Apr. 19, 2026

“BE HOPEFUL”

“LIFE IS A GREAT ADVENTURE”

1 PETER 3:8-17

Three instructions to follow if we are to experience the best blessings in the worst times:

1.  Cultivate Christian Love- 1 Peter 3:8-12

*We Should Begin With Love For God’s People- 1 Peter 3:8

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”

The word “finally” means “to sum it all up.”

Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,”“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

*This love is evidenced by a unity or harmony of mind:

Philippians 2:1-11

Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity.

*Another evidence of love is compassion or sympathy. 

We must share both joys and trials:

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

We are taught of God to love one another:

1 Thessalonians 4:9 “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”

*Not only should we love God’s people, but we should also love our enemies- 1 Peter 3:9

1 Peter 3:9 “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”

Acts 4:23 “And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.”

The persecution we experience on earth today only adds to our blessed inheritance of glory in heaven someday:

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

*We should love one another, love our enemies, and love life- 1 Peter 3:10-12

1 Peter 3:10-12 “For “He who would love life And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

What m ay appear to be “bad days” to the world can be “good days” for a Christian, if they will meet certain conditions:

*First, we must deliberately decide to love life.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

*Second, we must control our tongues.

Every Christian should read James regularly and pray Psalm 141.

Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

*Thirdly, we must do good and hate evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from every form of evil.”

*Fourthly, we must seek and pursue peace-vs.11 “… Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Peter was quoted the psalmist in vs.12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalm 34:12-15 “Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit. 14Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.”

2.  Practice The Lordship Of Christ- 1 Peter 3:13-15

1 Peter 3:13-15 “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

Peter quoted Isaiah:

Isaiah 8:13-14 “The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. 14He will be as a

sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

One English word “apology” comes from the Greek word translated “answer,” but it does not mean “to say I am sorry.” Rather, it means a “defense presented in court.”

What does it mean to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts?”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Romans 12:1-2

3.  Maintain A Good Conscience- 1 Peter 3:16-17

1 Peter 3:16-17 “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

The word “conscience” comes from two Latin words: “con” meaning with and “scio” meaning to know.

Romans 2:14-15 “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)”

Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light of God’s truth:

Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.”

A “seared conscience” is one that has been so sinned against that it is no longer sensitive to what is right and wrong:

1 Timothy 4:2 “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

Then there is the “evil conscience”:

Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Acts 24:16 “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”

How does a good conscience help a believer in times of trials and oppositions?

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Christians are to be lights in the world:

Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

If we are to maintain a good conscience, we must deal with sin in our lives and confess it immediately:

1 John 1:9

Life is a Great Adventure! Are you enjoying your life? Are you preparing for the best?