1 Peter: What is My Purpose?

I noticed a couple of phrases in 1 Peter today which state what a Christian's purpose in life is:

Purpose #1 - To do what is right and patiently endure suffering.

1 Peter 2:20-21 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps

There is no doubt that we sometimes suffer for doing the right thing. Yesterday a good brother backed into another brother's vehicle at the church building. He did what was right, marched back into the building, explained things, and said he would pay for damages. He could have driven off, but that would not have been right. He chose the path with a little suffering...but the path of the righteous.

Purpose #2 - To bless others and receive a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Our purpose is to have these godly qualities in us. These qualities are outward-looking. Through these, we bless others. And God wants us to have these qualities so that He might bless us with eternal life!

Purpose #3 - To live the rest of my life for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

We have again the concept of suffering in the flesh. When we avoid fleshly lusts, we suffer. Others ridicule us. We miss out on the world's version of "fun." But we just remember the words of Jesus: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! We are not living for fleshly gratification; we are living for the will of God.

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: 2 Peter