For Paul, His work in Christ was “laboring and striving,” but he didn’t have the power within Himself to do it. Thankfully, in Christ, it was, “according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

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A famous text for reading at singing, especially at Christmastime, let’s study the test to found the HOW and the WHAT of peace that God gives AMONG MEN, WITH WHOM HE IS WELL-PLEASED.

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Peter told us to hold Christ as “Lord in our hearts” even if (as he said in the verse before) we “should suffer for the sake of righteousness,” know that it is God’s will that we are to “suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong“ (as he said in the verse after). So it seems it might be costly or inconvenient to properly hold Christ in our heats. Yes, it is. Do it anyway.

Most people treat you well if you do so to them, but in this passage addressing Christian persecution, Peter tells believers how to act when they are made to “suffer fro the sake of righteousness.” In all things, it is greatly preferable for us to “suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.“

The apostle Paul sough to “present every man complete in Christ“ so he “admonished every man” and “taught every man with all wisdom.” Herein we study and apply these principles.

Nathanial was very impressed that Jesus knew his heart and saw where he was before coming to Him. Nathanial confessed Jesus as the Messiah based on this. Jesus didn’t dispute that but told him that compared to what He would see while following Jesus, he really hadn’t seen anything yet.

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The apostle Paul rejoiced to suffer for the brethren partly so that he “might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God.” Suffering is terrible, but if for Christ and for the benefit of others, we should, like Paul, find it worth it.

Peter’s summary of Christian behavior is “be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.“ These qualities are to always be followed in every relationship. If this is true—and it is—then Lord help us to actually do it, because we know we do do it on our own.

While we had the hostility of mind to live in rebellion and sin, Christ died for us. Yes, the life of sin is “alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds“ and still Christ died for us. Let’s study what Paul said about this.

Christian husbands treatment of their wives has a high standard to meet: loving and understanding their bride as Christ does His. Let’s study how the apostle Peter taught us this.