was writing, was well aware of the story of Noah. They celebrated the salvation that God provided from the waters of judgment, and would easily connect Peter’s analogy between his story and the waters of baptism. Noah wasn’t saved from the flood because he was the hardest worker or best shipbuilder; he and his family were saved because they obeyed God’s voice and believed his word. We, too, are saved because we trust the power of Christ’s resurrection on our behalf, not because we’re saavy enough to go through religious motions. Baptism, then, is an eperōtēma (a response to an inquiry) to God for a good conscience. It’s as if Peter is saying that God would never ask a bad question like “Have you experienced baptism as the way to earn salvation?”; rather baptism is our eperōtēma when God appropriately asks us if we recognize that salvation is a gift of unearned grace. As we seek to draw closer to God this week, may we become more aware of opportunities to respond to his voice in faith.

APPLY
How will I draw closer to God this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. – 1 Peter 3:22 ESV

GREEK
ὑποταγέντων/hypotagentōn: having been placed or ranked under

CONSIDER
How will I draw closer to God this week? This question presupposes that God is worth drawing near to. And while there are infinite reasons why he truly is worth pursuing, one specific case can be found in today’s verse. Peter tells us that Jesus is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers hypotagentōn (having been placed, ranked under, subordinated) to him. This verse is found at the end of a passage on suffering for righteousness, and Jesus is the ultimate example of righteous suffering. But Jesus is also shown to be more than just one among many sufferers; he is above anything and anyone to whom people could offer their lives! The three groups that Peter references were considered to be the ultimate examples of superiority. So since these groups were known as hypotagentōn to him, humans might be tempted to consider him untouchable and unapproachable. Thankfully, the aim of the entire pericope is to show that through the righteous suffering of Christ we are brought close to God (v.18)! The supremely superior Lord over creation is also the supremely accessible king of majesty. So no matter how we answer this week’s application question, may we remember and proclaim the One who made drawing closer to him a possibility.

APPLY
How will I draw closer to God this week?

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Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, – 1 Peter 4:1 ESV

GREEK
ὁπλίσασθε/hoplisasthe: take up [this] weapon as protection for a battle

CONSIDER
In the book of Exodus, the people of God experienced miraculous deliverance from an oppressive situation and chose to trust God’s promise of protection. As they walked through the parted Red Sea and witnessed the destruction of their enemies, they quickly needed to prepare for life in the desert. Fast forward 40 years and as God’s people entered the Promised Land, they again saw him do the impossible by destroying the walls of Jericho through irrational obedience. And yet, that act earned them the right to battle 31 kings and kingdoms as they laid claim to the promise God gave them.
Life isn’t easy, even when we live a life of faith in a loving God. We can trust and obey him with our decisions and actions, and will still face difficulty and even suffer at times. And yet Scripture reminds us that even the sinless Son of God found joy as he suffered in the flesh (see Hebrews 12:2). So if we want to be prepared for what’s to come, we should hoplisasthe (protect ourselves with the weapon of) the same way of thinking Jesus had. The Greek verb Peter uses means to take up arms in preparation for a battle. So when he instructs us to hoplisasthe he is both advising us to be like Jesus in our attitude toward suffering and reminding us that we’re in the midst of a spiritual battle. Jesus shows us that our attitude should be one of joyful endurance rather than expecting the rewards of perfection in the here and now. As we live with this in mind, we will be in a favorable position to help spread the Good News of the eternal hope of Christ’s love.

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How will I contribute to the Gospel being spread?

