Better to Suffer for Well-Doing 1 Peter 3:17

Peter the apostle told the “scattered” Christians they should have a “good conscience” so those who “speak evil” of them “may be ashamed that falsely accuse” their “good” manner of living “in Christ”. In chapter three and verse seventeen of his letter, Peter told the Christians “it is better to suffer for well doing” where we read:

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

The verse begins, “For it is better, if the will of God be so,...” Peter began with the word, “For” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and verily” “it is better” or “more useful, serviceable, advantageous and excellent”, “if the will” which means “whether the choice, inclination, desire and pleasure of what one wishes, commands, precepts or has determined shall be done” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised by God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “be so” or “will, have in mind, intend, be resolved, determined, purpose, wish and take delight and pleasure in”. Peter notes the “betterment” “if” which means “whether or when” it is the “will of God” to be for Christians.

The verse continues, “...that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” Peter added, “that you suffer” which means “to be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a sensible experience and to undergo” “for well doing” or “doing good, helping, doing a favor for, benefitting and profiting someone”, “than” or “rather than or saving than” “for evil doing” which means “doing harm, wrong and bad doing”. Peter's idea pointed to the times when the Christians might “suffer” for doing “good things” rather than “suffering” for doing bad.

When we consider these words of Peter, we may find them challenging at the least. Let's face it, it doesn't feel good to “suffer” especially when we “suffer” for doing good things. Peter's comparison was “suffering” for “good” versus “suffering” for “bad”, and should we find ourselves “suffering” for “well doing”, let us remember the Lord Jesus “suffered” for doing the most “good” anyone will ever do when He died upon the cross for our sins. May we learn to emulate Jesus for the manner in which He “suffered” for us.

Next time Peter tells the Christians how “Christ suffered once”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.