{Blog Tour} 1 Peter by Sue Edwards - Week 4

Kregel Publications is hosting a "graduated blog tour" of the book 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times by Sue Edwards. Each week a group of bloggers will be completeing the weekly lesson, blogging about what we've learned, and linking it all up on the Kregel page (you can find that here).  

I'm sure that every generation has said, "it's hard to be a Christian in this day and age" and meant it. However, I think it really is true for today and this time.

I live in the Northeast region of our country. It's now considered a mission field because there are so many unsaved people in this area. I find that just incredibly sad.

Week four of our 1 Peter study begins with that question - "How can believers live good lives in an increasingly un-Christian world?" Peter shares with his fellow believers how to accomplish this and how to live out our lives for Christ through actions and words. And it if were pertinent during Peter's time on earth, it is certainly pertinent now.

As we can all attest to, fighting temptations can be hard. I'm sure we have all struggled with one temptation or another throughout our lives. I'm currently battling my temptations for soda (namely Diet Mt. Dew) and sweets. Even though I want to do what I know is right, I still find it very hard to resist. Romans 7:15 says it perfectly in regards to temptation: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." The only way to combat temptation and to live a life for God is to live a life that reflects God. Christ should be our model. 


Our sin will always be at war in with our souls. And yes, there will be many times when we give in to this, but there should be as many if not more times that we overcome it. The only way to do that is to stay fully focused on what God wants for us rather than what we want for ourselves. 


The title of this fourth lesson is "Shadow the Servant." That is how we can accomplish living a life that reflects Christ, by being a mimic of God. Christ was not accepted while here on earth. He was mocked. He was persecuted. Why should we expect any better treatment when we proclaim our faith? The short answer is that we shouldn't. 1 Peter 2:21 says this: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

Jesus suffered for me. He suffered for you. We shouldn't expect life here on earth to be easy. If it were easy we wouldn't long for heaven. Christ suffered and died for us here on earth so that we would one day meet with him in heaven where he has promised life will be easier.  Romans 8:17-18 states this,  "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

This song seemed somewhat appropriate for this week's work. Because of God's redemption and forgiveness of us, we have become children - adopted into the heavenly family. I'm so thankful. Are you?

We are the saints. 

We are the children. 

We've been redeemed. 

We've been forgiven. 

We are the sons and the daughters of our God. 

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the book through the Kregel Publications Blog Tour program. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions stated above are mine alone.