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so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passionsbut for the will of God.- 1 Peter 4:2 ESV

GREEK
ἐπιθυμίαις/epithymiais: focused attention on strong urges

CONSIDER
What’s so expensive that people get second jobs to support it, been shown to sometimes lead to “neglected sibling syndrome,” and eats up so much time (50+ hours per month) that many families forsake vacations to participate? According to a survey led by the Aspen Institute, the answer is youth sports in America. Their study found that the average family with one child in club sports spent nearly $700 per sport each year and that 19% of parents with a child on “elite competitive” teams either needed second jobs to support their child’s sport or were willing to take one. For many, this might seem like a worthwhile investment in time and money, and in fact, often is considered a badge of honor because it is done to better the life of a son or daughter. But as important as family and exercise are, the psychological, emotional, and financial repercussions that kids and their families sometimes experience are well documented.
To be clear, participation in sports is not in itself sinful. There can be incredible benefits to being on a team and engaging in physical activity, including spreading the Gospel if handled well! However, youth sports serve as a poignant example of what can happen when our passions take priority over the plan of God. In his encouragement to think like Jesus when it comes to suffering, Peter tells us that when we do, we will no longer live for human epithymiais (focused attention on strong urges) but for the will of God. We’ve all seen the parent whose “passion” for a child’s best interest erupts into verbally (or physically) attacking a referee or an opposing team. And as easy as it is to see this as a case of misdirected epithymiais, there are more subtle instances that could be just as dangerous. Whether youth sports, a job, hobby, relationship, or other pursuit, Peter is clear – anytime we are so focused on our urges that the will of God takes a secondary role, we are dealing with sin! But the good news is that as we fix our eyes on Jesus, our human epithymiaiswill be placed in their rightful position. At that point, there may be some that fade away, but any passions that remain will likely be even more enjoyable because Christ will be Lord over them.

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How will I contribute to the Gospel being spread?

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Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 ESV

GREEK
ἐκτενῆ/ektenē: constantly, intensely, strenuously

CONSIDER
Jerusalem. The city that was synonymous with God’s presence and holy living was about to welcome the Son of God into its gates. But while the city celebrated the Messiah’s triumphal entry, Jesus himself was less than enthused. He knew what the next few days would lead to and he knew the cost of his obedience to the Father’s will. And yet, while Jesus wept for Jerusalem, he continued to serve, teach, and love those God placed in his life – even when doing so was met with betrayal. Jesus perfectly embodied the instruction that Peter gave to his readers: “Above all, keep loving one another ektenē(constantly, intensely, strenuously), since love covers a multitude of sins.” The primary meaning of this Greek word reveals that our love should be given out in a measure far beyond what others deserve. In fact, ektenē is the root for our English words tension and tense, indicating that Peter wants our love for others to stretch us beyond our typical capacity. Jesus had every reason to stop responding to others with compassion, but still chose to love to the end (John 13:1). We celebrate Palm Sunday in part because it was this willingness to journey to the cross that opened the door for us outsiders to be brought near to God. So anytime we reflect the ektenē love of Jesus with our capacity to care for people who are hard to love, we are contributing to the spread of the gospel in tangible ways.

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How will I contribute to the Gospel being spread?

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Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. – 1 Peter 4:12 ESV

GREEK
πυρώσει/pyrōsei: smelting; fire [for a]

CONSIDER
Many of us are familiar with the process of refining metal. When a solid metal is heated into a liquid, impurities are more easily removed and the metal is purified. But there are occasions when heating metal can actually make it weaker, as when certain alloys aren’t heated evenly or for the appropriate amount of time. A wise blacksmith or metallurgist will know when to apply the right amount of heat and for how long to keep it at high temperatures. When they apply their expertise, the metal is stronger and purer to ensure it’s ready to handle whatever it’s being prepared for.
In much the same way, Christians are instructed not to be surprised at the pyrōsei (smelting; fire [for a]) trial when it comes upon you to test you. This Greek word is where the English prefix pyro comes from and is the word used when referring to a blacksmith’s smelting fire. These trials might look different depending on our circumstances, but we can trust God to allow the heat of those trials to produce the perfect amount of strength and refining in us. As we submit our lives to Christ and the Good News he brings, the pain of earthly trials can give way to the joy of being fruitful in his kingdom.

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Where can I trust God’s timing this week?

