Daniel'sWeeklyDevotions

This week, we come to the most popular 3:16 of them all.  It’s a verse so popular, people can write just the reference on a piece of poster board, and those seeing it know exactly what they’re trying to say.  Yes, today’s 3:16 comes from the book of John.

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.— John 3:16

This verse is part of the larger context of Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus at night, described in John 3:1-21.  While we won’t recount that story in detail, it is interesting to note that John 3:3 is the source of the term “born again,” and it came from Jesus.  Also, we won’t rehash what we looked at two weeks ago, regarding man’s need for God; if you missed it or would like to re-read it, feel free.  Rather, I’d like to focus on what the Old Testament says about the coming of Jesus.  Notice that “gave” is past tense; at this chronological point in the Bible, most references to God’s Son were in the future tense.

The coming of Jesus is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, and it starts early in Genesis.

¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.— Genesis 3:15

This was God speaking to the serpent, after it had been used to deceive Adam and Eve.  The “He” in this verse is pointing to Jesus.  As we continue from there, Moses wrote in Leviticus 4 about the sin offering; while this description doesn’t mention Jesus by name, the picture of how the sacrifice was slain is a foreshadowing of the way Jesus would die, His blood spilled out all over the ground.  However, His blood didn’t just cover sin – it completely washed it away!  Further on, the Israelites began complaining about God leading them out of Egypt, and God sent poisonous snakes into their camp.  Through their deliverance from the snakes, we have another picture of salvation, and the way Jesus would die.

⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake [image] and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover. ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.— Numbers 21:8-9

Jesus even brings this up when He’s talking to Nicodemus!  He really was trying to tell people what was coming.

¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up…— John 3:14

Isaiah paints what is probably the most poignant picture of the suffering Savior.  Before we talk a lot about it, I’ll let you read what Isaiah had to say.

² He grew up before Him like a young plant
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no form or splendor that we should look at Him,
no appearance that we should desire Him.

³ He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like one people turned away from;
He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.

⁴ Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses,
and He carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded Him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.

⁵ But He was pierced because of our transgressions,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds.

⁶ We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished Him
for the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet He did not open His mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
He did not open His mouth.

⁸ He was taken away because of oppression and judgment;
and who considered His fate?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
He was struck because of My people’s rebellion.

⁹ They made His grave with the wicked,
and with a rich man at His death,
although He had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.— Isaiah 53:2-9

As a child growing up, this was a passage that I had to memorize.  As I worked to commit the words to memory, I either did not ever take the time to view them all together as a whole, or maybe I just didn’t know enough to really, really get it.  Verses 2 and 3 describe an image to which I can relate, and I suspect you can too; have you ever seen what a root looks like?  This person blended in, or maybe even stuck out in an undesirable way.  People took one look and despised Him, turning away from Him.  I’ve had people literally turn their backs to me and walk away, and it’s no fun.  How much more did this hurt the One who had given up everything He had in heaven to come here with the power to save us?  I can also tell you that it wasn’t love I felt in my heart towards the people who walked away from me.  Not only did Jesus take this abuse, this hate borne of misunderstanding, He continued His mission – His mission of even more suffering, untold torture, and eventual death – all not for what He had done, but for the sins that these very same people who rejected Him had done!  What an amazing, unimaginable love He must have for us!

Verse 6 is one of the more well-known verses in this passage.  We have all done wrong, every single one of us – if you’re like me, several times daily.  We have all “turned to our own way.”  No matter what we’ve seen, no matter what blessings God has given us, we all keep veering off the path, seeking our own way.  (Yes, even saved people still sin; Jesus’s sacrifice paid for that sin too.)  The King James Version translates the word “punished” in that verse as “laid on” – the picture I get from that is of our sin being piled and piled and piled upon Jesus, until He broke from the heavy load.

