¹³Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; ¹⁶and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Natural to the struggling mind come a variety of questions: “If I live like Christ, won’t my life become hard?” or, “If I do as Peter says, won’t others take advantage of me?” or, “If God doesn’t miraculously intervene, bad stuff will happen to me. Am I just supposed to take it?” These are all honest questions that deserve thoughtful answers, which Peter sets out to give.

His question implies the answer, “No one can harm you if you focus on doing good.” But then he clarifies that a Christian’s zealous pursuit of good does not eliminate suffering. The question on the surface is whether a Christian can suffer for doing good, yet without that experience harming him. The answer is “Yes!”—that is, if one correctly understands what it means that he won’t be harmed, and the time horizon involved.

To be sure, we must honestly recognize that Christians suffer bodily harm, but it is only a temporary experience that cannot throw them off their purpose in living a good life. We do not need to fear the world’s intimidation. Physical threats, social ostracizing, and attempts to “cancel” us cannot short-circuit our faith. These things cannot ultimately trouble us when we are walking in faith and in the understanding of God’s truth, setting our focus on Jesus Christ as Lord over our lives. He is in complete control as master, not just of us, but of our opposers as well. We can say to our oppressors, like the patriarch Joseph said to his conniving brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). So we “sanctify” Christ in our hearts—we set our focus, attention, and affections on Him. This controls how we think about our persecution and conflicts.

So then, when our persecutors question the audacity of our faith, whether in mocking or in genuine inquiry, we can boldly and confidently speak the truth of Jesus Christ into their lives. We don’t need to resort to fleshly methods to make our point, but we speak calmly, thoughtfully, and confidently. We know that in God’s timing, the truth will be made known and those who persecute us will be shamed for their ignorance and mocking of us.

Lord, I continue to set Jesus Christ, Your Son, on the throne of my life.