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But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:13 ESV

GREEK
χαίρετε/chairete: delight in God’s grace

CONSIDER
It didn’t take long for the joy of the crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem to turn to frustration. Not only did they quickly realize that he hadn’t arrived to lead a military rebellion, but they also watched as Jesus angered the religious authorities by disrupting their systems and challenging their power. When Jesus took a stand for righteousness, he simultaneously accomplished his Father’s will and subjected himself to unimaginable suffering. Traditionally, holy week is a time when we recognize Christ’s suffering for what it achieved on our behalf. And in doing so, we are acting on what Peter teaches us when he tells us to “chairete (delight in God’s grace) insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings.” Because God created us to long for the sinless reality of the Garden of Eden, we are apt to view suffering as completely evil with no redeeming value. But one of the products of our suffering is that it reminds us we are meant for more than anything this world can offer. In other words, we can chairete when we suffer because when we remember what Jesus gracefully endured on our behalf, it will invariably point us to the righteousness of God for which our hearts are so desperately searching.

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Where can I trust God’s timing this week?

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Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. – 1 Peter 4:19 ESV

GREEK
παρατιθέσθωσαν/paratithesthōsan: place close beside; place inside

CONSIDER
On Good Friday we reflect on the profound sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf at Calvary. Those few hours as Jesus hung on the cross represented the first and only time the Son of God was away from his Father’s presence. But as agonizing as those moments must have been, Jesus still used his last breath to declare his trust in God by crying out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46). In the midst of the greatest physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering imaginable, Jesus’ hope remained anchored to his faithful Father.
Jesus’ final words may have been on Peter’s mind when he encouraged those who suffer according to God’s will to “paratithesthōsan (place close beside, place inside) their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” This Greek word is a derivative of the same verb Jesus used on the cross and implies a full commitment to move everything one has to a specific place. In other words, we can place all our spiritual eggs into the basket of God’s grace. We don’t diversify our trust by placing our hope in God’s mercy and other things. Peter knows that we can paratithesthōsan our souls to our faithful Creator because he is the only One who knows what it’s like to suffer profoundly while making sense of our suffering and giving us the grace to endure it all. Because of Jesus, we’ll never have to endure a cross of our own! And now we can point back to Good Friday and Easter Sunday as proof that God is worthy to paratithesthōsan the hope of our soul’s salvation.

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Where can I trust God’s timing this week?

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shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; – 1 Peter 5:2 ESV

GREEK
αἰσχροκερδῶς/aischrokerdōs: motivated by greedy gain

CONSIDER
By nearly every metric, Bob Gibson was one of the most successful pitchers in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Major League Baseball in general. He was the MVP of both the 1964 and 1968 World Series, won two Cy Young Awards for being the best pitcher in the league, and struck out more than 3,000 hitters in his career. But the statistic that many experts find unfathomable is that Gibson had more complete games (255) than career wins (251). This means there were several games where Bob Gibson pitched all 9 innings and yet still lost the game. He was a fierce competitor and an intimidating opponent. But by his own admission, the motivation to be the best stemmed from a sense of inadequacy. Whether it was because he was raised by a single mother in a poor neighborhood in Omaha, or because of the inequalities he faced as an African American athlete in the mid-twentieth century, Gibson felt dissatisfied, even while performing at his optimum level. He shared with those closest to him that no matter how he pitched on a given day, he had to win; otherwise there was nothing keeping the world from seeing him as a loser.
It’s fairly easy for us to come up with examples of people who achieved greatness while being improperly motivated. Whether it’s because of fear, pride, or some other unhealthy thing, why we do what we do matters and can shape us as a person. It’s good to know, then, that God cares far more about who you are than what you can do, and the empty tomb is proof of that! The grace that God provided through Christ’s resurrection is available to every single person, regardless of what we have or haven’t done. When Peter encourages elders to shepherd God’s flock, not aischrokerdōs (motivated by greedy gain) but willingly, he is reminding us of this very truth. The person committed to spiritual growth didn’t require cultural or economic qualifications. Peter implies that someone could check all the boxes of a qualified elder, but if they are internally aischrokerdōs they might miss the point entirely. Jesus’ work on our behalf doesn’t ensure we perform at a higher level; it ensures that no matter who we are, we have access to the grace of God and should reflect that grace to the world.