Verse 7 presents a concept that is completely foreign to many people today – Jesus did not defend Himself against the false accusations that were made against Him.  The Sanhedrin council levied all sorts of charges against Him, and He presented no defense for them.  The Roman authorities could find no fault with Him, even taking the step as to publicly wash their hands of any evil that the people wanted to do against Jesus.  As a child, this was one verse I didn’t understand.  I understood it as prophecy that was fulfilled as recorded in the Gospels, but I didn’t have my head completely around it.  Why didn’t He defend Himself?  I believe there are two main reasons.  First, verse 7 – this was prophecy concerning the Messiah, and had He defended Himself, this prophecy would be unfulfilled; this would have given His detractors a reason to speak against Him.  Second, it would have done no good whatsoever; the people who were coming against Him were not going to stop until they had Him.

Finally, verse 9 is just neat.  “They made His grave… with a rich man.”  Joseph, from whom Jesus’s tomb was borrowed, was a wealthy man who was also a follower of Jesus.  (I wonder if Joseph gave Him a special 3-day rate…)  The detail in these prophecies that are fulfilled really increases my faith, and I hope it does the same for you.  Confidence in the Scripture is important, because without the solid foundation of Scripture as inerrant, our knowledge of God could not be certain.

So, how do you live forever?  Jesus told us, right up there in the second paragraph of this devotional.  Did you miss it?   All kidding aside, it really is as simple as Jesus explained to Nicodemus – “so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”  Paul put it this way to the church in Rome…

⁹ if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.— Romans 10:9

If you have never done this, I pray that today is the day that you trust your life to Jesus.  Life is tough, and there’s no way I’d want to go through it without God on my side.  If you’d like this broken down even further, check out God’s Simple Plan of Salvation.  If you are a Christian, remember the sacrifice that Jesus had to make to be able to give you this free gift.  Thank Him, and be sure to share His gift with others that you see.

Today we hit a Scripture so tough, it took me two years to write about it.  It’s Romans 3:16 – see if this isn’t the most uplifting verse you’ve heard all week…

¹⁶ ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,— Romans 3:16

We’ll definitely need some more context – let’s look beginning with verse 10, going through verse 20.

¹⁰ as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one; ¹¹ there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one. ¹³ Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues.  Vipers’ venom is under their lips. ¹⁴ Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, ¹⁷ and the path of peace they have not known. ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. ²⁰ For no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.— Romans 3:10-20

The block quote in the passage above is a compilation of verses from the Old Testament.  I won’t paste all of them here, but these can be found in Psalm 5:9, Psalm 10:7, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 36:1, Psalm 53:1-3, Psalm 140:3, Ecclesiastes 7:20, and Isaiah 59:7-8.  In each of these passages, what immediately follows these descriptions is a call is for God to judge the people who are displaying these tendencies, and deliver His people from them.  The passage in Isaiah is no different; the prophet writes how the Lord is going to judge those who have wronged Him and His people.  Here’s how he described the coming judgment…

¹⁵ Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.
The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and He was offended.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no man —
He was amazed that there was no one interceding;
so His own arm brought salvation,
and His own righteousness supported Him.

¹⁷ He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and He wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.

¹⁸Thus He will repay according to their deeds:
fury to His enemies,
retribution to His foes,
and He will repay the coastlands.

¹⁹ They will fear the name of the Lord in the west,
and His glory in the east;
for He will come like a rushing stream
driven by the wind of the Lord.

— Isaiah 59:15-19

That’s quite a picture!  The “rushing stream driven by the wind” is a powerful image.  We’ve seen images of floods on TV – it’s amazing how just a little bit of water can completely overpower anything in its path.  This is a strong force, but it is not indiscriminate, like a normal flood; the Lord is repaying people according to their deeds.  At this point, we may be thinking “Boy, I’m glad I’m not one of those people who has wronged Him or His people!”  But, are we really innocent?  Let’s take a look further in Romans 3…

²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.— Romans 3:23

I once had a pastor who said that in this verse, “all” is from the Greek, meaning “all.”  There is little ambiguity about whether you and I are part of the “all” that Paul is talking about – every one of us has sinned against God, and deserve any punishment we receive from Him.

So, we’ve wronged God, and God demands justice.  How are we going to make this right?  (Notice above in Isaiah 59:16, “His own arm brought salvation….”)  Let’s see what Paul says.

