Do good and seek peace
“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11)
Believers in Jesus the Savior are the ones who have to live for good on the earth. Peter the disciple of Jesus sacrificed his life as a martyr to achieve good in Christ. It’s never easy to sacrifice even one’s life for justice, although easy in speaking by lips. As faith without deeds is dead, faith should show its integrity as an act. It’s not hard for anyone, including myself, to claim good by words. But can I really put in practice what I said, this is a question given to myself. It is impossible to do any good only by one’s own will, without the help by Lord’s hands.
It is not experiences such as good deeds and martyrdom happen in only limited to any specified time and circumstances. And it is true too to happen the events of good deeds and martyrdom occurrence in some special cases. Those mean we might be act out good anytime in a crisis, if we live in the sincerity our daily life. In order to do so, we need to have a life always accompanying with the Holy Spirit. Peter the apostle’s life was great like that.
Peter said to us in 1 Peter 3:8, “all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” Even between Christians in our society, it is almost difficult to have a good friendship. Everyone has different thought and lifestyle one another, so it’s not so easy to meet people to have familiar relationship really with. The more present society does, the more serious we will have to live following much eagerly the teachings of the Bible. If it were simple and easy, God wouldn’t have ordered on purpose for us to do such things. Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:2, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.” in the time near the end of the world. But it’s not easy to love, to practice sympathy, and humility even to familiar one’s own brothers. Therefore, we should have our life of obedience to entrust ourselves to the Holy Spirit and pray by following the Bible.
It is not for only one’s own good that Christian was summoned first than others by God. Christians who were become prior to others have a duty to pray and lead for those who have not yet in the arms of God to be blessed. God the Lord called us to do good, especially to do so even to those who swear and treat us in evil. That’s what Christ on the Cross shows and demands us. But now, let’s think carefully of myself as to whether I have lived sincerely in the right position for Jesus’ request. Everyone would have different ideas, but frankly I don’t think I have lived properly and faithfully. I have no choice but to confess the fact that my life hasn’t been great. So what on earth is the faith I’ve maintained? Oh, it’s really sad for me and sorry to my Lord. My God, Jesus, have mercy on me!
We have learned that anyone can be justified by faith in Christ. And we know God answers the prayers of the justified in Christ. However it is not reasonable and nor desirable for somebodies, who do not act good and do not seek peace also in the state of being far from God’s justice, to claim the cause of believing in Jesus. Therefore, their prayers although with the words ‘in Jesus’ name’ are of no use to the Lord’s ears. The Lord’s eyes are directed at the righteous, so only the righteous’ prayers can be reached to the Lord. Here we find a key of secret for making prayer answer possible. The right answer of the secret is to practice really the faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who have new lives in Christ have learned how to live right with others as well as knowing about people. Thus, they must now love everyone in the world and live in anticipation of a good day ahead. To do so, we should not say evil words, but go away from evil and do good and seek peace. If we do not obey this, we will be judged to be a man of evil, and we will not escape the punishment of God.
Some people may have psychological confusion and anxiety due to the contents of the text said by Peter the apostle. Someone may think like this, “I have wished to believe calmly, and only expected to be blessed, but now I feel believing in Jesus doesn’t seem that only easy.” The journey of faith is so difficult for anyone that if they are not sincere, they cannot reach even if they continue to walk a long way. According to Jesus’ words, “If you are not like a child, you cannot enter the Heaven,” your prayer will be answered really if you practice sincerely good with seeking peace.
(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Aug 2nd 2020)