“After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits” (1 Peter 3:19)

In the mystery, of which we can only speculate, Jesus died once for all in order that all who believe, even those who believed before His appearing, would live into the eternal life He promises.  The Holy Spirit did not just appear on the day of Pentecost, but is eternal as the Father and Son are eternal, one God, now and forever.  The Lord has always been calling to Himself those who would come in faith that His grace would save.

Lord, I have been imprisoned by sin and death.  You have answered the prayers of all who cried out to You.  You hear and have saved as many as believe.  That is a great mystery beyond my ability to comprehend.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would forever look to You, my Lord and God, as the One who truly is leading me in the way of righteousness.

Whether I have known it or not, You have been with us from the beginning, Holy Spirit.  Guide me always in the way of life everlasting in order that I would walk whatever path You set before me.  Help me to see more clearly each day the life You have promised.  Thank You for making the mysteries known to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, that Your kingdom would be of every tribe, tongue, and nation.  Amen.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

All of what you experience, is it perhaps that you might have the opportunity to come to God?  We know just enough to think that we know.  The most intelligent humans know nothing compared to the omniscience of God.  But we know that He desires that you come to Him.  He desires that you abide with Him and become what He is making of you.  Come then in faith and live into the life which is yours in Christ.

Christ indeed has accomplished what we could not.  He gave us His righteousness and He took our unrighteousness.  All of this so that the sin in you might be put to death in order that His life in you could live eternally.  Come then and live into the life which is yours in Christ and know that in His goodness and mercy you are a part of His eternal and glorious plan.  He has made you alive in Christ.

Lord Jesus, In You and You alone do I have hope and a future.  Guide me in the goodness of Your mercy and grace so that I would forever hold fast to what You have made possible – life in and through You.  Now and always, Lord Jesus, may I look to You as the One who leads me on the righteous journey You have set before me.  Bring me into Your eternal realm to abide with You forever.  Amen.

“For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17).

Those who follow the Lord are never to repay evil with evil.  Our Lord taught us to repay evil with good.  Putting on Christ is not just a slogan, but a spiritual reality.  With Christ leading, the Holy Spirit speaking, and the goal of pleasing the Father present, one begins to understand the Christian life. Walk with the Lord through the evil of this age that You may join Him forever.

Lord, everything is Your will.  There is nothing that passes by You without Your notice.  You have given the promise that everything has purpose in You.  Help me to understand this and in times of difficulty, guide me into the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, and teach me to humbly follow.  Speak to me, Lord, through Your preachers and teachers that I may understand all that You are asking me to do.

Lord Jesus, You modeled how to do this as You headed to Your own crucifixion.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me according to Your grace and mercy so that I would do good and not evil.  Help me to see how You handled situations and to imitate You in my reaction to the evil which presses in against me.  Lead me, Lord Jesus, in the way of life.  Amen.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

This is a powerful and difficult directive.  Yes, we are to worship the Lord and no other.  We are to have our hearts pointed to Him.  So also, the world will continue to slander us, but we are to guard our behavior so that we do not react badly to these things.  When the malicious lies come – and they will – do not overreact to them but look to the Lord who gave His life for you so that you may live.

Lord, You have made eternal life possible for a sinner like me.  Not only that, but You have set before me the promise of becoming like You.  Lead me on the journey of becoming in order that I would now and forever follow where You lead.  According to Your purpose, help me to walk through these difficult times where there are people who follow their father, the devil, and hate us, making it difficult for those who believe.

Lord Jesus, You know the territory well.  Both the place where You are taking us and this age and its difficult path.  You must lead Lord and I must follow.  Help me now and always to look to You and follow Your lead.  According to Your promises, help me when I am grieved by the wicked and malicious people of this age so that I do not lose heart, or fall away.  Amen.

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened” (1 Peter 3:13-14).

When you stand up for truth, it will cost.  The world is filled with those who want what they want and they will act in wickedness to try and get it.  We are tempted to look the other way to maintain peace, but that is no peace.  Do not be led by the world or its evil, but by the Lord and His goodness.  You are blessed when the world reviles you because of the One who saves you.

Lord, it is so hard when all you want is for us to get along with You and others.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may worship You and truly have You in the top position in my life.  Even if that means that I suffer because of it, guide me to do the right and godly thing.  Lead me so that I would forever hold fast to Your Word of truth.  Lead me and help me to never fear, for You are always with me.

Lord Jesus, You walked the way of suffering so that all who come to You for Your salvation would be assured in the hope that only You can give.  Guide me this day and help me to forever hold fast to Your goodness and mercy.  The world threatens; You give hope and promises.  The world hates; You love.  The world is temporary; You are forever.  Help me to trust in You always.  Amen.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).

We fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and forces.  We are in a battle.  It is all around us and in us.  We need the Lord and those who turn to Him are heard.  As with all other things we hear from Scripture, this makes absolute sense.  Those who are in relationship with the Lord speak freely and are heard.  Those who are not in relationship with the Lord are outside and apart from Him.

Lord, Your word says that if I draw close to You, you will draw close to me.  Your law spells out what doing good looks like.  Help me, dear Lord, to do good and turn to You in prayer and supplication always.  Guide me in Your goodness, O Lord, that I would forever hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Teach me Your righteousness so that I may humbly walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You said that we are first to seek righteousness and then all these things would be added to us.  Guide me in the way of life that comes through Your light and help me to seek first Your righteousness.  Help me to understand that in You is there goodness and mercy.  You are the light of the world that shines in the darkness.  You have come so that as many as see Your light may walk in that light.  Help me walk in the light.  Amen.   

“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11).

Turn from evil and seek peace.  These are two things that will occupy our time for the rest of our time in this age.  Living lives of repentance leads to doing good.  Seeking peace is to seek the will of the Lord and no longer live in rebellion against the Lord.  These are two places where we can and should begin our journey with the Lord each day.  Live in peace and seek to do good.

Lord, You know that I am as caught up in this world as everyone else.  I live in rebellion against You and do things to stir up difficulty.  Lead me Lord to live a peaceful life and at every opportunity, to do good.  You have taught me the things I need to know, now help me to put these things into practice.  Guide me according to Your purposes to live into the life of faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the peace that surpasses all understanding.  You have fulfilled the law we could not fulfill in order to learn how to live into a life of faith, trusting You in and through al things.  Guide me dear Lord Jesus to live today seeking what is right and good.  Lead me according to Your purposes so that I may now and forever live willingly in the Father’s will.  Amen.

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10).

We call Scripture the word of God, but then Scripture calls Jesus the Word made flesh, or Word of God.  The word is important for by it were the heavens and the earth made.  With words the wicked deceive.  Guard the door of your mouth and the words of your lips.  Names can and do hurt.  The church has been ravaged by loose words.  Love life and look to the Lord in order that He may teach you to speak His praises.

Lord, You know where I have slipped and fallen.  You know the difficulties I have had with my own words.  Lead me in speech as well as all other things so that in all things I may live a life of praise of You who alone is worthy of all praise.  Guide me according to Your never-failing principles to live into the life to which I have been called by and through Your grace.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, come through my speech that by it, I may bring glory to the truth of the Gospel.  In all that I say, may I be consistent and true.  Help me now and forever to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Let Your love pour out from me so that I would speak good and uplifting things to others.  Be the author and finisher of how I live life and help me to learn Your love.  Amen.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Because you were called you should walk in the way of that calling.  This world lives by the principle of an eye for an eye.  The Lord grows in us what He wills through adversity.  Do not react with the sinful old Adam but learn to live in the way Christ has taught us.  Inherit the blessing that the Lord has in store for you by humbly walking on the path He has set before you.

Lord, throughout Your Word, You have set the course for us to follow.  You have consistently told us time and again the way of leading a righteous life.  In faith, by grace, help me to persevere by acting as if these things were already mine.  When my hand raises to strike back, grant me an alternative so that I would put Your grace and mercy into practice.  Teach me to repay evil with good.

Lord Jesus, You have overcome the world.  Through You there is hope and a future.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Lead me in this faith to act so that my belief might be evident in what I say and do.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the upward way of salvation and keep me into the Father’s will.  You have set the course and called me to follow.  Help me now and always to follow You.  Amen.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8).

If the world would do this, we would have peace.  As it is, the word does not do these things, but as far as you are concerned, in the power of the Holy Spirit, do all you can to live with others in peace.  Do not be quarrelsome.  Do learn to love others as the Lord has loved you.  Learn to be merciful as the Lord is merciful.  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord in order that He may do as He wills in you.

Lord, these things are easy to say, but in this lifetime, so hard to accomplish.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would now and forever be guided by You.  You know the issues I have and the direction I need to go.  You know all that is needed.  Help me, Lord, to live into these good qualities in order that I may journey in the upward way  and learn all You give me to learn.

Lord Jesus, without You it would be impossible.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of true and everlasting life and help me to hold fast to Your never-changing principles.  Guide me by Your Spirit to hear and then to do all that You have commanded.  In You alone is there hope and a future.  You know the plans You have for me.  Lead me to live into them.  Amen.