²¹ But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets ²² — that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ²⁴ They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. ²⁶ He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.— Romans 3:21-26

The word “propitiation” is an interesting word.  When I started reading versions other than the King James Version, I thought for sure that “propitiation” was one of those words that wouldn’t make it.  However, the more modern translation versions NASB, ESV, NKJV, and HCSB all have this word in this verse!  The NIV translates it “sacrifice of atonement,” and that’s a good way to put it.  The dictionary defines propitiation as making something favorably inclined or appeasing it.  God presented Jesus as a way to appease His demand for justice!  Since Jesus appeases this demand, all we have to do is believe in Him and accept Him (v. 26 “He would… declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus”).  Not only does he declare us righteous, God will “pass over the sins previously committed.” (v. 25)

This is really good news.  I imagine your experience on this earth is much like mine in this regard – I simply cannot always do what I know I’m supposed to do.  I get angry.  I say mean things.  I let resentment build in my heart.  If it were up to me to apologize for my sins and try to do better, I would be toast.  But, look at what Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross can do for us!  If we accept Him, God counts us righteous and doesn’t demand any further payment for our sin!  (We may still have to deal with consequences here on earth – God forgives our sin; He never promised to save us from our bad decisions.)

Notice the end of verse 22 – “to all who believe, since there is no distinction.”  There’s that “all” again, and yes, it’s still talking about you and me.  This free gift, this payment for sin, is available to all people without distinction.  Any race, any gender, any age, any marital status, any intelligence level, any financial status… well, you get the idea.  Most importantly, it is available for you!  If you are reading this, Jesus knew about you when He died on the cross; He paid for your sin with His life.  All you have to do is accept that gift – as Paul and Silas told a jailer in Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”  If you would like more information on how to accept this gift, you can look at God’s Simple Plan of Salvation, which details more about this; also, feel free to contact me using the “Contact” link found at the top of the page.

This week, we look at 1 Thessalonians.  As chapter 3 of this book does not have 16 verses, let’s look at 4:16 instead.

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.— 1 Thessalonians 4:16

This is part of the passage that Paul wrote to encourage the believers not to worry about those who had died.  Here is the entire context, verses 13 through 18.

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. ¹⁴ Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.— 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

I remember this being read at one of my grandmother’s funerals, and it was comforting, even though I was a young child at the time.  However, in this passage, there are two ways out of this world before the apocalypse.  (We’ll not debate eschatology here today; as my pastor said a few weeks ago, “I’m going on – if you’re staying, send me a postcard.”)

The first of these is through death.  Death is not a happy topic for anyone – the end of life on this earth means that we will accomplish no more, and that those who remain alive will no longer have the companionship of the one who has died.  However, for the believer, death is not “the end,” but a transition to a new phase of life.  That doesn’t make those left behind any less lonely, but it does encourage them that they will see their loved ones again.  Also, as we age, many of our bodies begin to wear out, often in painful, debilitating ways.  While it’s not something commonly said at the time a loved one dies, sometimes death is a gift from God, His way of saying “you’ve endured enough – come on home!”

The second of these is through being caught up in the air while still alive.  For those alive when Jesus returns, this will have to be the biggest rush imaginable – better than any thrill ride at any amusement park!  There have been many who have written stories about what this may be like; the best-selling of those is the Left Behind series from Jerry Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye.  But, the truth is, we can read Revelation for ourselves, and try to guess at what certain things might be, but we won’t know until we’re observing it from a very, very safe distance.

There is a catch, though; these two ways to escape are only for believers.  The Bible paints a much more grim picture for those who do not escape.  From the seal judgments described in Revelation chapter 6 and the first part of chapter 8, to the trumpet judgments described in chapters 8, 9, and the end of chapter 11, to the bowl judgments in chapter 16, the three-and-a-half years after the Rapture are not going to be pretty.  For those who have not accepted Christ, this is the only choice they have.

So, then, we see that there are two paths, but only one Way.  Accepting Christ as your Savior is the only way to avoid these things.  As Jesus said,

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.— John 14:6

I pray that each of you know Jesus, and have accepted Him as your Savior. He is the only way to heaven; His payment for your sins is free, but it is a gift that must be willingly accepted.  If you want to learn more about this, check out God’s Simple Plan of Salvation.

