"Who is going to harm you ..." This is phrased in the sense of implying it is unlikely that we will be harmed if we do good. Now of course there are situations and countries where you may well be harmed for doing good, but the fact remains that actually we are far less likely to be harmed if we do good. There is no need, and no justification, for needlessly antagonising people or governments.
Peter, of course, recognises that sometimes we will suffer. Indeed, peter himself had already being beaten and imprisoned on occasions, as told in Acts. He recalls the beatitudes when he says that if we do suffer for doing good then we are blessed. This thought does not come naturally to us, but it is actually true. It is far better to be in favour with God than in favour with man. Peter quotes from Isaiah 8:12, where God tells Isaiah not to fear what those around him feared, but instead to fear only God.
The key to being able to do this is to set Christ apart as Lord in our hearts. This is a concious decision, and something we need to do daily. The centre of our being need to be focused on Christ.
We are to be ready to explain our faith and the hope that we have, but we are to do this in a respectful manner. We are to fight the battle with spiritual weapons, not human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).
Peter, of course, recognises that sometimes we will suffer. Indeed, peter himself had already being beaten and imprisoned on occasions, as told in Acts. He recalls the beatitudes when he says that if we do suffer for doing good then we are blessed. This thought does not come naturally to us, but it is actually true. It is far better to be in favour with God than in favour with man. Peter quotes from Isaiah 8:12, where God tells Isaiah not to fear what those around him feared, but instead to fear only God.
The key to being able to do this is to set Christ apart as Lord in our hearts. This is a concious decision, and something we need to do daily. The centre of our being need to be focused on Christ.
We are to be ready to explain our faith and the hope that we have, but we are to do this in a respectful manner. We are to fight the battle with spiritual weapons, not human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).
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