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I will respond to God’s grace by…

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not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:3 ESV

GREEK
κατακυριεύοντες/katakyrieuontes: overpowering, controlling, subjugating

CONSIDER
A good parent always wants the best for their children, but they don’t always know what the best thing is. Case in point: James and John, known as the Sons of Zebedee. In Matthew 20, their mother approached Jesus and asked that her sons have the highest positions in the coming kingdom of God. Jesus used this request as a way to teach his followers about true leadership, instructing them to not lead like the rest of the world does because they lord it over their subordinates. Instead he proclaimed, “whoever would be great among you must be your servant,” (Matthew 20:26). This teaching was not only unheard of, it completely reversed the purpose of taking the lead. In today’s verse, Peter tells church elders not to be katakyrieuontes (overpowering, controlling, subjugating). This verb specifically refers to the act of pushing down from a higher position and is derived from the same word Jesus used in Matthew 20. This kind of leadership relies on position; people do what the leader says because of their place on the org chart, the amount of their salary, or the size of their office. But Peter takes Jesus’ lead and explains that real leadership is all about influence. So as we set a healthy example for those in our care, we are demonstrating concern for who a person is instead of merely the output they can produce. And when we do, may we acknowledge that God refused to leverage his position to be katakyrieuontes to humanity, but sent his Son to be an example of the grace that has changed our lives.

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I will respond to God’s grace by…

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And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  – 1 Peter 5:4 ESV

GREEK
ἀμαράντινον/amarantinon: fadeless, enduring

CONSIDER
The village of Kallio rests nestled in the shadows of Mount Vardousia in South Central Greece. It’s known for its picturesque alpine climbing routes and incredibly mild summer weather. If you were to walk through the gardens in the Kallio countryside, you are likely to see a beautiful and nutritious flower blooming called Amaranthus Blitum, or Purple Amaranth. It’s a central ingredient in a popular dish where it is boiled, then served with olive oil and lemon juice like a salad or a garnish alongside fried fish. But their real claim to fame may be that the Amaranth flower is where a word from today’s verse got its name.
In 1 Peter 5:4, the disciple encourages those Christians experiencing suffering that when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the amarantinon (fadeless, enduring) crown of glory. This Greek adjective – properly interpreted as the substance of amaranths – references the ability of this flower to be resilient in the harshest conditions. It revives when it is put in water, even if it is uprooted. In antiquity, Amaranths were known to be so amarantinon that they were thought to be fadeless. So Peter’s words would have been quite a reassuring reminder to these persecuted Christ-followers that their hope was found in a place where the pain of this world couldn’t touch it. If we believe that we should get what we deserve in the here and now, we don’t really comprehend the scope of our sin or our need for a Savior. The amarantinoncrown of glory is both earned by the chief Shepherd, and conferred to us as an example of His extravagant grace.

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I will respond to God’s grace by…

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Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  – 1 Peter 5:6 ESV