This week, we’ll take a look at 1 Timothy 3:16.

¹⁶ And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great:

He was manifested in the flesh,

justified in the Spirit,

seen by angels,

preached among the Gentiles,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

— 1 Timothy 3:16

Paul wrote this to Timothy after going over the qualifications for pastors and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13).  The standards Paul laid out are not easily attained.  Paul completes the discussion, though, by telling Timothy that he has written these things so that he will know how people in the family of God should behave, and then writes the verse above.  This last verse gives us insight into Jesus’ life, which Paul believes will help us live up to the standards that God has set out.

First, Paul says that “He was manifested in the flesh.”  Jesus came to earth as one of us – a human being Who encountered all the temptations we will ever encounter, yet He remained without sin.  He eventually gave up His life on a cross, so that through His sacrifice, we can escape Hell and obtain Heaven.  However, He did not stay dead – three days later, He resurrected!  Just this part is a great “mystery”, but it should inspire us to do what we can to make sure that His sacrifice is as effectual as it can be.  Whenever one person accepts His finished work as payment for their sins, it does not diminish the grace remaining for everyone else; just like the old hymn “There’s Room at the Cross” says, “Though millions have come, there’s still room for one.”

Second, Paul writes that He was “justified in the Spirit.”  During the three days that Jesus’ body was in the tomb, He was in the Spirit, taking our punishment.  He was separated from God (the only time that has ever happened or will ever happen), being tormented for our sin.  Through this, He was justified, and we can be justified as well.  This payment is complete.

Third, Paul writes that Jesus was “seen by angels.”  Wouldn’t that have been great to see – how the angels must have welcomed Him!  I’m not sure if this is talking about the angels that stayed behind in the now-empty tomb, or if this was the host of angels in Heaven who saw Him.  But, either way, I’m sure they must have been excited to see Him alive again.  He had done what had been promised more than 4,000 years prior, and through it defeated Satan for good.

Fourth, Paul says that He was “preached among the Gentiles.”  This was important for Timothy, as it is for most of us reading this.  As John wrote…

¹¹ He came to His own,

and His own people did not receive Him.

— John 1:11

The Jews of that day, for the most part, rejected Him.  But, He still came to earth to not only save the Jews, but to extend that salvation to the rest of us (Gentiles) as well.  He Himself preached among Gentiles, and after He ascended back to Heaven, He continued to be preached to Gentiles.

Fifth, Paul says that He was “believed on in the world.”  This shows that, even though Paul was writing to Timothy early in the life of the church, many had already believed on Jesus, and accepted His payment for their sins.  It’s always encouraging to have an example, someone who has come before you and accomplished the same thing you want to accomplish.  Paul is encouraging Timothy and the believers at his church, letting them know that others have believed on Him, and already obtained the forgiveness they desired.

Finally, Paul says that He was “taken up in glory.”  Jesus did not stay on earth once He had resurrected – He returned to Heaven.  This is important, and it ties in both with what Jesus said, and with what Paul had written to others.  Jesus said…

² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you.  I am going away to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.— John 14:2-3

And Paul, writing to the church at Thessolonica…

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

So, how do you understand mysteries?  I don’t know.   There are still things about what Paul has written that I don’t understand.  But, what I do know is that we can understand the parts of this mystery that Paul wrote to Timothy.  Each of these parts points back to a central theme – Jesus’ finished work of salvation.  Because we have received this salvation, we should live as those who have been forgiven, and encourage others to accept this gift as well.

This week’s book, Philemon, does not have three chapters; additionally, verse 16 of the only chapter is in the middle of the sentence.  So, let’s start out by looking at the entire context – Philemon 8-16.

⁸ For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, ⁹ I appeal, instead, on the basis of love.  I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you for my child, whom I fathered while in chains—Onesimus. ¹¹ Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to both you and me. ¹² I am sending him—a part of myself—back to you. ¹³ I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. ¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps this is why he was separated [from you] for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. This is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.— Philemon 8-16

Onesimus had been a slave of Philemon, and had run away after stealing from him.  Philemon had several reasons to have Onesimus killed on sight; accepting him as a brother was likely the last thing on his mind.  But Paul had witnessed a change in Onesimus that Philemon could have never imagined!  In verse 10, Paul says that he has “fathered” Onesimus; while together, Paul shared the gospel with him, converted him, and trained him in the things of the Lord.

