calvarychapelvisalia's webcam video August 26, 2011 10:54 AM

How to get along with your boss..

The verses below in 1st Peter 2:18-21  deal with how a servant/slave in the culture of Peter's day was to relate to their master.  The teaching here would apply also to modern day employees and employers. 
Please see the two different scenario's that Peter lists. And the example God has given us to follow in matters of work, suffering etc. 

1Pet 1:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

1Pet 1:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

1Pet 1:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

1Pet 1:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

Firstly, servants were to be submissive to their masters, and they were to do this with all respect, and it was not only to the good and the gentle, but also to the harsh. 

Submission, means to come under, to rank under, to submit yourself to, place yourself under your master. 

And Peter says, to be submissive, not only to a good, and gentle master, but also to one that might be harsh. Harsh means, crooked, untoward, unfair. ( Note, this is not a call to participate in any action or attitude that is against the Word of God, or one's own conscience. It's just speaking of the general attitude one is to have towards their master, boss, employer ) 

Secondly, Peter explains that this attitude of submission, ( especially if you are submitting because you know it's the right thing to do, and you happen to be enduring grief, and you are suffering in this situation ) That, one's submission, is commendable to God. Which means the gracious and kind thing to do. 

Peter then reasons, that if you are suffering because of your own faults and you are taking it patiently, that is really no credit to you. But, if on the other hand, when you have done well, and done what is right, and you are still suffering, and at this point you take it patiently, then, this is indeed commendable before God. It means, that you are showing grace and kindness in the face of difficulty, which is the call upon our lives.

Finally, Peter explains that this gracious attitude, is what we are called to. Jesus suffered for us, and He had done nothing wrong, yet He was gracious in His sufferings, and He left us an example to follow. His example of how to act when being mistreated. 

Thank You Lord Jesus for Your example to us. Help us to yield ourselves to You in the difficulties that we face. In Your Name. 

Applications/Promises.

1. This can all be done.

2. But, it starts with our submitting to the Lord.

3. He knows what it's like.

4. He understands it precisely.

5. He will walk us through times like this.

6. He is the example to follow.

7. We become good examples to others. 

8. May God bless you as you walk with Jesus. 

This is the will of God that...,,

For this is the will of God that...........

Peter, in this 2nd chapter, is continuing with his exhortations, or encouragements, and instructions, on how to live our lives in Christ. And, here is one of the many times that Peter uses this phrase, "The will of God", or this is what is pleasing to the Lord, this is the goal and purpose of the Lord for your life.

1Pet 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.


First of all, God does have a will, or desires if you will toward man, and towards His children. It speaks of what is a pleasure to Him. It's what He wishes, or has determined to be done. It's what He wants to see happen in our lives......It speaks of His choice and inclination. 


Secondly, by our doing good, that is, by our living as those who follow Him, and obey Him, and yield our lives to Him, and to His Word, being set apart to Him, walking in the fear of the Lord, and fervently loving one another, ( that by doing good in this way ) .....something is going to happen. 


And, that is, that we may put to silence, the ignorance of foolish men. 
Earlier, in 2:12 He stated that the Gentiles were speaking against the Christians as evildoers. That's what they were saying, "oh these Christians are evil etc, " Later we will learn that the Gentiles think it's strange that Christians don't want to participate in all of the Gentiles sinful ways and activities, and they mock and deride them. 


But, here Peter is saying that the holy living on the part of Christians, will be used by the Lord to silence the critic's as it were. So, our actions can either be fodder for the critic's, or powerful to silence them, and let them see a witness of God through our lives. 


Help us Lord, to go in Your ways, and in Your paths. Use us Lord to light the way for those still in darkness. In Jesus name, amen. 


Application/Promise.


1. God is pleased that you are in Christ.
2. Your life's actions in Christ are important to Him.
3. His Word defines His will for your life.
4. Are you walking in His will today?
5. Do you have questions about His will?
6. His will is mentioned 4 times in 1st Peter. 

What to do with ourselves, and why?

What do with yourself..........and why?

There are two basic, simple, and clear exhortations, ( or encouragements to live and act as we ought to do and be ) in these two verses. Additionally, there is a reason having to do with something other then ourselves given by God. 

See below. 

1Pet 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

1Pet 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Beloved is a favorite term used by NT writers to describe how our Lord views and considers His children to be. "Beloved" Also translated, "dearly beloved, and well beloved, and dear. It means that God esteems you, and it was used when wanting to say that something was worthy of love. 

But, here's the exhortation.....we are being begged by the apostle Peter, to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Abstain, means to hold one's self off, to refrain from. To say no to the evil desires that come from within, the passions of our flesh, that are literally waging war against our soul, the mind, or the new you. So, that's one thing to do with ourselves. Say no to our lower, or baser, or sinful self if you will. 

Secondly, have our conduct, or to conduct yourselves day to day, honorably....or in the right way, or righteously, to live righteously, among the Gentiles, or the unsaved of this world. 

Two reasons are given here. When they speak evil of you, and against you, ( which they surely were, and do today ) they may by your good works, or the right way that you are living, ( as they observe you ) which they were then, and are today, that they may Glorify God in the day of visitation. 

Unbelievers will slander those who believe, they will call what you are doing evil and wrong. But, as they witness your good deeds, in what Peter calls the day of visitation. 

That could be the day these unbelievers come under conviction, and their eyes are opened to see what you truly are, or it could be reference to the day of Judgement. They will admit it on that day, that you lived the right way, and it will bring honor to the Lord, who has saved you and worked in your life. 

Well, that's plenty to think about today, and to digest, and to put into practice. 

Application/Promise

1. Thank You God for making it clear to us.

2. Thank You that You help us say no.  

3. Thank You for explaining the war. 

4. Thank You Lord for a right path to walk on.

5. Thank You Lord saving us.

6. Thank You Lord for allowing us to be a light. 

calvarychapelvisalia's webcam video August 23, 2011 08:22 AM