We can withstand what is coming in our lives if we know it is coming, if we know why it is happening and if we trust the One who is in charge. We are not alone if we commit ourselves to our faithful Creator. We are to expect suffering in our lives and testing will come. Suffering for doing Gods will is committing ourselves to Him and we are not alone because Jesus walks with us. Deposit your life into His bank each day.

Peter is writing to Christians in a time of difficulty and even now we are living in times of difficulty. Jesus suffered unjustly but was obedient to His Father. He chose to die for us and this gives us living hope with death being conquered. In our Christian ministry today we will face opposition but we must serve God in faith and not trust in results. Our baptism is a witness to others that we have died to ourselves and now live for Jesus. There is no other way to be saved from this broken, sinful world and be made right with God but through Jesus. Helpful information on 1 Peter 3:19 can be found here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/does-1-peter-teach-jesus-preached-hell/

Our submission is for Christ and to be like Christ. "In the same way..." means as Jesus submitted. Submission is not taking an inferior position. God created men & women in His own image. They were given the same instructions to subdue the world. As Jesus restores the world, there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female. Whatever is a strength for you, it should be a driver for respect not an opportunity to dominate and show power. It is important in our relationship with God.

Disunity can occur in churches but we are a people of hope, holiness and harmony. Our spiritual unity is found in oneness, not sameness. We are living stones, precious to Him and each individual stone needs a relationship with Christ. Together there is strength, aligning ourselves with Jesus. When a stone is missing from a building, it is noticed and missed. May we stand in the gap for people who do not know God, connecting others with Jesus.

As Christians, we have a living hope, because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, and an inheritance in heaven that will never perish, spoil or fade. Our faith is protected through the shield of God's power but can be tested in times of difficulty in our lives. We need to trust in Jesus in the tough times and turn these trials into triumphs. Where is your faith anchored? Is it strong in Jesus?