In verse 12, Paul goes on to say that Onesimus is a part of himself; and, in verses 13-14, although Paul would rather keep Onesimus there with him, that would be stealing from Philemon – taking Onesimus without Philemon’s consent.  Paul also tells Philemon that Onesimus is now much more than a slave – he is a brother in Christ, and especially valuable.

This is the context of this short epistle – it is an object lesson illustrating 2 Corinthians 5:17.

¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you experienced this life-changing power?  If not, take a look at God’s Simple Plan of Salvation; Christ died for you, and all that He requires is that you believe in Him to cleanse your sins and make you into that new creation about which Paul wrote – it really is that simple.  If you have, are you living in that power?  The new creation is not just about saving grace, but a living, day-to-day grace, and the power to continually triumph over sin.  Don’t waste the gift you have received.

This week, we’ll be looking at 1 Peter 3:16.

¹⁶ However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.— 1 Peter 3:16

Let’s look at that in its context, to figure out what “this” is…

¹³ And who will harm you if you are passionate for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, ¹⁵ but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. ¹⁶ However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all….— 1 Peter 3:13-18a

Verse 13 starts out with a somewhat rhetorical question – who will harm you if you are passionate for what is good?  This is an encouragement to his readers (that’s us) that most people would not harm them just because they were doing right by the Lord and good towards others.  But, in verse 14, he goes on to tell them that even if someone does make them suffer, they are blessed; this echoes the words of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. ¹² Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. — Matthew 5:11-12

In verse 15, Peter shifts toward evangelism, and tells us that we always need to be ready to defend the faith to those who may ask.  If someone is doing good, and others are persecuting them, yet they continue to do good, still others will notice, and will wonder where they get the power to continue doing good.  This is just what Paul told Timothy.

² Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. — 2 Timothy 4:2

Now, having set all that up, we come to verse 16, where we learn how we are supposed to do this.  The words Peter uses are “gentleness and respect.”  Many people today find the Word of God offensive – even in America, there are a lot of people who have puffed themselves up, believing that they are above all this “religion” stuff.  When we share Christ with others, they may be offended; but that does not absolve us of the responsibility to share Him with others.  Here is how the author of Hebrews describes the Word of God…

¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12

Some people will get offended at a two-edged sword diving their soul and spirit, and judging their hearts.  Rev. Marc Myers, my pastor during high school, used to put it this way: “A Christian should not be deliberately offensive.  If you share the Word of God, and the Word offends, so be it.  But if you share the Word of God, and you offend, you would be better off not sharing it at all.”  This is true – being offensive while sharing Christ actually does more harm than good.  It takes the focus off Christ and puts it on the messenger, and it creates a bad reputations for Christians in general.

Think about the abortion clinic.  A gentle and respectful way to fight against an abortion clinic is to stand out on the sidewalk and talk, one to one, to the women coming in.  I know from experience that women seeking abortion, a lot of times, are using that as means to an end, not an end in itself.  Sharing Christ with them can give them hope, and when God works in their spirit, the baby is not only kept, but welcomed and wanted.

Another way of dealing with an abortion clinic is bombing it, destroying it so that it is no longer a conducive place for abortion.  However, not only is this offensive (disrespectful to the property of others, irresponsible towards life in that people may be in the building), it is also illegal.  Verse 17 says that it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  Eric Rudolph is suffering for doing evil, not good.

Peter wraps up chapter 3 by reminding us of Who else has suffered for doing good.  Christ is our example, and just as the world was offended at His message when He delivered it, it still finds this message offensive today.  In the verse above from Matthew, Jesus said that they also persecuted the prophets before Him.  While we should strive not to offend, this should be encouraging to us; if they take offense at our message – well, that’s nothing new, is it?  May we have the courage to share Christ, and the humility to share it without our methods offending.