1 Peter 3:13–17
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
In our devotional today we are going to paint with a broad brush instead of getting into the details of this text because I think the big picture here is so helpful for us as we walk through this time.
Remember the context of Peter's audience here. As we noted yesterday they are likely Gentile Christians who had been exiled from their homes in Rome under Emperor Claudius in 52 CE and were now living in cities dispersed throughout Asia Minor. This is commonly known as the Diaspora (Greek word for "scattered", "dispersed"). In these cities they have encountered some local persecution, which is, at this point, relatively mild compared to what it will become in a few short years under Nero. Yet, it is significant, and Peter wrote this letter to encourage them in this time of suffering.
If we look back even a few years from this point to the beginning of the church in Acts we see a similar situation. After Stephen was martyred, Acts 8:1 reports, "And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered (diaspora) throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." A few verses later it says, "Now those who were scattered (diaspora) went about preaching the word." (Acts 8:4) When the church was scattered they took the gospel with them and planted communities of Jesus followers in their city. Peter, in our text, is encouraging them to continue bringing the gospel to their new communities even through persecution.
Throughout church history we've also seen the church's response to persecution and disease always lead others to Christ. Tertullian said after witnessing great persecution, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." At the end of the description of Polycarp's martyrdom in 155 CE the author of Martyrium Polycarpi documents, "...and all the multitude marveled at the great difference between the unbelievers and the elect."
Again, we are currently facing a very different type of trial with the Coronavirus pandemic, yet the response of Christians should be the same. In the face of all this uncertainty, do the next right thing. Live with integrity. If suffering comes because of it, so be it. Lead with love. Have no fear. Don't be troubled. Honor Christ the Lord as holy. Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
The believer's response in a time of crisis should always distinguish them from the rest of the world.
May we view our life as Paul viewed his, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:14–15) May your actions in this time be a pleasing aroma of Christ to God among your fellow believers and among those who are far from God.