Do Good!

Do Good!

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1 Peter 3:13‭-‬14 KJV

Today's extract starts with some sort of rhetorical question. You would imagine that if you did good, you should expect good in return. Well, by the standards laid down by God at creation, that would have been the norm, but sin has already tampered with the original template. However, this should take nothing away from God's original plan, which is that for all who follow God, good is the eventual outcome.

I love the next part: there is a BUT. When you have done all that God requires and there is still trouble, what do you do? How do you react when what you get for your good is evil? Did God ever give a guarantee in His Word that you will not see trouble? Why then do we react badly to trials and persecution? Is there anything happening to us now that has not been foretold by God ahead of them happening? 

The Word for today is: no matter how people react to you, joy must be non-negotiable. No matter how hard people try to frustrate and annoy you, remember the One who calls you and equips you with all you need for life and Godliness. Pain will come; persecution will rise up against you even from familiar faces and friends, but the confidence to stand comes from the pre-warnings of Jesus about these experiences and the assurance of His Presence all through the experiences.

You are not to fear or be terrified. People's opinions about you aren't as important as the Presence of God in you. You should not be troubled about what is going on around you as long as there is peace in you. Just keep on at the good God has called you to, look on to God for peace and direction and watch him impact your world through you. The end of all things is near; prepare for his return. His rewards are for all who endure to the end, doing what He has commissioned, not what they thought was best. His time of favour is here.