Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

In today’s scripture, Peter, the outspoken fisherman turned Jesus-follower, writes to Christians who are, honestly, just being put through the wringer. These believers were scattered across the Roman Empire and living as outsiders in a culture that didn’t understand or welcome their faith. They were being mistreated, slandered, and pressured to just blend in and give up on Jesus. They weren’t facing full-blown persecution yet, but the tension was real. The culture around them was hostile towards their values. They were misunderstood and marginalized. It was hard to hold on to hope when nothing around them seemed to change.

Sound familiar?

As I write this is September of 2025, this all hits a bit too close to home. Let’s be real: sharing our faith in today’s world doesn’t really get met with confetti and applause. In fact, it might just be met with something pretty terrifying. I think if we are honest, that fact can be a bit polarizing. 

Peter’s words are a reminder that being a follower of Jesus has never been the “safe” game to play, but it has always been the one that leads to the good life.

As I read these chapters today, there were a few truths that really stood out to me, and I want to share them with you: 

1. This life is not all that there is. 

“In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope.” 1 Peter 1:3

When you're deep in responsibilities: raising kids, caring for aging parents, struggling in your relationships with others, or trying to make ends meet. It’s easy to lose perspective. We are pulled in every direction, and sometimes hope can feel like a luxury we can’t afford.

Peter says that hope is essential. But not just any hope, a living hope.

This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, which means that it can’t die, fade, or be taken away.

It’s the kind of hope that reminds you:

• This job isn’t forever.
• This breakup was the Lord positioning you into a better season. 
• Those friends weren’t really your friends in the first place.
• The Lord will provide for your needs, even as you struggle to make it from paycheck to paycheck.

This season will end, and chances are, another challenging season will come again. But we can always be certain that God is preparing something better for us, even when we can’t see it just yet. Our view is of the “now,” but His view is of the eternal. 

2. Be Holy

“Be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15)

That sounds like a tall order. But Peter isn’t talking about being perfect. He also isn’t telling us to “just hang in there until heaven”. He’s talking about being set apart and living in a way that reflects Jesus, even when it costs you.

In our world, being set apart might look like:

• Choosing honesty at work when cutting corners would be easier.
• Loving your spouse sacrificially even when things are strained.
• Saying “no” to gossip, comparison, or negativity, even if it makes you the odd one out.
• Choosing gentleness in the face of raging conflict, even when you have very strong feelings about the topic.
• At times, it might even look like putting your safety on the line in order to be faithful to His call. 

Peter challenges us to be a light in the dark, not by shouting louder than the world, but by living more faithfully within it.

3. Submit and Suffer

Ouch! That one stings a bit. You may just want to stop here, but don’t. This is where it gets really good.

In these verses, Peter talks about submitting to authority, being respectful even when mistreated, and loving others deeply.

“It is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” (1 Peter 2:19)

Nobody likes this part. But Peter isn’t glorifying suffering. He simply reminds us that when we suffer for doing good, we’re walking the same road Jesus walked, and God doesn’t just see it; He honors it.

1 Peter isn’t a sugar-coated letter. It’s a survival guide for faith in real life, and the message is this: You are not forgotten, your pain is not wasted, and your hope is not in vain.

If you’re feeling worn out or discouraged, Peter gets it. More importantly, Jesus gets it.

He’s with you. He’s gone before you, and He’s coming again.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

James Weekly Verse Challenge

Want to go beyond just reading God's Word? Want to take action? As we study the Book of James in the "Faith That Works" message series, we encourage you to do more than read the theme verse. Each week, we challenge you to memorize the verse and put it into action. Beginning Monday, October 6, we will text the weekly verse on a downloadable wallpaper on Monday mornings. Download the mobile wallpaper to your phone and memorize the weekly verse as you strive to live it daily. 

Text "JAMES" to 601-299-4493 to receive each week's theme verse.