◄ What Does 1 Peter 3:13 Mean? ►

As Christians, we are given all we need for righteous living in order to have a right standing with God. Paul instructed us to walk in spirit and truth, and we learn from the Lord Jesus that this means that we are to abide in Him and He in us... as we journey through life.

We are to rest in His love and to trust in His Word, even during those difficult times so that we may live godly in Christ Jesus. As believers, we have already made peace with God through trusting Christ for salvation... and in order to have the peace of God permanently dwelling in our heart, we are to live our lives as God desires, which is set out in His Word.

Peter gives important instructions to husbands and wives on godly living within a marriage relationship, and he gives direction on how children, parents, servants, and masters should relate to one another.

Although Peter explains that as believers we will certainly have to face all kinds of trials, injustices, and persecution for righteousness sake, nonetheless, we are to zealously strive after that which is good... and we have an assurance that the indwelling Spirit of God is greater than he that is in the world.

And so, in this first epistle from Peter, we are offered some practical principles for a peaceful and fruitful life - even in the midst of great trials and tribulations. We should not fear the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, for no real harm can come to those that are in Christ Jesus.

We are called to trust the Lord our God Who has won the victory over sin, death, and Satan - and we have been promised that nothing can pluck us out of Christ's hand and nothing can snatch us out of our Father's hand, either.

Although we may face physical suffering, financial hardships, material deprivation, other deep losses, and even death, we have God's absolute assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, including tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, poison, the sword... and even the perils of the 21st century. In Christ, we are overwhelmingly victorious, through Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us.

There is no one that can harm us and nothing that can separate the born-again child of God from the eternal promises that are ours in Christ Jesus our Saviour: "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come... nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There may be times when we fail to abide in Christ and wander far from the Lord... but even when we are faithless He remains faithful, for He cannot deny His promises to us - He cannot deny His Word. There may be certain consequences for those times when we fraternise with the world or lower our spiritual guard, but there is nothing that touches our life that can harm us if we prove zealous for what is good.

Let us never forget that there is no evil that can befall those that are members of Christ's Body - for nothing is beyond God's control. Nothing is able to harm us or separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us, therefore, take to heart Peter's instructions on godly lives and holy living so that we may give honour to His name during our fleeting sojourn on earth... as we journey towards our eternal, heavenly home.

Heavenly Father, thank You that there is nothing in earth or heaven, visible or invisible, that can separate us from Your love - for those that are in Christ Jesus. I pray that I may be zealous to live as You have instructed and to earnestly seek after that which is good, to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.