GREEK
καιρῷ/kairō: exact moment that is most fitting

CONSIDER
Scott Adams has had his share of professions. The creator of the comic strip Dilbert has spent time as an office worker, blogger, business speaker, author, and bank teller. In the mid 1990’s Adams even accepted a job at a startup company where regular people could upload their own videos to a single website for anyone to freely view. The business could only pay him in company stock, but he believed in the concept enough to jump in wholeheartedly. Unfortunately for Adams, that startup company was not YouTube; it was a company that came before them and failed. It turned out that internet speeds were not yet capable of uploading videos very efficiently, which caused his stock to be essentially worth nothing. This experience convinced Scott Adams that in business and in life, timing is everything.
Peter reassures us that one major outcome of humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God is so that at the kairō (exact moment that is most fitting) he may exalt us. This Greek noun is rather straightforward in meaning, and yet this may actually cause some of us to take pause. If our humility will lead to being exalted at just the right time, who gets to decide when that is? Those who follow Jesus know that this is a rhetorical question, because we can trust him to get the timing right. He approaches our lives both from a perspective of eternity and of love, and this combination reassures us that even when we would arrange things differently, God is still at work. The truth of God’s love for us can sometimes be drowned out by the lie of self-condemnation, but by humbly trusting the Lord to work at the kairō, we will be leaning into his steadfast love in a way that reveals the Gospel to ourselves and others.

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What lie will I replace with the truth of the Gospel?

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And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  – 1 Peter 5:10 ESV

GREEK
στηρίξει/stērixei: propel resolutely in a certain direction, secure in one place

CONSIDER
There’s an old Hebrew expression for when a person is passionately determined to obtain something: they are said to keep their face turned toward the object they desire. In other words, nothing is going to keep them from what they are pursuing. We see this phrase twice being used of Jesus in Luke 9 when he was close to his ascension, and he set his facetoward Jerusalem.
Embedded in this ancient phrase is the very contemporary concept known as grit. Grit has been popularized in modern culture as the trait that sets high achievers apart. As the Hebrews would say, these people keep their faces turned toward that thing they are pursuing. And as Peter wraps up his first letter with a word of encouragement to those who are suffering, he reminds us that among other things, the God of grace will stērixei (propel resolutely in a certain direction) us. In the midst of the pain caused by sin and its corruption, it can be tempting to take our eyes off of God’s plan for us and onto our circumstances. But when God’s grace breaks into our suffering, he will stērixei and empower us to stay laser-focused on the mission at hand. The spiritual grit that we need to endure – and even thrive – through the difficulties of life will be ours through the work of Christ. As we lean into this grace we can keep our face turned toward the thing he desires for us the most.

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What lie will I replace with the truth of the Gospel?

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By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.  – 1 Peter 5:12 ESV

GREEK
ἐπιμαρτυρῶν/epimartyrōn: testifying, bearing witness

CONSIDER
It’s been said that the gospel is Good News, not good advice. This means that we are shaped by the news of something that has happened rather than by how moral our lives are. But in order for news to be accurately communicated, it needs to be rooted in an eyewitness account. In the final verses of Peter’s first epistle, he tells his readers that a man named Silvanus helped him write this letter. This man may be better known to us as Silas, the disciple who joined Paul on his second missionary journey. Silvanus was there to witness the conversion of Lydia, known as the first person to repent and follow Jesus on European soil. He was there when a slave girl was freed from her demonic possession, leading to him and Paul being beaten and thrown in jail. And Silas was worshiping the Lord in that jail along with Paul when an earthquake broke off their chains and flung the prison door open. Needless to say, Silas bore witness to God’s grace in a unique way.
It’s fitting, then, that Silvanus was the one to transcribe Peter’s words as he announced that he was exhorting and epimartyrōn (testifying, bearing witness) that this is the true grace of God. This Greek verb is derived from the word we get martyr from in English, and literally means to be an eyewitness to. Remember, Peter was front and center to the miracles and teachings of Jesus, and was even there to see Jesus transfigured and hear the voice of God declaring his pleasure in his only Son. Peter witnessed him ascend into Heaven and then spent the rest of his life teaching others of the grace he knew so much about. As 1 Peter comes to a close, we can take comfort in knowing that Peter provided first-hand insight into the character of Christ. Thank God that, through the Holy Spirit, we stand on the spiritual shoulders of those who walked with Jesus, and their faithful witness is still impacting lives – including ours – to this day!

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What lie will I replace with the truth of the Gospel?

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