1 Peter 3:13

As you attempt to answer the question asked by the verse shown on the photo, consider verse 12 and 14. 1 Peter 3:12: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (ESV). Notice how the Lord relates to two different groups of people. For those who are righteous his eyes are on them and his ears are open to their prayer. This reminds me of a mother who loves her children and listens to them and watches over them. There is a second group; those who do evil and find themselves under the Lord’s displeasure.

Now look at 1 Peter 3:14: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” (ESV). If you are counted among the righteous and are zealous for doing good, but are suffering for your righteous conduct because of those who do evil, you will be blessed and should not fear or be troubled by them. Nestled between these two verses is our question? “Who is there to harm you?”

If you lived under persecution for your faith and were about to be tortured or even killed, you might answer, “Those who are persecuting.” But what if I were to say the answer is, “None can harm you?” I base my answer of “none” on where the verse is placed and how it is asked. From verse 12 we see the Lord is with us and against those who do evil and from verse 14, we are blessed if we suffer and should have no fear of them or even be troubled. How is that possible? The answer is found in 1 Peter 1:3 – 7: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (ESV).

We may be harmed physically, but no one can touch our inheritance, which is kept secure by the power of God until we come to claim it. As we stay focused on our inheritance, which is kept secure by the power of God until we come to claim it. As we stay focused on our inheritance, provided by the Lord Jesus, we have a living hope to carry us through those fiery trials.

Prayer

Father, thank you that no one can harm us where it really matters. Thank you for the living hope we have, through Jesus Christ, in what is laid up in heaven for us.

PS: Reader, how would you answer the question in the photo?