Read: 1 Peter 2:4-5:11
We are stones that live and together we make up the temple of the Lord with Jesus as the cornerstone. We are God’s holy priests in that temple with Jesus being the High Priest. Our identity now is that of being God’s people, but we live on the earth as temporary residents and foreigners. We don’t live like the world lives because we do not belong to the world. We must submit to those over us even if they are not Christians. We are going to suffer on this earth but Peter tells us that there is a difference in suffering for doing right and in suffering for doing wrong. If we suffer for doing wrong it is our due punishment and we will not be rewarded for that suffering, but if we suffer for doing wrong, we will be rewarded in heaven.
Wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to honor their wives. When this happens, submission becomes a desired act of love, not a yoke of bondage. Husbands and wives should also be of one mind, sympathetic toward one another, loving toward each other as fellow brothers and sisters, and tenderhearted with a humble attitude. They are not to repay evil for evil or retaliate when insulted. Instead they should repay insult with a blessing. Holding your tongue will help you enjoy life and see many happy days. Husbands and wives should search for peace and work to keep it. God is watching over ones who live right but he turns his face from those who do evil.
In Peter’s third chapter, verse 19, he tells us what Christ did when he died. He went and preached to the spirits in prison under the earth in Sheol (just in case you wanted to see that in scripture). He led those in captivity out and they rose with him to heaven.
Even then, Peter was preaching that the end was coming soon. It is still coming soon, but not as soon as some think. We have a lot to do first: we have to learn to be one, manifest Jesus on the earth, and bring in a harvest. There are many scriptures that haven’t been fulfilled yet and every promise will be fulfilled before Jesus comes again. It is better to be about God’s business than trying to figure out when He is coming back. The way we can hasten His return is to obey what we are called to do.
Lord, help us to love our spouses as you wrote for us to and let us be busy about your business.
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