Following Christ in All Circumstances

In today’s verses the writer moves from husband and wife references
in verses 1-7 and entire household references in verses
8-12 to the entire community. Verses 13-17 challenge readers to
strive for good in the midst of trouble, disaster, and distress.

According to verse 14, you are “blessed” even if you “suffer
for doing what is right.” The writer seems to reiterate Jesus’
teachings in Matthew 5:10-12. And these words seem like a paradox
to us—how can we be happy or delighted to be suffering?
We naturally respond to difficulties by feeling unhappy and
unfairly treated. But in verse 15 the writer challenges us to move
beyond our “poor me” attitude to worship and communion with
Christ. That worship occurs in the heart, independent of any
building or visible objects.

Just as Christians in that day and time felt persecuted by a
culture that viewed Christianity with a suspicious eye, we face
similar attitudes today. But the consistency of a relationship
with Christ can put to shame any detractors who attempt to
undermine us.

In the early 1990s I made three trips to Romania where I
trained a group of individuals who were developing and publishing
Christian curriculum materials for use in churches. Still
fresh in the hearts and minds of these individuals were examples
of what it took to develop and maintain a personal faith
through the years of Soviet rule. I may have had “the answers”
about writing, editing, and publishing curriculum materials,
but these persons had “the answers” about keeping the faith in
the midst of adversity. One phrase in verse 15 stands out as part
of what enabled these Christians to survive their culture and
environment—“in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.”